To retrain in healthcare in late 40s?

[Elizo]

Hi all,

There are many threads related to this but I wanted to get some specific views. I am 46 part-way through a biology/ chemistry undergrad (I have an undergrad in Social and Political Sciences and A levels but nothing science related except Psychology..). I am really enjoying the challenge of studying biology and chemistry and have done some hospital volunteering which has confirmed I would like to work in a clinical environment, directly with patients using my biology and chemistry (and obviously subsequent training) and in a role where progression is possible. I will finish the degree at 48 and my only son will be shortly heading to uni (if all goes to plan), no partner currently.

I am really not sure what role to focus on. I started thinking about medicine but despite having excellent stamina, a good academic record and energy am wondering if too late, I then considered Physician Associate, but seems like there are lots of issues with that role. Paramedic is another option but is physical side too much to start at 50 (I am very fit and healthy atm)? I want to look into OT but I don't think it would allow me to apply bio/chem knowledge in way I am hoping. Working in healthcare feels like the path I should be on, but is it a pipe dream?? I have had a successful career in civil service/ charity senior management but am clear I want to do something else for this second half of my career.

I am reasonable to want to make this move
I am unreasonable to want to make this move

Any thoughts would be great, thank you

Just to add, I made band 6 within a year. It is possible! Band 7 within 3 years from graduating. I have no interest In anything managerial so have not pushed for anything higher than a 7, but in theory it is very possible!

good to hear that re. medicine. How are they getting on? All the other threads on it seem to be cries of 'no!'. If I did it I would likely stop at Specialist Doctor and not continue for consultant, which would make it more manageable (people may correct me). I think I could handle the intellectual challenge, the time spent being treated badly/ hours, but the major off putting factor is being sent anywhere in the country for rotations. I just really don't fancy that at all, even though my son will be grown up. I have an excellent network here in London, my mum is here, my sister. I also have a dog and family here will look after her (that may sounds crazy but if you have a dog you might understand)

which role was that in MadRad??

Radiographer as a band 5+6 then Reporting Radiographer as a 7 (interpreting the X-rays not just taking them). It’s a post grad cert, but the trust funds the training and gives time off for study etc.

ANP/ACP role is typically something you go into after several years working as a nurse/paramedic/other AHP role.

There is the PA role which with your science degree you could qualify after the 2 year course - however this is a controversial role and a whole can of worms - I personally wouldn't advise it.

I'm a Paramedic - it's an amazingly varied role with a huge scope for progression plus you're not stuck in a ward based environment which is great - i.e. not just seeing the same group of patients every day. You have 2 years band 5 as a newly qualified, then goto band 6. Lots of band 7 roles to progress into and you can become a prescriber also. Band 8 sounds nice but you don't get any unsocial pay with it which actually means your often on less money then others/although you don't typically work unsocial so there is that. Pay is good with the unsocial rates, I work weekends, upto 0200 and start as early as 0600 which earnt me £68k last year as a band 7 paramedic.

Have a look at Clinical Perfusion. Competitive to get into but in most places you train on a band 6, qualify on a 7 and usually progress quite quickly to 8a and then possibly 8b depending on your location. The main downside is that there isn't a huge amount of contact with patients who are conscious! It is however, interesting, challenging and there is potential for getting involved in research too if that interests you.

I trained in my late 30s and know of people in their 40s who are currently training. I absolutely love it. I previously worked in another area of healthcare and part of the reason I retrained is that I didn't really think I could keep it up full time into my 60s. I think it's difficult to appreciate how shattering it is to be on your feet all day until you've done it tbh.

Edited to add that I am lucky enough to get unsocial hours and overtime as a band 8

I must say I love the idea of paramedic. It ticks a lot of boxes for me and I know there are very varied routes you can take and also an MSc entry route. What do you think about starting out at 50? I am fit and healthy and want to work well into my 60s...

will definitely look at this! Thanks

Have you considered dietitian? I don’t know about the NHS pay scales but it has a 2-year masters path to qualification and lots of patient-facing clinical roles.

The NHS pension isn't 'gold' really, especially if you won't be working for a lot of years before retirement. You say you have civil service experience, as far as I'm aware their T&Cs are actually better, and pension about the same?

Also it's all well and good saying you want to work into your 60s, but if you knacker your back at 53 is it realistic you'll still be able to work as a paramedic? None of us know what's ahead. A dog really isn't compatible with shifts either, my DH only manages because I'm 9-5 and we have family nearby. What if you were on 4 nightshifts in a row?

I don't want to put you off, I'm just trying to be realistic. Training places for doctors are competitive and not guaranteed. You say you want to stop at Specialist Doctor but you'd still need a training place to get there. My hospital had over 400 applicants for one clinical fellow place recently. Also you say you wouldn't mind being treated badly, but it would be really difficult to go from being really senior in your current career to being a dogsbody. FYs rely on their peers a lot, how would you get on if your peers were all 23 years old?

