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

Good Lord - where did you get that idea? The nursing profession is being treated abominably at the moment - is that not worth continued discussion?

The majority do though. Outpatients/clinics are rare compared to ward work.

Coming here to say GO FOR IT!! I started retraining as Mental Health Nurse aged 45, I will qualify next summer aged 48. I've come into nursing after working in Higher Education for 20 years. Like others, my children are grown up and I wanted to do something meaningful and give back. As retirement age keeps moving back, and I feel energetic and fit, I could work for 20 years as a nurse. As others have said it is hard work and tiring but it is never boring and the NHS is crying out for people like you with maturity and life experience. You will definitely not be the only person in your 40s on the course, I wasn't, student nurses tend to be a bit older than other undergraduates - but actually I've made friendships with people in their 20s and 30s and 40s on the course and that has been brilliant. As others have said, placement is tough, I personally didn't enjoy my ward placements and see myself working in the community. But there are loads of options for nurses that don't involve working on the wards e.g. community, school nurse, GP practice nurse, etc. In my current community placement there are several mothers in the team who work part-time, flexi time, compressed hours etc. and they all say the job fits well with their family. As others have said, you could do the Assistant Practitioner route and learn on the job while being employed by an NHS trust, then top up to become a nurse, but if you haven't been to uni before then I personally think you will enjoy the challenge, friendships and new experience. Studies show that at end of life we tend to regret the things we haven't done most. CARPE DIEM : )

If it's what you really want to do then absolutely! My friend started training last year at the age of 39 and she loves it.

Go for it OP. It sounds as though you really want to go into nursing, and I think having a bit of life experience will be hugely beneficial. Wishing you all the best.

At 40 you have at least 27 Yr till state pension .Do what to you want to do absolutely.
Nursing hard but still a satisfying career.

I'm an actual nurse ( unlike some posters here who think they are qualified to say what the job is like from clips they see on the telly)!

I've absolutely never regretted qualifying as a nurse. The role is incredibly varied. If times get hard then there is always another specialty or field to move to.

I work in nurse education currently after years working as a ward manager. We have many students studying in their 50s. They bring many fabulous qualities to the role at that age.

Go for it.

You should absolutely go for it. 20 years of work ahead! Follow your passion!