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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to retrain as a nurse at 45?

48 replies

Tigerflowers · 07/08/2025 13:57

Hi all

So I have always wanted to become a nurse however childcare during placements was always an issue for me being a single parent with no parental help
I have worked many different jobs throughout thier childhood & the last few years I've been working as a care assistant in the community.
My dream is still to become a nurse though, I need a challenge and I've always felt this is something I would be very good at.
My children are now grown up and I have alot more freedom.
I applied for an Access course and I have now been accepted for a place on the course this September coming.
Initially I was excited, however today I am worrying if I'm too old now to achieve this?
By the time I fully qualify I will be 49!
If anyone has had a similar experience please share

OP posts:
Locutus2000 · 07/08/2025 14:31

Your age isn't a problem, the majority of nursing students are mature.

I would think extremely carefully about the current reality of NHS wards and the demands upon Registered Nurses.

Most rewarding job I've done but one I would never do again.

vincettenoir · 07/08/2025 14:42

I’d think about your energy levels. I’m similar age to you but my energy levels are not what they were for various reasons. But if you don’t struggle with energy levels it might not be such a factor.

FrustratedOldLady · 07/08/2025 14:45

Your age won’t be a problem, I retrained as a radiographer/Sonographer in my 30s and was the youngest by far in my cohort. All other AHP courses were predominantly mature students.
You’ll still have 20 years of work after you qualify and you’ve been a care assistant, so you’ve had some insight.
Having said that, I know several nurses and the workload is brutal. They do much more work than me and have arguably more responsibility but are on much less money.
Although adult nursing can open other doors - midwifery, aesthetics, working for insurance companies etc so you don’t have to slog it on a ward if you don’t want to.

Madformaltesers · 07/08/2025 18:10

Your age is fine, be prepared for rotational
night shifts if you are looking at ward nursing though

MamaBear4ever · 07/08/2025 18:12

Follow your dreams, training might be hard but lots of opportunities to use your registration our of ward settings that will be less demanding physically

XenoBitch · 07/08/2025 18:18

I did Access to Nursing years ago, and there were a fair few people in their 40s and a couple in their 50s.
Good luck.

damekindness · 07/08/2025 18:22

I work as an academic delivering nursing programs. In terms of your age - you certainly wouldn’t be the oldest and you’ll find other students who are around the same age with a similar profile ( kids grown up, experienced carer etc)

The course is challenging both academically and managing placements. However, I’m guessing your current carer role is also challenging so if you are managing that with some energy to spare you should cope.

The only thing to consider is whether there’s going to be a job at the end of three years - at the moment my students are really struggling to get their first newly qualified registered nurse posts.

Jamesblonde2 · 07/08/2025 18:27

Goodness me OP do you have boundless levels of energy to exert? No way would I consider doing this at that age.

Berkeleysquare128 · 07/08/2025 18:31

Locutus2000 · 07/08/2025 14:31

Your age isn't a problem, the majority of nursing students are mature.

I would think extremely carefully about the current reality of NHS wards and the demands upon Registered Nurses.

Most rewarding job I've done but one I would never do again.

This!

bellalou1234 · 07/08/2025 18:32

I qualified as a mental health nurse when I was 38. It’s tough and draining but I’ve never regretted taking the plunge, like you it was a lifelong dream

ByBlueLion · 07/08/2025 18:34

well done you, hard work and i wouldnt have the brain capacity at this age compared to uni in my 20's but if you are already are a HCA then it's a really good career decision to make....trying to work as an hca in your late 50's/60's is hard work and at least if you are qualified you have the option of looking for less physical roles with better pay and pension. The NHS has been terrible about pushing more and more responsibilites on lower banded/non degree staff . i think its going to give you better options if you can get through the placements and starter years.

Blushingm · 07/08/2025 18:34

damekindness · 07/08/2025 18:22

I work as an academic delivering nursing programs. In terms of your age - you certainly wouldn’t be the oldest and you’ll find other students who are around the same age with a similar profile ( kids grown up, experienced carer etc)

The course is challenging both academically and managing placements. However, I’m guessing your current carer role is also challenging so if you are managing that with some energy to spare you should cope.

The only thing to consider is whether there’s going to be a job at the end of three years - at the moment my students are really struggling to get their first newly qualified registered nurse posts.