Radiographer could be a great shout though.

What’s wrong with just doing the job ? Why the need to quickly progress up the ranks ?
In some respects being a B5 or B6 nurse is more satisfying. B7 ward managers and above tend not to have much contact with patients, spend most of their time in meetings. Most of the ones I know have lost much of their clinical expertise unless of course they are specialist nurses or ANPs.
Re the NHS pension, yes, back in the day if you were in the 1995 pension with special class status it was pretty good. Now not so much.

Thanks. Dog is fine for shifts have friends/ family happy to have her overnight etc (actually easier than in the day)

The issues you raise about paramedic and doctor are the reasons (as per OP) that I want to fully consider the whole range of options available to me. Dr have virtually ruled out as not feasible, but good to hear counter arguments. Paramedic think I would love but am worried about age/ fitness going into late 50s and beyond

Thanks for comment re pension. Compared to the charities I have worked in for last 10 years trust me NHS pension is gold. I have 14 years of civil service pension which will be worth way more than double the time in voluntary sector.

So who would have her in the day? Because short of a walk twice a day maybe, you'd be asleep. My point is that if you were on four 12 hour shifts in a row you wouldn't really be able to have her at all, so they might need to have her for almost a whole week.

I have a very good friend who has retired young and regularly has her for whole days/ nights and holidays - she is virtually a shared care dog. Other family around who have her overnight/ in day etc. I am in my office quite a bit currently. It is just moving away from my network which would be much more of an issue

That's what I have done and on a much quicker scale. Band 5 to Band 7 in 18 months. Having previous life experience helped a lot with this because a lot of the difference between the bandings is managerial experience more so than clinical. Just be aware that Band 8 is non-clinical role in a lot of settings. And, in some, even Band 7 is no longer patient facing.

I'm a doctor and a few years back I considered training in a different specialty. But honestly I couldn't face going back to shift work.

At your age I'd be looking for a role with no/minimal weekends or nights that predominantly works office hours or shifts.

So not nursing/paramedic/midwife

Luckily the NHS has loads of these roles, just some are not that well known.

This wasn't the point of thread and has not been a consideration in my wanting to move into healthcare, but for context (as some replied that NHS pension is not so good), current pension contributions from my employer are 6% - NHS contributes 23.7% from what I can see..

I've had a quick look at the Clinical Perfusion role and it looks absolutely fascinating. Training on the job whilst doing the Masters would be ideal. Appreciate v competitive to get into. Am going to consider seriously though. I hugely appreciate everyone's contributions here. Anymore thoughts please do share.

For the Paramedic route you'd need to do the 3yr BSc, personally I wouldn't do the MSc straight off the bat because it's an extra year you'll be paying for and so long as you're registered I don't believe it would make any difference in getting employed. Once you're working as a para there are quite a few opportunities to be paid to do the MSc top up, so you get your full time wage to study the modules at uni (part time) plus no fees.

Whilst any previous degrees will certainly help you getting onto a paramedic course there's no skipping a year etc, you'll have to do the 3 years. But really you wouldn't want to, that's no much time to learn how to independently manage major trauma, stroke, cardiac arrest, diabetic emergency deliver/resuscitate a baby, talk to the depressed/suicidal + deal with all the urgent care which comes to the ambulance service which would have typically been managed under the expertise of a GP.

At 50 you'll likely be the oldest new starter, mostly early 20s but several start 30s. If you're keen to learn, good at talking to people/patients, confident then you'll be fine. Then after 3-4 years most will presume you've been in the role for decades! Fitness doesn't come into it in a significant way. You have to be able to (as a pair) lift a 60kg person on a carry chair up a flight of stairs is the main test. But people are so overweight these days we have to make them walk over any obstacles to where the chair can be rolled onto the ambulance regardless of the ailment they have.

That is really encouraging. I am fit and strong (love running, cycling, strength training) but was thinking how I would cope with a heavy person on a stretcher!

Happy to chat about it more, it's such a fab job.

Sounds very exciting. I have a friend who's 49 with slightly younger children, she's starting a degree to be an operating theatre practitioner in September, how about that? She hasn't got any similar background experience but is generally an amazing and smart person who has always wanted to work in health and just gone for it.
Do it!

If you are good at biology and chemistry and want to apply it to patients.
Look into intensive care nursing you will really need very good anatomical knowledge and lots of chemistry with blood gases and medication and ventilation etc etc
But incredibly stressful and full on at times.
Have to be good at dealing with high emotions with families.

Thanks, is that something you would specialise in after initial training/ practice?