My blog is now about being a new family practice NP in a small town setting.
About me: Age fifty something, married, registered nurse for mucho years, mostly in home health and hospice, with forays into emergency, med-surg, geriatrics and psych. Started as an Emergency Medical Technician, then diploma RN, then BSN, now back to square one as a new ARNP in Family Practice.
Interests and hobbies: sewing/quilting, any hand craft involving yarn and fabric; reading and watching movies; my dogs and my garden; domestic architecture pre 1960 (favorite architect Frank Lloyd Wright), riding my recumbent tricycle and photography. My dogs, did I say that already? I LOVE my dogs,
I’ll add more as it comes to mind…
Just doing random blog visits…hope you don’t mind me commenting. Just wanted to say hooray! — I’ve found another “non-traditional student.” I just started going back to college at age 42 … with hopes of getting into nursing. But I’m starting at the beginning … way back at the beginning … freshman year. It had been so long since my last fooray into those hallowed halls that I figured I had forgotten everything I once new. So … I started over. People think I’ve completely lost my mind – and maybe I have – but I’m gonna try, nonetheless.
Good for you! The brain does still function after 40, in spite of what the kids think! You go girl…
Hello,
I am another 50+ student, 55 to be exact, going back to school for my FNP. I have been a nurse for 23 years. My nursing experience has been all over the place. I have worked in acute care, long-term care, out-patient surgery as a circulating nurse, nursing registries, case management, disease management, workers comp, and home health.
Now I am ready to take on another adventure of becoming an FNP. I love nursing. Becoming a nurse was one of the best things I have accomplished in my life. I feel becoming an FNP is taking nursing to a higher level.
Every day is a new adventure!
OMG! Kat. I’m looking in the mirror. I’m 53, 21 years in nursing, been there done that in my nursing career and now just starting a post-masters as an APRN – adult focus. We have walked the same path in our career, if you live in Houston that would really be wierd. Good luck to you!
Nope, I live in Florida, but it seems you and I and many others are on this path of advancing our nursing careers a bit later in life. Good luck!
Good luck and welcome to the FNP student world. I am sure it will as great an adventure for you as it has been so far for me. Follow the dream!
Loved this! Found the link from Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing. I am 42, been a nurse for 21 years, will finish my BSN in the fall, and have applied to NP programs for spring! Onward forward…. At this age?? Last week I wrote two research papers and had a D&C…… Nothing like going to school during the perimenopausal years, eh???
It’s a blast, isn’t it? I have at least ten years on you, so you are just a spring chicken. Go, Girl! We need all the NPs we can get. How did you find me from the Frontier School site?
I’m there with you. I’m in my 2nd term(FNP) at Frontier School of Midwifery & Family Nursing. I’m 53…..What more can I say?! But I totally relate. I found out about this site through Frontier on Facebook.
Well, a update. I completed my FNP program in 2012, worked a couple of years but decided primary care was not my cup of tea. So, back to school I went in 2015 for my PMHNP post masters certificate. Graduated in 2016 at age 59 and I’m now doing consultation work as a psych NP in long term care…I guess I’m checking out the facilities to decide where I would like to live…
Just found your blog and love it! I have been a RN for a number of years and just started my first semester in a FNP/MSN program. The only thing I can say is that I have never felt such exhilaration, fear, anxiety, joy, and terror all at once. And I am only at the beginning. Already had one major meltdown and know that many are to follow. This semester was just practice lab and then they sprung us loose on the unsuspecting university kids that needed physicals. Next semester we are sent out into the real world. When do you start feeling prepared for this?
Um, never? We all suffer from imposter syndrome, look it up, it’s real. Bottom line, you never feel as if you know enough. I plan on learning for the rest of my life.
Good luck with school, you will do great, and you’ll be glad you did it when you look back and it is all finished.
Funny you mention imposter syndrome. I had read about this phenomenon and included it in a research project for my undergrad leadership class. I have to admit that, eventhough I totally identify with it, I can’t help but feeling that I really am the imposter! hahaha…anyway I am glad you can relate. I wanted to mention to everyone that I have a classmate who is turning 60 in a few months and has only been a nurse for 6 years. She left a 30 year career in accounting to fulfill her dreams of becoming a nurse and now a NP. I am forturnate to call her my friend and she truly inspires me to keep at it.
Wow, I can’t believe I just stumbled on this site. I’m 53. I have been a nurse for 22 years. I started as a AD nurse, then my RN-BSN then an MSN in Nursing Education. I love being an Educator, but I want more and am starting a post-masters program to become an ANP this semester. I’m scared to death I don’t have the memory power to keep everything in I’ll need to know. I go back and forth from being excited and being scared to death.
Well, good luck! It isn’t impossible for an old dog to learn new tricks, as I just found out. Today I completed my last assignment, I am done! Woohoo! You can do it, too!
Thanks FNP Student. I just registered today for my 1st course -Patho and ANP semester. I did the math and if nothing happens I’ll finish August 2014. I’ll be 56 years! Not old of course, but I feel advanced for a new career.
