I have gone back to college. Is nursing a career worth pursuing as an older (but not too old) age?
155133
If you are in the US, nursing is most definitely worth pursuing as a career.  The impending retirement of many baby boomers is creating great demand for nurses.  My sister and mother are both nurses; my sister has her pick of choice jobs and my mother, who is in her mid-60s, is contacted every week with job offers.
852437
Nursing is definitely in the top FIVE, blissfully...\n\nThere's such a major shortage of nurses through out the country, it is unbelievable :-(\n\nAs a nurse you can go into Pediatric, Geriatric, Podiatric, Medical/Surgical nursing --there's even Forensic nursing.\n\nThe possiblilites are endless :o)\n\nI do hope you make the wonderful world of nursing your final decision!
924034
It could be. However, nursing is one of the professional fields with loads of scholarships and financial aid available due to the nursing shortage. If anything, most community colleges offer a nursing program, and it can cut down on how much the tuition is and complete the program in two years. I will provide several sources where you can locate financial aid.\n\nFirst, file for FAFSA.ed.gov because it will help you tap into both federal and college need based financial aid.\n\nSecond, search Google.com and Yahoo.com for your state's college grant program. 35 states has a website devoted to applying for state college financial aid and applications. If this method fails, search your state government's website for nursing scholarship or grant.\n\nThird, I have listed some nursing scholarship organizations.\n\nFourth, check with your college's financial aid website and the nursing department's website because they often list available scholarships from outside organizations and companies.\n\nFinally, there are free membership scholarship search websites. Most are updated on a regular basis. I recommend joining several of them. I recommend applying to as many as you qualify for since the more money you get in scholarships and grants, the less you will have in loans.\n\nGood luck!
154975
Not so sure about that. The nurses I know are fairly burned out after a few years. If you intend to go into health care administration I think you would eventually like to get an MBA. R.N. is a certification rather than a degree. In some states people with Associates degrees are able to apply to become a registered nurse. I believe you take the NCLEX. Anyhow, RN's are in demand for a reason, there's a high turn over...and it's hard work. Nobody wants to deal with a "code Brown" at 3am. If you TRULY want to be a nurse, go ahead and go for the RN. But know what you are getting into. Some people love the field. If you want to be on the business side, apply to B-school, and get an MBA. Only a fool goes into medicine, doctor or nurse for the money.
1101496
As a former non-traditional student, I feel well-qualified to answer this question. I put myself through college and law school and think that you should definitely go to school to better your career opportunities. Also, you HAVE to do this if you want your children to go to school. REMEMBER, YOUR CHILDREN DO NOT LISTEN TO WHAT YOU SAY- ONLY WHAT YOU DO!  If their role model says that you should go to college and get an education- and she doesn't do it herself- why on Earth would they listen to you.  This is what my mother did- she always talked about the importance of a higher education, but she had a lousy high school education and wandered from terrible job to terrible job. \n\nAfter years of WORKING at horrible jobs I relalized that this kind of suffering lifestyle wasn't worth living. You owe it to yourself to be the best person you can be. You will be so glad you did- especially with the job outlook for nurses being GREAT! You will be able to spend MORE time with your kids because you will be making a lot more $$ instead of working at some dead end factory job! People are going to college later in life- you'll see. It's because they're tired of being taken advantage of at lousy jobs while the higher ups (usually with college) are getting all the benefits- the big checks, the office, the parking spots, the 4 weeks paid vacation- you get the picture. \n\nEvery human owes it to themselves to improve their lives so they help their family- and humanity.  I think you know what to do, you just need to hear it! Remember, you're young and have many working years ahead of you. Your vocation should be your vacation!!!! \n\nGood luck! \n\nASLAN
58207
Anything, and I mean ANYTHING, in the nursing field.  There are also medical-related jobs not involving direct patient care, like medical records, which I am going to school for right now.  Medical is definitely a good way to go, but always keep your own interests at heart.
829154
The only thing I can say is keep your eyes on the prize!  You want that second degree for some rational reason, or you wouldn't be putting yourself through the stressful (yet gratifying) pursuit of higher education.  I got through nursing school (my 2nd degree and 5th and 6th years of consecutive college) by knowing that I was getting married as soon as it was over, and I was going to work in a pretty cool field.  I was so sick of school when I was done, but so glad it was over with.  I had a nice 3 year break to work full time before I became a full time student again for my masters degree.  It's daunting and stressful, but I really want it, so I work for it.  You have to do what you have to do.  If you really do feel burned out, you probably aren't learning the material well, and the whole point of school is to learn, not just go through the motions.  Just be sure that it is ok to miss a semester with your program.  I know some programs have a pretty strict schedule from semester to semester and it can set you back pretty far if you take one off (like a spring class is a prerequisite to a fall class, etc).  I liked the advice someone else gave about working in a field related to what you're studying.  Not only will it help you realize if you still really want to pursue it, but it gives you real world views on the field and something to put on your resume.  Then again, if you feel the only way to spend your time off is something fun and crazy like backpacking through Europe for a few months, more power to ya!  You're only young once.  Good luck with your decision!
842749
Wrong focus.  It's not like it's med school.  Just get into a convenient and decent nursing program.  It's what you do after getting your nursing degree and passing the boards that makes you a great nurse, or not.
786429
Well, I was going 4 my 2nd degree in Nursing, when some family issues arrived and I had to withdraw, but I found alot of people doing nursing for the money and for the stability.  It made me so mad.  \n\nDuring this age, I see alot of people concerned with just MONEY, not loving what it does, not caring, just the MONEY.  Just look at careerbuilder, it's filled with work-at-home ads that are scams.  And people are so fooled by this mechanism.  Everybody just care about money and not worried at all about the comfort or the interest or if they can see themselves being there for a while.  It's crazy.
