Is this a pipedream?

Nope.

Where there is a will there is a way.

I think we are never too old to go out and pursue our dreams!

I'm starting school in the fall to become a nurse. I'm so excited! My sons (all 3 in their 20s) are my biggest cheerleaders. They think it's awesome that I'm going to school. I'm 47.

I say go for it!

Keep trying.

After being home for 17 years I got a job.

I did have to accept a part time job which I was 'over qualified' for to get a reference. But now I am fully employed in a job I like. I'm not getting rich. I couldn't raise a family on my wages. But when the time comes I will be able to support myself.

I was bluntly honest about the 17 year gap both in my resume and in interviews. I figured I didn't want to surprise anyone with my 'age' if I left all the dates off as it was suggested I do at a resume class I took that my state offered free.

Be yourself. Keep plugging. You an do it.

I can thank the encouragement of the community here for keeping me going during my 2 year job search

I agree. I know and worked with at least 2 nurses who went to school after 55.
As someone who worked in the OR for 20 years,I would advise you to go to nursing school or LVN school, though. Surgical tech is a young persons job which involves being on your feet for several hours with no break. Pretty sure I could not have done it at that age. It is a fun job, though.

You may hear that you have to be an RN with a BS to get a job now, but in my part of the country, that is not true. Definitely something to look into in your area.

Go for it! Don't let fear keep you from pursuing your goal.

Even if for some reason you can't get a job as a surgical tech, you could take medical mission trips.

In 7 years time, you will be 55. You can either be a 55 year old surgical tech (or whatever) or you can be 55 and...retired? It's up to you but I think it's perfectly possible,and never too late to pursue a dream.

I don't think it's impossible at all. Maybe something to consider would be checking to see if you can take some of your additional general college classes/credits that you'll need to complete your degree online now so you can do them from home while you're homeschooling your kids? You could do them one or two at a time if needed. At least it would be a head start in that direction and you'd have less to do once your kids are done with school.

You can do it. I know you can.

You can do it. But considering how much time you would want to spend working after your degree, maybe you should consider some 2 year programs. I know a lot of women that went back to school in their 40s to get two year degrees/certifications.

Consider also taking online classes now or going part-time in the evenings. A class per semester adds up quickly.

Yes, very important to consider your area as to whether you can get hired with an ADN vs BSN. I can't get a job in a hospital in my immediate area without a BSN, even with 17 years experience on a cardiac floor. They don't care, they want BSNs. So I'm going back to school while working in a Dr's office.

Maybe you might think about Medical Assistant? MAs are in demand in offices in my area to do basic things like draw blood and get vital signs. Less school, less student loans, a bit easier on a 55 year old than starting off in something demanding like floor nursing or surgical tech. Of course, less pay, but that might not matter to you. Just something to think about.

One of my motto's is "Never give up on a dream". When you fall down, get right back up and keep going. If you have enough determination anything is possible. Or, as a lyric from my favorite band Marillion goes, "Talk about failure, to fall is not to fail, failure isn't about falling down, failure is staying down." That's from a song called, "Rich". 

One of my dreams from when I was a teen was to get my photos on my favorite singers album. This was in 1977-back then we didn't have CD's we had albums. I kept that dream alive and in college in my sophomore year I fell in love with photography. Instead of continuing with my major of early childhood education I switched in my junior year and pursued becoming a professional photographer. Now that dream burned even more deeply. The singer's name was Al Stewart. Yeah, I know-no one knows him now. Back then he had a big hit with "Year of the Cat" and "Time Passages". I liked him because he wrote great lyrics that told stories, often about history, not the typical silly I love him, does he love me crap. 

Time went on and I finally saw him in concert at a small place where I could take photos of him in concert. I did that a few times and in 1993 it happened. After much negotiation I got 5 of my photos published inside the CD booklet of a live album of his called "Rhymes in Rooms" that sold internationally. I never gave up my dream and it finally happened. 

So, in answer to your question-no it's not a pipedream at all! Age is just a number. Your mind, your experience and your work ethic counts for a lot. Homeschooling your children takes a lot of dedication and work. It is more than a full time job-it should count as one and then some! So you've got that going for you. I homeschooled my DS from grades 6-12. He has severe ADHD so I know how difficult it is, and how rewarding. 

If homeschooling your child now takes up all of your time and energy that's okay. I completely understand. There will be plenty of time for your schooling afterwards. The point is 55 is not old! It is middle age. Got that? MIDDLE. There are many years to come after 55. My father is 76 and is still working full time. He is an IT professional. He says it keeps his mind sharp and he loves what he does. 

It sounds like this work is where your heart lies and I can tell you working in a job that is your passion is bliss. I ended up working for a photographer's studio for 4 years after college and it was the best foundation I could have asked for. It was a Mom and Pop business that did all kinds of photography-weddings, portraits, commercial work, and studio work. By the time I was finished (I stopped to have my son) I was running the place. I learned how to do the photography and run a business. After a year at home with my son I started my own wedding photography business which I truly loved doing. I stopped to homeschool DS. Now it's time for me to start again, but I think I'm going to concentrate on children's portraits instead. Still deciding. I love working for myself, but the best part is doing what I love and am meant to do.

Good luck to you and remember-don't listen to the naysayers or anyone else. Never give up, and you can accomplish anything!

Debbie in MD.

 

You should do it!  Lots of people continue in the medical field well into their 70s. 

As I learned when I went back to school after I raised my kids, it's never too late to write your next chapter.

Of course I know who Al Stewart is. Love his music, and how cool you did that. I have never stopped dreaming and found a relationship that makes me happy after a very bad one, founded my own business, and changed careers midlife. I'd rather die on my way to something better than live dwelling in misery.

I hope I don't sound like a 'Debbie Downer' (and my experience of working in New Zealand may be quite different from your location) but my view is that it's one thing to get a job at 55, but I think starting a new career in your 50s is more of a challenge. I'm 53 and have worked as a lawyer since age 23, although I did take 8 years out in my late 30s/early 40s for extra study and to work for an NGO in the linguistic field.

My experience, at least in the legal world, is that there's not much interest in 'mature' graduates. Yes, many of us will have to work into our late 60s and early 70s in order to be able to retire, but that won't necessarily be in career mode, unless it's an established career or perhaps some extension of/transition from previous experience.

I would start looking at the kinds of roles you're interested in, look to see what study is expected and the kind of experience that employers are looking for. Also the demands of the job e.g. is it shift work, physically demanding, etc Maybe you'd be interested in some study anyway, even if there's no certainty about employment outcomes, but can you do the say 2 yrs and still get the kind of role you want. I've been fortunate to always be in employment but through the experiences of a number of friends and colleagues, my impression is that finding a professional job after your early to mid 50s is not that easy, even if you have years of experience. At least in law firms and the legal field, employers are looking for someone younger who'll put in the long hours and who has a potentially long career ahead of them.

Do hope it works out for you