Becoming a nurse at 40 is entirely possible. Using the soft skills and experience you gained in a previous career, you can excel in a nursing career. If you have a completed non-nursing bachelor’s degree, you can enroll in an accelerated BSN program.
Not everyone sticks with their first career for their entire working life. Career transitions are quite common, and switching from one field to another is possible, even later in life. But how old is too old to become a nurse?
Becoming a nurse at 40 — or even later — is entirely possible. There are certain advantages to beginning a nursing career later in life. Since you already have work experience and a prior education, you’ll bring more to your new career than someone who starts working toward a nursing career right after high school. Let’s look closer at becoming a nurse later in life, including the process you might follow and what you can expect.
Is It Too Late to Become a Nurse?
So, is 40 too old to become a nurse? Consider the statistics: According to the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), only about 8.5% of nurses in the U.S. are younger than 30, and 69.3% of nurses are at least 40 years old. This is not a career field where younger people occupy most job openings. The nursing field prizes maturity and work experience.
Becoming a nurse after 40 will not hamper your career trajectory within your new field. As a nurse, you can advance your career with just a few years of clinical experience. Education-wise, with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), it is a simple jump to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and elevate your prospects for pursuing advanced positions.
Will I Have to Go Back to School for Four More Years?
Many people thinking of changing careers to nursing might shy away from even trying because they fear returning to school for four more years to earn a BSN, like in a traditional BSN program. Those programs are designed for students entering college from high school with no prior college education.
If you have a prior non-nursing bachelor’s degree, there’s no need to spend four more years as an undergrad. At Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU), you can leverage your prior bachelor’s degree to qualify for our Accelerated 2nd Degree BSN (ABSN) program.
Because you’ve already completed core college classes, we don’t ask you to repeat them. Our ABSN program focuses solely on the coursework and experiential learning you’ll need as a nurse, making it possible to graduate with your BSN in as few as 15 months. There is no difference in the quality of nursing education compared to a traditional BSN program, and you’ll graduate ready to confidently sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN®).
Will I Be Out of Place Compared to Other Nursing Students?
Another common concern older adults have when considering nursing school is that they might not fit in with the other students. ABSN programs bring together students of all ages and from all walks of life. You’re just as likely to have fellow 40-year-old students in your nursing cohort as you are to work with younger nursing students.
At NDMU, everyone is working toward a shared goal of a meaningful career in nursing. It’s a highly supportive and inclusive environment.
What Will Nursing School Be Like?
Before checking out nursing programs for older adults, you should know what to expect. At NDMU, you’ll have the option of completing classes either online or in person. Online courses can provide more convenience and flexibility, but in-person classes offer more opportunities for interaction. You must evaluate your lifestyle and choose the option that’s best for you.
You’ll attend in-person nursing skills labs and nursing simulation labs regardless of your coursework choice. During simulation labs, you and your cohort will work through patient care scenarios, develop clinical judgment and learn to apply the nursing process while developing fundamental nursing skills, like IV insertion and blood draws.
You’ll also complete clinical rotations. You’ll be placed in nearby health care facilities to provide direct patient care. Your nursing instructors and preceptor will closely supervise you, and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to learn from feedback and guidance.
Top Benefits of Becoming a Nurse After 40
Becoming a nurse at or after 40 can bring many benefits to you and the nursing workforce. You’ll have the opportunity to pursue a career that brings you meaning and makes a positive difference in the lives of others. Plus, you’ll carry more experience to your new role than a younger nurse without any work experience. Some examples include:
Why should you make a career change to nursing? Explore the benefits of earning your BSN degree.
Established Soft Skills
Soft skills are non-occupation-specific skills that transfer across a wide range of fields, industries and occupations. No matter your prior work experience, you’ll have already developed multiple soft skills that can support your nursing career. Some examples of soft skills that nurses can benefit from include:
- Communication skills
- Leadership
- Cultural competence
- Empathy and compassion
- Analytical reasoning
- Critical thinking
- Problem-solving
- Ethical judgment
- Accountability
- Professionalism
Work Experience
Your prior professional roles before entering nursing school not only helped you develop soft skills, they also provided you with invaluable experience. Even if your previous career wasn’t related to health care, you undoubtedly overcame various challenges in your role. You likely already know what it’s like to put in the hours, deal with difficulties and do what it takes to do your job well. That experience will serve you well in nursing.
Understanding the Value of Education
It might seem daunting to return to school at 40 or even later. You’ve been out of school for quite a while, especially if you earned your first degree right after high school. Yet, as an older adult, you likely have a greater understanding of an education’s value than a younger student. As an older nursing student, you’re more likely to be an eager learner ready to optimize your time in nursing school and get as much out of it as possible.
Check out these top three tips on how to be successful in nursing school.
What to Think About Before Heading Back to School
Now that you know becoming a nurse at 40 is quite feasible, it’s time to think about practical matters. How exactly will you make this career transition happen?
It’s a good idea to begin by talking to your partner and kids and other close family members about your plans. Let them know that going back to school to become a nurse is very important to you but that you’ll need their support during the process. To graduate from our ABSN program, you’ll need to treat it like a full-time job, which means you won’t have as much time for personal obligations or quality time with family and friends for a while.
As you make preparations for nursing school, you’ll also want to address the following issues:
- Finances: Plan to be out of the workforce for the time it takes to earn your degree, pass the NCLEX and land your first nursing job. Make sure to research tuition rates and associated costs and evaluate your financing options.
- Health: Determine if you need to receive any vaccinations. It’s also a good idea to deal with any health screenings you may need now, as it can be challenging to fit appointments into a typical nursing student’s schedule.
- Certifications: You can begin working on your credentials even before nursing school. Look for a chapter of the American Red Cross near you and get certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
- Prerequisites: If you’re enrolling in an ABSN program, such as NDMU’s program, you may need to complete some prerequisite courses before starting nursing classes.
Finally, you’ll need to complete your nursing school application. At NDMU, you’ll work one-on-one with a dedicated admissions advisor, who will guide you through the process.
Nursing Programs for Older Adults
At Notre Dame of Maryland University, you’ll be immersed in a highly supportive learning environment accommodating learners from all backgrounds. Our ABSN program is committed to supporting your success with dedicated instructors, academic success coaches and flexible learning options as a part of our mission to educate leaders who will transform the world.
Get started working toward becoming a nurse later in life at Notre Dame in Baltimore. Contact our friendly admissions advisors today.