1137944
I applaud you in wanting to becoming a nurse and doing it on your own. Here is a little story for you and may it help you. I was 20 when I got out of high school and my parents could not afford to send me off to college and so like you I had to decide what to do. I joined the Marines and spent time during Viet Nam, when I got out I had saved enough to get training into the field that I wanted to be in. I found a cheap computer and never being on one before but having the fields that I had learned while I was in the service. I learned very quickly and became good at what I wanted to be and to make a very long story short I ended up helping the family and and friends that supported my efforts to make my dreams to come true. Before my mother passed on to God and the Spirits above she told myself that I had become a jack of all trades and a master of some. What made me proud was that she said any thing is possible if you put your will, soul and mind to it. Good Luck at what ever you decide and may you always succeed at. God Bless
324317
Try visiting  www.discovernursing.com - you'll find tons of information there on nursing.\n\nDespite prior statements,  you do not need a BS to be an RN.   There are two-year RN programs and RN bridge programs for persons  who have an LPN/LVN.   The push MAY be for RNs to have a bachelor's degree,  but the  reality is that there is such a shortage of nurses  willing to work  in NURSING (yes, nurses work in  fields outside of active nursing),  that states/countries are creating  avenues to bring  in more  nurses quickly.\n\nWhat you can do with a nursing certificate/degree will depend upon the state/country you live in.  Generically, you could go back and do a 1 year nursing certificate program and become an LPN/LVN.  Or, you could pick up the sciences and other pre-reqs you need and complete a 2nd associates--the outcome could be an LPN/LVN or an RN depending upon the school/program you enter into.  Or, you could transfer to a university and pursue a bachelor's degree in nursing.
394563
All depends where you live and what you need to do to get your nursing degree.\n\nThere is a nation-wide critical shortage of nurses.  It is only getting worse for the next few years.  Then as the population ages, we're still going to need more nurses.\n\nThe upshots are that you only need an associates to qualify for an RN, and that you are pretty much guaranteed a job as soon as you graduate.\n\nThe down side is that you must be able to do the (sometimes disgusting) various tasks required of nurses.
561111
you are never too old to go back to school.  If you are going for the intent of making more money, you will need to do a cost/benefit analysis including the estimated cost of going to school, including the wages lost while you are in school, offset by the incremental wages you anticipate making based upon having the additional schooling throughout the remainder of your career.  This should not, however, be the only reason for going to school.  If you have a passion that you are interested in, you should consider pursuing it.  I have many friends who have made huge career changes, and who have gone back to school in their 40's and 50's.  Many have taken pay cuts when they first go back into the workforce, but all have been pleased that they made this change.  Remember, if you do what you have a passion for, you will be more happy with less money than if you do what you don't enjoy just to make money.
1169546
my friends husband who was an artist went back as a mature aged student and obtained a degree in graphic design.  He found employment from it, but it was hard and very competive.  I am a nursing student and have gone back as a mature aged student.  I would look at the job prospects first.  I chose nursing because of the shortage and availability of the work, plus of my interest in it.
247086
nursing is a great job.  You'll always have work as long as people get sick or have babies.
938261
you need to decide fror yourself if you want to become an rn. it takes more education but pays better
1117887
A lot of good answers here. I'll add my opinion anyway. \nThere have been ups and downs in the nursing field for years. There will be a shortage and then there will be so many that there are no jobs for them without relocating. \n\nThe first problem that comes to mind is that there are waiting lists to get into nursing school. That is a key problem. Nurses are needed but people can't get into school to become one. RN,LPN,MA,CNA or whatever...there is a lack of opportunity.\n\nSecond thing is the cost of the education. I think this is a problem for many people who wish to attend school in any field. There are some places that will put you through nursing school and help with the cost,but then you are obligated to work for them for X amount of years as a condition for their help. \nYes,there is financing available,but I agree with another person here that it is geared toward the younger people and nothing is readily available for the 30 something people who have decided to change careers or continue their education.\n\nThird thing...If you are fortunate enough to finally get through school and get your degree and get a job...then there is that little thing called MONEY!  The incentive! The goal! The reason that we went through all of this to get to the point of having an interview and getting hired. \nThen...they offer you a starting range of ,oh let's just say,17-20.00/hr. Yeah right ! Like that is going to help you pay back all those student loans and financial aid!\n\nThere is no consistency in the amount of pay in nursing facilities. Depends on where you live,how needed nurses are in that area,what the usual going rate is among a lot of other factors. \nNurses with experience that try to get jobs in a higher paying area are turned down because they are expecting to get paid more than the facility is willing to pay them. They would rather save themselves the money and hire someone fresh out of school. \n\nIn some areas ICU nurses are really needed. Hospitals that aren't willing to pay these nurses more money,aren't able to keep them for an extended period of time,if they're lucky enough to get them to take the job at all. When a nurse can travel 20 miles in any direction and be offered $5-10.00 more an hour performing the same job duties,they are going to take the one that they are getting paid more.\n\nInsurance and benefits are another factor. Nurses are putting their lives at risk every day. They take care of patients from all walks of life,no matter what department they specialize in. Better insurance and better benefits should be offered to them. Some facilities offer great benefits,but some don't. This is another determining factor as to what job these nurses take.\n\nWell,I think I'll stop now,although I could continue writing about the problems in the entire health care system. But I think you understand some of the main problems associated with the nursing field.\n\nI think it has to be a nationwide effort to get more good nurses and keep them happy and working for a facility that cares about them. The first step though is  being able to attend college and then determining if you want or need to get your bachelors or masters. That goes back to the affordability factor. How long do you want to be paying for your education?