Is 40 Too Old To Start Nursing School?

Benefit of Life Experience

Nursing is a fast-paced, rewarding career that is easy to transfer into from another field.

As an adult, you have more wisdom, knowledge, and life experience that will help you interact with colleagues and patients. Also, you can provide a sense of understanding that others may lack.

Paying for Education

Because you've been working consistently, you have had the opportunity to save up for paying for another degree. If you still need help, there are programs and aid to assist older people in returning to school.

Ability To Prioritize

According to nurses, one of the most difficult parts of being in a nursing program is learning to prioritize. As an older adult, you know how to juggle life and its challenges, giving you the advantage of knowing how to prioritize.

Things to Consider When Becoming a Nurse in Your Forties

Now that you know the advantages that you have if you start nursing school in your forties, here's some things you'll want to make sure you keep in mind as well.

Physical Demands

Before becoming a nurse, you'll want to know that nursing itself is very physically demanding.

You must be able to sit and stand/walk for long periods and lift and transport up to 50 pounds of medical equipment.

You'll also be pushing and pulling patients during various activities and bending, reaching, and twisting quite often.

If you don't think you're up to the physical demand, but still want to enter the healthcare field, you can get a degree in healthcare administration. Those careers do not require as much physical activity.

Note that if you have any sensory restrictions or concerns, such as being sensitive to smells or tactile sensations, you may have a difficult time with the day to day requirements of being a nurse.

Emotional Demands

A part from physical demands, you'll want to consider the emotional factor of being a nurse. Nursing can take an emotional toll on your person.

Patients under your care will need understanding and patience as they deal with the hardship of illness or injury.

Personal Responsibility Outside Your Job

Also consider the fact that going back to school will disrupt your routine. You may already have a lot of responsibility, and adding nursing school on top of that might be putting too much pressure on yourself.

Types of Nursing Degrees

After weighing the pros and cons, you'll need to decide which nursing degree you want to earn. We've outlined the different types below.

Diploma in Practical Nursing

When you earn a diploma in practical nursing, you'll become a licensed practical nurse (LPN). LPNs work closely with registered nurses and only need a high school degree to begin the 12-month training program.

Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN)

You can become a registered nurse (RN) with an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) degree in two years. This degree can be obtained at a community college or university.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

There are traditional BSN programs that typically take four years to complete. However, you are already a registered nurse, you can complete an RN-to-BSN program in a year.

Other bridge programs can help you become a medic, paramedic, or respiratory therapist.

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

There are four main concentrations of a master's degree in nursing. You can choose to become an advance practice registered nurse (APRN), nurse practitioner (NP), or nurse educator (NE) or focus on nurse leadership and administration.

APRN degrees are geared towards advanced clinical roles. These degrees include:

• Nurse practitioners (NP) will be discussed below since they have their own tracks.
• Clinical nurse specialists (CNS) provide care and consultation in a clinical setting.
• Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA) aid patient care by administering, monitoring, or adjusting anesthesia in various settings.
• Certified nurse midwifes (CNM) provide women's health care before and after the baby, working in multiple settings, including in-home or private practice.

Nurse practitioners have even more concentration options that they can focus on:

• Adult-gerontology acute care focuses on aging adults.
• Family nurses are in most doctor's offices.
• Neonatal helps critical children.
• Pediatric primary care focuses on care from birth to adult.
• Psychiatric mental health cares for those in need of psychological help.
• Nurse educators teach other nurses.
• Nurse leadership and administration is for directors of nursing or different management positions. Nurse educators earn this degree so that they can teach other nurses in the classroom or in clinicals.

There are several MSN dual degrees including:

• MSN/MBA that unites nursing and business
• MSN/MPH for nurses interested in public health
• MSN/MHA for nurses who want to work in health administration
• MSN/MPA that combines nursing with public health
• Nursing informatics, a growing field in nursing, that brings nursing and technology together for a non-clinical, bedside position

Doctoral Degrees

There are a few types of doctoral degrees under the nursing umbrella. Based on whether you want to research or continue with hands-on practice, you can choose one of the following postgraduate degrees:

• Doctor in Nursing Practice (DNP)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD)
• Doctor of Nursing Science (DNS)

Post-Master's Certificate (PMC)

There are several post-master's nursing certificates that can increase a nurse's knowledge and expertise in more specialized areas.

How To Become a Nurse

If you still think 40 is too old to start your nursing career, you can be reassured by this easy step-by-step guide for becoming a nurse.

1. Earn a Degree

Getting a degree is easier to obtain now with online schooling. However, when getting a degree in nursing, it is vital to understand that many online programs are for individuals who already hold a nursing degree.

Traditional nursing programs are more normal to earn because of the clinical requirements of the degree.

Regardless of whether you get a traditional or online program, there is a high probability that on-site clinical experience will need to be completed.

2. Pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses

The NCLEX is a standardized examination designed to determine if a nursing student has gained the knowledge needed to practice nursing in the United States and Canada.

The test has two levels: NCLEX-PN and NCLEX-RN. The PN version is for nurses with vocational or practical nursing training (LVN/LPN).

At the same time, the RN is for those who have completed an associate or bachelor's degree program.

3. Obtain Your License

Each state has its requirements that each nurse must have to practice in said state. Most states require an individual to graduate from an approved nursing program, pass the NCLEX exam, and pass a background check.

Additional requirements such as age requirements, additional training in state-specific areas, or fingerprinting vary from state to state, so look into this carefully.

Start Your Nursing Career Today

Being 40 isn't too old to start nursing school, complete those goals, or change careers. Nursing is an excellent, recession-proof career that needs qualified people.

If this is your passion, do not let your age stop you and find a program right for you.