Honest answers? Would you start training to be a nurse at age 40?

[manchestermum82]

Due to needing to do the access course first I wouldn't qualify till I was 45!
I've never had a career, even though I was quite bright at school and always wanted to be a nurse. I was married and had children young and due to Dh's job moving us away from family I always stayed at home and picked up part time minimum wage jobs to fit round the children.
I'm now 40 and the dc are all getting more independent, dh earns a good wage which I have full access to and I always thought I would be content working part time for extra "pocket money" then hopefully being childcare for my own children at some point so they can have the careers they are working towards.
I don't know if it's turning 40 that's changed things but I'm now realising I'm older than my managers (retail job) and treated like a bit of dirt most of the time. I still fit into the "mums working around kids" group but don't want to move into the "this is my forever job now" older group who openly say they hate the job.
I feel now is the time to either do something about it or suck up the fact I'll be moving around basic type jobs forever with no progression or decent pension of my own etc.
By the time I do the access course though I'll end up in uni with classmates younger than my oldest dc

I wouldn’t be a nurse at any age, seems like an absolute nightmare-treated like shit by the government, patients, pay is crap. What appeals about it?

Yes please do if you want to
There are many challenges in nursing just now but despite them all, its a job in which you can make a huge difference
Good luck from a retired nurse after
38 yrs in NHS

I was in a shit industry dealing with the general public for poverty wages until a year or two ago, now I WFH (sales type job) and get bonuses, gifts and pay rises, however, nursing and other gruesome, gruelling jobs never appealed to me.

Are you prepared to work nights, weekends, Christmas Day?

have you considered throwing yourself into climbing the ladder in retail? The salaries are probably comparable, particularly if you won’t be investing so heavily into your pension starting at this age.

I am in a similar position to yourself.
Spent most of my adult life working min wage jobs and working to fit around my dc. Never had a career.
I'm 41 and have decided this year I'm going to put myself back out there and update my qualifications to enable me to fulfil my dreams and work in a role I have pondered for two decades.
Do it, OP.

Yes do it! I started uni at 37, qualified at 40, love it. I’ve just become a deputy ward manager. Maturity is a very useful attribute for a nurse.

I was in my 30s when I trained. There were many students my age and older. Some were in 50s. So you weren't feel out of place. I'm not going to lie it was one of the hardest things I've ever done, the course is full on. But if you really want to do it I say go for it! How old are your DC? Mine were tiny when I did it. If yours are older it will be easier. With kids you just need to make sure you have childcare in place for 12 hour shifts day, night and weekends/bank holidays etc. Good Luck!

I agree. I would have struggled being a student nurse at 18.

I think it's a great idea.
You have many more years of working yet!
As a mature student you will probably be more organised with the studying than when you were younger and more appreciative too.
Having a goal to achieve will be great for your mental health and wellness.
Good luck 👍

If you are at a point in your life where you can retrain and your DC’s are not quite so reliant on you then go for it!
You are young, and have a fair few working years left yet, don’t end up regretting not doing something!

My mum did this when I was 10. she loved the studying and academic side but didn’t enjoy the wards. She wanted theatres. She qualified and worked part time in orthopaedic theatre, she enjoyed it but said it was hard work and looking back she’s not sure it was worth it. She retired at 55, she also ended up with a SLAP tear in her shoulder from work.

Go for it. Nhs needs more nurses and kind,caring, compassionate ones at that. Also get the chance to climb the ladder and make good money too. Yes it's hard but that's life.

I was a nurse so.i wouldn't advise anyone to go into it ,stressful job with crap shifts!personally if I had my time again I think I would have trained as an occupational therapist, the hours are better ,they they don't have the same kind of stress .

I've been a nurse for 20 years I'm now 48 I'm now looking for a different career as I hate my job and what's expected of me. I love nursing people but not all the crap that comes from the big guns . I wouldn't recommend nursing at all. Sorry I'm usually such a positive person but I've given all I can

X2boys has a good point. OT do have better shifts generally. But I think a lot more options in nursing, you don’t have to be on a hospital ward for 12.5 hours.

In your shoes I absolutely would. You'll have 20 years to work afterwards!

Also bullying is common. My mum had to move from one area as the manager and other staff members treated her horribly. She developed severe anxiety from it - at the time, I was severely unwell and she needed time off sick. Her manager said something like “well Betty* has 5 children and can manage fine, you only have one and you think you need time off?” and laughed in her face. So be aware some “caring” professionals are complete arseholes.

Go for it. I started a degree last year at the age of 40. Not in nursing but it’s a career path I’ve always been interested in. It’s never too late to learn something new.

You aren't too old but I wouldn't recommend nursing to anyone tbh.

I wouldn't do it if I had my time again.

Go for it, you'll only regret it if you don't whereas you can stop it if you decide not for you! I wanted to stay on at school but parents wouldn't allow it. Three kids later hit 40 and thought now or never, did access to health then decided occupational therapy would suit family life better as youngest still at primary school. So I was mid 40s when I qualified, not regretted it for a minute....... Although is hard on your back and joints as I work in hospital setting. The good thing about these jobs though is there is a wide variety of settings to change to if one doesn't suit, one of my children is a nurse but is in out patients so easier on the back.

I would 100% retrain and if you really do have your heart set on nursing then go for it.

But... there are so many qualified AHP roles to choose from. You may find a therapy (physio/OT/speech & language) role fulfils your desire to care without the gruelling night shifts or bullying! Doing your research will only help you when it comes to uni applications 🙂

I was 32 when I qualified as a nurse..the elderly on my group was in her 50s. I currently work in a day hospital, so just daytime hours..so.glad I did it :)

Thank you so much everyone! I'm taking on board all the comments. The access course is for a range of health care roles and lasts two years so I'll have plenty of time to think about the best path before filling in the uni application.

Not quite the same but I work for the ambulance service. The people that join later in life to train as a paramedic have far better bedside manner with the patients than the young kids (not all of them, just generally speaking) because they have more life experience and are able to strike up conversation better.