Is 30 Too Old to Get a Nurse Practitioner (NP) Degree?

Interested in becoming a nurse practitioner? You can do so by pursuing a master's degree in nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. But if you're 30 years old, you may be wondering: are you too old to get started?

You're not too old to get a degree and become a nurse practitioner at 30. You will find that many students in your master's or doctoral program are close to your age, and some may be older. If you are not currently a nurse and have to start by getting a bachelor's degree in nursing, the journey toward your NP degree will be a little longer, but you are far from being too old to get started.

Read on to learn more.

Reasons To Earn Your Nurse Practitioner Degree at 30

If you're 30, then now might just be the perfect time to get your nurse practitioner degree. Let's take a look at some reasons you may want to consider taking this step:

Advance Your Nursing Career

If you're already a registered nurse, getting an MSN or DNP degree can give you the credentials to take your career to new heights. Nurse practitioners have a much wider scope of practice, can work in various high-level positions, and earn a higher salary than other types of nurses.

Getting a nurse practitioner degree is a great way to advance your career and pursue a variety of fulfilling new roles.

Learn New Skills

Perhaps you're satisfied with your career as it is, but you want to learn new skills that will help you provide better patient care.

Nurse practitioner degrees provide advanced training and education, helping you develop your patient care skills as well as other soft skills that transfer well to any nursing career you choose.

Find Professional Satisfaction

Regardless of your long-term career goals, getting your MSN or DNP is a good way to pursue professional satisfaction.

Having one or both of these degrees will qualify you to pursue any nursing career you may be interested in, so once you graduate you will have full freedom to explore the possibilities and settle on the career path that works best for you.

What Will I Learn In a Nurse Practitioner Degree Program?

Nurse practitioner degree programs provide in-depth training in the clinical care of patients with a variety of health conditions and disorders.

Common course requirements include:

• advanced nursing theory
• evidence-based clinical nursing
• diagnosis and management of health conditions

Programs may also offer concentrations or specialized courses that allow students to focus on specific areas of nursing practice. Topics may include:

• healthcare leadership
• pediatric nursing
• gerontology

Individual programs will vary by school and level. However, both master's and doctoral programs contain advanced courses, clinical rotations, and varying levels of research.

What Can I Do With My Nurse Practitioner Degree?

There are many different advanced career paths you can pursue with an MSN or DNP degree. Some of the many options include:

Nurse Practitioner

There are general nurse practitioners as well as those who specialize in a particular area of healthcare, such as neonatal or surgical nursing practice. They work in hospitals and clinics, diagnosing and treating various conditions within their specialization and scope of practice.

Nurse Educator

Nurse practitioners can work as professors, called nurse educators, teaching advanced nursing courses to the next generation of practitioners. They may need additional education to work in large colleges and universities but may be able to find jobs in community colleges with only a master's degree.

Healthcare Facility Surveyor

Healthcare facility surveyors inspect healthcare facilities to ensure all state and federal regulations are being followed. Nurse practitioners are an excellent fit for this role, as they have a good working understanding of healthcare. This is a great choice if you are interested in a non-clinical NP role.

Legal Consultant

Legal consultants serve as expert witnesses in cases that involve malpractice, worker's compensation, or other medical-related courtroom proceedings. The position can be largely remote, as much of a legal consultant's job is to interpret and investigate data leading up to court hearings.

Clinical Nurse Researcher

Clinical nurse researchers conduct research relative to advancing the field of nursing practice. The job involves little or no clinical care, as NPs in this position spend much of their time conducting studies, interpreting lab results, and reporting their findings.

FAQs About Starting a Nurse Practitioner Degree at 30

Still have questions about getting your MSN or DNP at 30? Let's take a look at some frequently asked questions you may be wondering about.

Are There Benefits To Starting My Nurse Practitioner Degree at 30?

There are many benefits to starting your degree at 30. By now, you probably have several years of work experience as a nurse or in some other healthcare profession. Your work experience will lend itself nicely to your degree, helping you succeed as you work through your most challenging classes. What's more, you probably have a better understanding of your career goals now than you did when you were younger, which will help you stay focused from start to finish.

What if I Already Have a Degree in Another Field?

If you have a bachelor's degree and work experience in a field other than nursing, you can still become a nurse practitioner. You may need to take some prerequisite courses to enter your MSN program of choice; however, some MSN programs enroll students from any background and provide all of the training and course requirements they need as part of the program.

Can I Complete My Nurse Practitioner Degree Online?

Some schools offer online MSN and online DNP programs. Depending on the school and your professional background, these programs will likely allow you to complete coursework online while requiring some in-person learning, such as residencies and clinical rotations.