Wow I am so glad to have found this site
I have a masters in community health nursing and am looking to go back for my fnp at 56. Will I get a job?
That depends on where you live, what specialty you will have, and what specifically you are looking for. Bottom line, though, NPs are in demand.
I just want to say that I love your blog! I just started FNP school and I am so stressed and overwhelmed. Reading your blog helps to alleviate a lot of the fears that I have. Plus, it makes me feel as though I’m not alone. I hope that you continue to post even though you are no longer a student. (Congrats by the way!) Your posts are inspiring and encouraging. Good luck in your career!
Hello! I’ve been following your progress for quite awhile now, as we have a lot in common. I’m 47 years old, been a RN for 20 years, lots of home health, hospice and ortho experience and will be graduating from Emory with my FNP in 63 days! I can totally relate to so many of your posts! I think you’re in Florida somewhere, and I’ll be moving back there after graduation. I’d love to chat sometime if you’re on Facebook or LinkedIn. Congrats again!
Yes, I am in Florida. Good luck with your new career!
Greetings from melbourne. Thanks for sharing your info. It really helped with my TAFE assignment due on Monday !
My question is: how to go from seeing 8 pts/day during week 2 of new job in family practice/urgent care clinic, to seeing 20 pts/day by next week as my doctor would strongly prefer? My first job: very frustrating so far.
Thank you.
Can you ask him to be a little less hasty, say increasing in smaller increments each week? 8-12-16-20? Deep breath, you can do it, hopefully they will be supportive.
Hi there!! You are truly an inspiration!! I am 42 year old LPN. I have been a nurse for 16 years now and like you started as an EMT. I am currently in an associate program for RN with the ultimate goal of being a FNP. I did triage for 12 years at a family practice and love, love, love assessing patients. I pray I can do this but as my other NP mentor (that just graduated this year at age 52)…one class at a time.
Just came across your blog, and spent a lot of time reading through your archive. Very interesting to me, as I’m in the midst of building a new grad FNP recruitment program for Take Care Health. It’s helpful for me to understand what FNP students and recent grads are passionate about, and what’s on your minds! 🙂
If you, or any of your fellow FNPs are interested in learning more about opportunities with Take Care Health clinics (FT, PT, or PRN), I’d love to speak with you. Or if there’s opportunity for us to partner in any way, I’m very open to a conversation.
Jackie
jackie.fitzgerald@takecarehealth.com
What might the first semester of nurse practitoner school be like? I will be starting soon and I am concerned about working fulltime as a nurse and
going back to grad school!!!!
Dee
That all depends on how many credits/courses you are taking. Is it online or in person? How stressful is your work? It all becomes a balance, and you will need to assess how much time and energy is required for work and school, and also very importantly, how much support and family responsibilities will you have?
Good luck!
I am almost done with my graduate program—actually 16 hours left in clinicals and a case study to write and present and then on to taking my comprehensive exam and certification exam and this journey wraps up……But we keep learning, don’t we?! I worked weekends-nights and the last 6 months before clinicals,bkshoe@ I worked part time. Since clinicals in August I have been unemployed doing clinicals full time. Oh yeah–I am 55yrs old 🙂 and crazy!!!
That all sounds very familiar!
I am 56 and just starting my fnp. Yikes!
Hello. It seems I cant find a contact page or your contact email here. I hope you read this. Is it possible to advertize on your blog under the blogroll for a np related website? Please do contact me if you allow.
Thank you!
Thanks for your interest, but I don’t have advertising on my page. If you have a website for the blogroll, let me know what it is and I will consider it.
Hello,
I’m following up with you regarding the list Online Nurse Practitioner Programs.com published entitled 100 Best of 2012: Nurse Practitioner Round-Up.
We emailed you last week to inform you of your nomination. We are now pleased to let you know that you have made the final list! You can view the entire list here: http://onlinenursepractitionerprograms.com/nurse-practitioner-roundup/
To promote your recognition on your website and social media accounts, we’ve created a badge for you to display. You can use the provided embed code below, or we can email you the badge once we hear back from you, as we can’t attach the badge to this contact form.
We hope this collection of top nurse practitioner resources will prove to be a valuable resource for you, your colleagues, and aspiring nurse practitioners.
Congratulations, and if you have any questions about how to incorporate the badge onto your site, please let me know – I’m happy to help!
Thank You,
Lauren
Thank you, Lauren, for your including me in your list of resources. I would be glad to put your badge on my blog site.
Thanks again, Ina Hyatt
I am the same age, have a masters in community health and want to get a fnp.
Lots of experience as a nurse. Will I get hired?
Hello New FNP. I am in my mid 20s, BSN, Med SUrg nurse for 1 year now, want to pursue NP. I am interested in Psych NP but do not want to limit my job opportunities. What specialty will you advise I do? Any advice for me so I make the most earning, get most job satisfaction and stay employed? By the way, i live in Daytona Beach, Fl.
