I am a "youthful" 68 and want to switch careers and become a nurse. Am I too old?

Your too old. You got to lift patients that are 400lbs (with help but still hard), and work 12 hr. shifts. Retire and take up golf.

Become an LPN. You won't make as much but it will take less time than other nursing degrees

If you really want to have a go at being a nurse, then go for it. why the hell not?

Nurse Getty wrote:

I see a lot of threads about middle-aged posters wanting to become software developers but not really any on becoming a nurse. I have an undergraduate degree so would only have to go to nursing school. How many years is nursing school - 2? If only 2 I would be 70 when I finished. Would I be too old? I have a lot of energy so the workload would be no problem. But I only seem to see fairly young nurses. I have worked my whole life in the oil & gas industry and am ready for a change. I have always wanted to be a nurse. What do you think? Should I bite the bullet and register for nursing school?

You aren't middle aged. You are old. Nobody is suggesting that any 68 year old should do a couple years of training for some career that will not start until after they start collecting SS. I sort of doubt you could even get hired.

Nurse Getty wrote:

I see a lot of threads about middle-aged posters wanting to become software developers but not really any on becoming a nurse. I have an undergraduate degree so would only have to go to nursing school. How many years is nursing school - 2? If only 2 I would be 70 when I finished. Would I be too old? I have a lot of energy so the workload would be no problem. But I only seem to see fairly young nurses. I have worked my whole life in the oil & gas industry and am ready for a change. I have always wanted to be a nurse. What do you think? Should I bite the bullet and register for nursing school?

All the nurses dying from covid are elderly. Very noble of you, but take up stamp collecting.

Nurse Getty wrote:

I see a lot of threads about middle-aged posters wanting to become software developers but not really any on becoming a nurse. I have an undergraduate degree so would only have to go to nursing school. How many years is nursing school - 2? If only 2 I would be 70 when I finished. Would I be too old? I have a lot of energy so the workload would be no problem. But I only seem to see fairly young nurses. I have worked my whole life in the oil & gas industry and am ready for a change. I have always wanted to be a nurse. What do you think? Should I bite the bullet and register for nursing school?

I think the limiting factor may be the prerequisites required for nursing school. How long ago did you get your undergrad degree? You may have to spend some time doing some bio and chem classes at the undergrad level. But, find the school you want to go to and ask questions. You'll be the same age in 5 years whether or not you try it.

mask off wrote:

Your too old. You got to lift patients that are 400lbs (with help but still hard), and work 12 hr. shifts. Retire and take up golf.

They have lift teams and devices for these patients. But the 12 hr shift is definitely something to think about.

I think it would be tough for you to get into nursing but if you’re healthy and fit I may be able to help you to find some teaching positions in Asia or Latin America where age is sometimes not a barrier especially in places where there are not many native English speakers. You may email me for suggestions by contacting Rojo who has my email. We have teachers in their 60s and 70s and even 80s were working in different locations. Ages just a number if you have the ability and the health to do it.

Getting hired would be my concern. Different field, but we had an open position pre-Covid, and I didn’t even consider interviewing people in their 50’s (and I’m 56). It’s terrible, but who wants to train someone who will likely retire soon? Or when questions about their stamina are sure to arise.

Just a potential obstacle to consider.

mask off wrote:

Your too old. You got to lift patients that are 400lbs (with help but still hard), and work 12 hr. shifts. Retire and take up golf.

His too old is what?

People are 400lbs with help but still hard?

You are a certified numbskull

too old.

Go for it.

If you meet the standards, you can not be rejected for the job because of age discrimination; the same as for sex, race, religion, and an alternate lifestyle. Record the job interview if you are able, and if you are told that your age disqualifies you, you will have a huge big money lawsuit drop in your lap.

Alternatively, you could ask the employer to lower the qualification standards as has been done for women in the military, blacks in universities, etc. etc. etc. If the employer says that can not do that, ask them why; depending on the answer you may have another lawsuit against them.

You really can't lose no matter how it turns out.

I am a nurse. I know several nurses well into their 60s and still going strong, while enjoying what they do. Most jobs have 8 hour shifts, not 12. You have one shot at life(as long as your parents decide not to abort you). Go for it.

You are probably fitter and more active than most 30 year olds. Go for it.

wife is a nurse and she says: Go for it, but you should expect that nursing jobs are physically demanding. She was a nurse practioner and retired earlier this year after 25 years or more.

She is encouraging you to follow your dreams if that is what it is for you.

its your life wrote:You have one shot at life(as long as your parents decide not to abort you). Go for it.

I'm pretty sure the person reading this has not been aborted. (you really are a nurse?)

You're not too old. I've been in health care for over 35 years and am 61. Nursing school would only be 2 years or so for you as long as you took the requisite science courses. A lot of nursing schools now do hybrid learning but I'm sure you could go in person full time, too. You will encounter most nurse's, initially, 30-40 years younger but that is trivial. There is still a huge shortage and hospital nursing is not the only type of nursing available. There are many options. If it is your desire, go for it and don't waste any more time. Best wishes!

Exactly! There are loads of different options for nurses, some more strenuous than others. Eventually you could end up as a nurse educator. Don’t let age or nah sayers prevent you from following your passions.

If you don't have something else to do with the money, why not?

You will have to be cautious about what kind of nursing you get into. Certain roles can be very strenuous, and whether you'll want those depends on your physical fitness. I saw the comment about life teams, etc., but you can't count on those to get your job done. My spouse is a nurse and comes home seriously beat up after some days and has to get chiropractic work and PT done occasionally to deal with tweaked shoulders/back.

Age discrimination isn't legal, but it's real. You could encounter difficulty getting hired. But, if this really your current dream, and you don't have another pressing need for the money (see above), who cares?