Wales does student streamlining so students do get jobs

YourGreenZebra · 07/08/2025 18:34

You will do great—go for it! My friend, who is 49, just completed her final year and landed a permanent position in district nursing. She discovered her passion for it during one of her placements.

I do, however, understand how you feel; I’m starting my teaching degree this year at a similar age, and everyone keeps telling me I’m crazy!

Itsahardlife321 · 07/08/2025 18:35

Go for it!!! I’m 37 and half way through my first year, doing it through work/open uni! There are loads of people on my course ranging from 18/19-56/57!!
good luck to you lovely, enjoy it! It’s rewarding, exciting to learn/be on placement and worth it! X

Ebenezerscrogge · 07/08/2025 18:36

I don’t know the lady personally but a friends sister did at a similar age

EttasNan1 · 07/08/2025 18:40

I have been qualified nearly 12 mths and had just turned 51 when I qualified. The ones who actually graduated were mainly older. Only thing I would warn about is the current recruitment freeze and issues actually getting a job as a newly qualified nurse.

AutumnFoxe · 07/08/2025 18:40

My auntie became a nurse in her early 40s. Has been qualified for about ten years now and has climbed the ladder to promotions and absolutely loves her job. Go for it or forever wonder what if.

mamagogo1 · 07/08/2025 18:45

Go for it! My friend retrained at 47 to me a midwife - fully qualified now and loving it. She does 3 12 hour shifts a week and finds it fine, her kids are adults so she isn’t doing the balancing her younger colleagues are, she plans to work until 67, 7 more years for her

Pinkclouds80 · 07/08/2025 18:56

Not unreasonable re age, would absolutely say go for it!

I am a social worker who qualified in early forties…I watched a couple of close friends do their nursing training in early thirties, pre kids, and to be fair it did almost kill them 🤣 but they were trying to juggle a bit of a party lifestyle and hadn’t really had to work that hard before and it sounds like you’re not in the same place as them.

Just throwing in social worker as a consideration though - I might get flayed for this but the training and the hours are not as gruelling or as long as nursing, and depending on who you want to be caring for and in what setting, it could be an alternative if you think nursing is going to be too much. Echo what others have said about the reality in the NHS sadly - having worked in mental health hospitals.

DEFINITELY don’t let age be a thing though...you’re gonna be 49 in 4 years time whatever happens, so why not be 49 with a professional qualification you’ve always wanted and potentially a 20 year career ahead of you with a hundred or more different choices of role. Bloody go for it!!

Soggyspaniel · 07/08/2025 18:58

Don’t do it to yourself. The NHS is a toxic workplace, and the wage definitely doesn’t make putting up with it worth it.

Assssofspades · 07/08/2025 19:01

Jobs are at an all time low and newly qualifieds are struggling to find anything, not that there isn't a nursing shortage, just there's no budget to recruit.

Ginnygi · 07/08/2025 19:03

Well done for working to achieve your dream!

Toddlerteaplease · 07/08/2025 19:06

One of my newly qualified colleagues is 48 and another is a similar age. She was a primary school teacher before. And finds nursing much easier!

Treacle2014 · 07/08/2025 19:25

I voted you are being unreasonable - only because you absolutely are not too old, most my cohort at uni were “mature” and they were the ones who stuck it out and graduated. It was the young ones fresh from college who dropped out in the first term or first placement.
You’re already in the community in a care role so you will have some basic knowledge or at least interpersonal and communication skills. You’ve wanted it for a long time and now you can do it! Go for it! This is your time! I say this as community nurse myself, it will be HARD, but so so so worth it!
Sending you all the luck x

PenguinLover24 · 07/08/2025 19:31

Honestly? Your age isn't the issue, the NHS and it's toxic workplace is. I left 5 months before I was due to qualify. I couldn't mentally take it anymore and was diagnosed for the first time in my life with anxiety and depression and was suicidal. I couldn't cope with the toxic, uncaring staff who spoke to students and patients like shit and going home feeling like I hadn't made any difference because you were fighting against people who went into a caring profession and didn't care one bit. It's like it was a power trip for them. It honestly sucked the soul out of me and I can't believe it ended my dream of being a nurse. Around 250 people started the course and you're lucky if 80 graduated the same year with 90% of them leaving or at least taking a leave of absence because of mental health. Sorry if this seems like I'm projecting but I just get so scared for people potentially ending up like me so I like to be honest.