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've been a nurse for 10 years. I'm looking for a way out tbh. It's shit, money is crap, constant demands for higher up, love the actual caring part but mehhh to the rest. Honestly look at something else.

I think being a nurse is a calling. It's very sad when people who followed that calling can't handle the "system" anymore. Something needs to change!

I'd say yes. The course is very full on.
To some previous PPs , not all nurses do shifts.

There was a thread on mumsnet earlier, which I cant find now, about pay of 35 k and what responsibilities in other lines of work people are expected to do. Let me just say that by comparison as a 35k nurse you will earn every of it 10 times over in responsibility, stress and the affect on your work life balance. Sorry, sceptical, hardened, and demoralised nurse here.

I could of written your post. Was in retail ( opticians) since I left school and have decided to do the access course to go on to do nursing at 37. I'm starting in September.

Take a job as a health care assistant - you don’t need any qualifications. This job is very basic nursing type skills, it will give you an ideas of what the 12.5 hour shifts are like, night shifts etc. There’s no point committing to 3 years training and thousands of pounds unless you are absolutely certain it’s what you want to do.

I would strongly recommend this. That’s what I did. I got on my local nurse bank and worked all over my local hospital before finding a permanent job. I did a year’s experience before I started my training which was invaluable. I can usually tell which students had previous experience before doing their training.

Not read whole thread but 40 is nothing in the grand scheme of current working life. Go for it. If you change your mind and fancy management in retail then look at ILM courses or similar at your local college or amspar if interested in medical admin to manager roles. All the best, very exciting.

Oh also agree with pp; join up with your local hospital’s bank workforce and try out the healthcare assistant role.

This thread seems worthy of revival - while the NHS crumbles.

It’s full of interesting observations and experience.

Absolute no way on earth.

If you value your health do not do this.

At 40, yes I would.

I'm almost ten years older and would love to train as a GP, but not at this stage. At 40, you do still have a good amount of working life in front of you.

Yes, I think it's a great idea. Lots of people go into the training in their 40s, 50s, and there's lots of extra help if you need it (eg. learning to write essays again in later years). The training itself is very good, both theory and practical experience, and once qualified there are all sorts of things you can do, not just the regular shift nurse-type jobs. Go for it. Good luck!

No, no, no. I'd absolutely not do this. I left veterinary nursing at 43/44 because I was starting to be unable to retain knowledge and learn new stuff. I didn't trust myself as time went on. I did not want to jeopardise any animal in my care. I found learning just impossible by then.

DH has joined the ambulance service in his late 40s. Total career change but loves it.

Good fir you wanting to retrain. I would not be concerned about being older than thr students are uni,but I would seriously think again about nursing. Are you prepared to spend less time with your family? I genuinely don't think it is conducive to family life. Could you perhaps volunteer in a hospital pr something to see what nurses actually do? Or how about a nurse in a gp? That might be more family friendly

@manchestermum82 mid 40s dr here. I’d pay my own children NOT to do nursing. I love and have the highest respect for my nursing colleagues, but as far as I’m concerned it’s one of the worst jobs in the nhs. The pay is utterly rubbish for the ever growing responsibility of the job, if you are younger with DC it’s impossible to find childcare around shifts, the shifts are long and exhausting, doing night shifts over 40 is crucifying, you don’t get paid for you breaks, the glass ceiling is very low, the nhs is a horrible toxic environment to work in…..you will be reduced to tears regularly. Please don’t do this to yourself.

What on earth, I'm mid 40s, a nurse, currently doing a university course & always learning new things & increasing my knowledge. I don't think this is a common issue to not retain information after 40.

I totally agree with this. I’ve been a nurse for over 30 years and counting. There’s no way I’d choose it again. The pay is insulting for the level of responsibility and the stress of the job. If you’re determined to sacrifice yourself for the NHS I’d opt for an AHP role (eg OT, physio, pharmacy, radiographer) where there are clear boundaries, or NHS management. The pay is better in both. I still can’t understand why modern nursing is so poorly valued.

Interestingly you’re OP,does not convey a passion for nursing other than wanting a better job. I get this isn’t a personal statement so maybe you just didn’t include it. But nursing is hard, physically and mentally….and you will still be treated like dirt by a number of patients, colleagues and staff (it’s notorious for bullying). But you have to have a real passion for nursing to get you through that. So yes, if you have then do it. Otherwise learn coding.

And yes, I totally agree that allied health professional roles offer a better quality of working life. Saying that there’s a lot of opportunity in nursing to specialise into something not as hard as ward work, recovery nurse, theatre nurse, practice nurse, loads of specialist roles.

I'm a practice nurse. It might not be as hard work physically but God it's shit at the minute. The workload is incredible. We have two nurses retiring this month, another mulling it over and I'm out in four years.
I've been nursing since I was 18 and am 51 now. Would definitely not do it again. Probably be an OT or similar.

Well, we're all different aren't we? It was how I felt. Depends on what else we have going on in our lives at the time and how technical your role is.

Certainly doesn’t look as if life is getting better for nurses. Will you all be looking to move into other careers now …?

Is this as bitchy a comment as it sounds ?