I happened to find your site off of A Country Doctor … I, too, am ‘seasoned’, returning to school in my 50s to finish my BSN from being an ADN for decades, raising and homeschooling a very large brood, and at 57, starting a BSN-to-DNP program. I will be 60 next month (ouch), and should be done with my DNP/capstone project only 10 months from now. My goal is to graduate before I am 61. Part of schooling at this stage of life is that everything makes sense! One is able to draw on past clinical and life experiences; one is able to reason more succinctly. At this age, we are perfect for family medicine or internal med – exactly where the shortages are – because of our ‘sage-ness’.
I have so appreciated reading your older posts and find great comfort that I am not alone 🙂
Wow, congratulations!
Just home from my hospice nurse job and starting back into NP studies in two weeks. I am trying to decide how many hours I can handle with a full time job. any advice? Especially with Advanced Pharm. I’m in my 50’s like some of you here with no kids at home and lots of energy — cause women just keep getting better with age!
Sorry to take so long to reply. My experience was you can only do full-time work if school is part-time, depending on your energy level and time constraints. It does take more effort and time to absorb stuff in your 50’s than in your 20-30’s. I will say that when I reached the point of doing clinicals and my thesis, I had to quit working, it was just too much at that point for me. Good luck!
I too have gone back to the NP with s adult focus Its time consuming. I have just completed my first three classes. And I am now feeling a bit over whelmed.
I’m 56
Great to read the posts! I am 55 and have been a BSN nurse for over 30 yrs. I have taken the MAT- my friends think I am nuts but I also am considering doing the FNP masters program. We have just finished paying for the children’s education. This is something I want to do, but I wonder how much stress there will be !
One word answer: plenty! It will take a lot of dedication, time and effort. It all depends on how badly you want it, but it is do-able. I did find though, that at this age it takes much longer to get the info into your brain, lots more repetition, etc. See my post about learning and the aging brain. Good luck.
I am interested in your posts about retaining info in your 50s. I am 53 and thinking of becoming a psych np.
Hello. I too am 58 and have five classes to complete my np. Should I go back and do it?
To all who say ‘what if…’ just do it! While I remember sobbing the first two weeks of the program, wondering what the **** I got myself into .. I am now 9 months away from being DONE. At first, I had tried for a Master’s program; spots were tight and I was denied. I did get into a major University’s DNP program and am sooo glad I went this route instead. I don’t know about the learning different age brain thing, but I will say that many things actually seem much easier – everything makes sense! I don’t know if it’s a combination of having ‘been around the block’, but pieces fall into place and fit now. I had been out of the clinical area for some time, so meds are a BIG thing for me. Like anything else, however, practice-practice-practice.
My husband has a health problem and, frankly, I am glad I stayed the course. By the time I am done, I will be able to pick up where he may have to leave off. There’s just so much you can DO with this degree as well.
I’ve met a few professors that had their Master’s and went back in late 50s for their PhD. It _is_ doable 🙂
Diane
Hi you sound a lot like me. I have 4 dogs whom I love to death. My main hobbies are taking the dogs to lakes to play and swim and walk. I dabble in painting love to read. Anyway I work as a night shift Icu nurse for almost 15 years and Im really tired and feel like I need a change. Am interested in maybe becoming a Psych NP. I am considering taking an easier daytime recovery job to get through school but am worried because I am 53 and wondering if it is worth it. Do you think they will require doctorate in Colorado soon?? Thanks for your opinion!!
Thinking seriously about going back for my masters in FNP. Been a nurse along time. Am 61 an healthy. In. Tampa Bay area. Looking At online programs.
Would employers hire someone 63 or so? Looking at Keiser fnp program. Like any thoughts. Thank you for a wonderful blog page.
Yes you will get hired. Go for it!!!
Hello! what an excellent blog! I am also over 50 and in an FNP program.
Ok, so I am not the only one trying to keep up with a new role. Great to know it can be done. I am looking for preceptors and trying to connect with anyone I can. Any advice would be appreciated.
i just stumbled upon this blog as I was beginning to doubt myself about on whether or not I should be going for my NP or not.. I start in 3 weeks, 1 week after I turn 50! I am so relieved to hear from all of the “mid-aged” RN’s who have returned for their NP. I received a few textbooks in the mail yesterday and all of a sudden thought “OMG, am I really going back to school?” For the first time since applying, i was having 2nd thoughts. Now after reading your blog I am confident I am doing the right thing.. Will be alot of work but I am ready for the challenge.
Paula
Where is everyone atending for FNP? I’m 55, became an RN 2 years ago, and want to start FNP next year. Glad I found this post!
I attended Frontier Nursing University for FNP went back ( different school because FNU didn’t have program) for Post Masters for Psych. Graduated at age 59..Received FNP at age 55
I got my AGNP in 2016 and haven’t really embraced a full time NP job yet as no one will bite with only 30 years RN experience and no NP experience in areas I want to go (hospice or medical for psych). Thinking of going back for Psych/mental health but currently working on my DNP.. and at age 59.. And going to look up imposter syndrome — don’t even know the definition but I bet I can relate…