My Daring Career Pivot: Starting Nursing School at 39
There is a particular kind of discomfort that comes from doing work you are good at while knowing in your bones it is not the work you were meant to do.
For twelve years I have been excellent (to my abilities at least hehe) at my job in healthcare. I have been developed, built strong relationships, and by every external measure I was succeeding. But I started to feel a quiet ache. I could see the problems I wanted to solve. I could strategize about them in meetings. I could present solutions based on data and research. But there was something I could not do. I could not actually put my hands on a patient. I could not be the one delivering care. For a good amount of my career I had been close enough to patient care. From events to supporting clinics. I loved going into the offices and being able to talk to patients. As my role changed and it became more operational my disposition changed. I was unfulfilled.
This is the story of how at 39 years old, after a twelve year career in healthcare administration and business, I decided to start nursing school. Not because I suddenly woke up one day and decided to change everything. But because I finally listened to what I have been trying to tell myself all along.
The Spark That Reignited Everything
The turning point came in an unexpected place. During my first semester of my MBA program, I had the privilege of sitting in classes with professors who were also practicing physicians. We were not just talking about business strategy. We were talking about population health. We were talking about how healthcare systems actually work and how to make them better. We were talking about the why behind everything. I shared with them my background is in public health and I probably over talked during that class period.
Sitting in those classes something inside me woke up. I remembered why I fell in love with healthcare and medicine in the first place. It was not about climbing a corporate ladder. It was about people. It was about the intersection of systems and human connection. It was about using my gifts to help someone live better.
But here is what I realized in those moments. As brilliant as the strategy is, as important as the policy work is, I was not where I needed to be. Yes, I want to know how it all works to impact change. But I wanted to go deeper. It was not where my heart was calling me to be. I could see the patient, but I could not touch them. I could advocate for change, but I could not be the change. Not yet.
The Question That Changed Everything
After I finished my MBA program, I did something I do not do often enough. I got quiet. I prayed. I asked myself the real question that nobody asks you in performance reviews or career planning conversations.
What do you actually want this next chapter of your life to be about?
And in that quietness the answer came back clear. Nursing. Wait…WHAT?
I remember being surprised by it. Genuinely surprised. My entire life I had wanted to be a doctor. When I was in high school I wrote my senior capstone project about becoming a pediatrician. I collected information about medical school, residencies, specialties. That was the dream. That was the goal. But life happens. Paths shift. And somewhere along the way I convinced myself that that dream was behind me. Too late. Too expensive. Too much time left in my current career to walk away from.
Then one day while looking for something else entirely, I found that old high school capstone. And I opened it.
On one page was everything about pediatrics. But on the back of that same page was a section I had completely forgotten about. It was about the pathway to nursing. And something in me recognized it immediately as a sign.
The Research That Confirmed It
Once I allowed myself to actually consider nursing I started researching. And what I discovered shifted everything.
Not only is it not too late to become a nurse at 39. But nursing is not a dead end from a career standpoint. It is actually a gateway. With a nursing degree I can become a Nurse Practitioner. I can become a Clinical Nurse Leader. I can specialize in any number of areas. I can stay in the healthcare industry I love while finally stepping into direct patient care, which is what my soul has been asking for.
The math worked out. The timing worked out. And more importantly, my heart aligned with my mind for the first time in years.
What I Have Learned Preparing for Nursing School
If you are reading this and you are sitting where I was a year ago, here are the real things I have learned that might help you.
It is never too late, but it requires intentionality
Nobody is going to hand you permission to change your life. You have to give it to yourself. And then you have to back that permission up with action. For me that meant researching programs, taking prerequisites, building a study plan, and getting honest about what I was willing to sacrifice to make this happen. It is a big decision. Treat it like one.
Your previous career is not wasted time, it is foundation
I spent twelve years learning healthcare systems, building leadership skills, understanding how organizations work, and developing resilience. That is not going away when I become a nurse. It becomes part of how I practice. Your expertise matters. Your experience matters. Nursing school is not erasing your past. It is building on it.
You need a community that believes in you
This journey has required me to be very honest with people I trust about what I am doing and why. I have mentors who are nurses. I have classmates who are also career changers. I have friends and family who have celebrated this decision even when it looked crazy from the outside. Find your people. You cannot do this alone.
Pray about it. Then pray about it again
For me this decision is rooted in faith. I prayed about whether this was the right move. I prayed about the timing. I prayed about my capacity to do this while working full time. And I keep praying because there will be hard moments when you need to know you made the right choice. And trusting Him when I feel crazy.
Research Programs Thoroughly
Not all nursing programs are created equal. Look at accreditation, program length, clinical requirements, cost, flexibility, and alumni experiences. For me an accelerated BSN program made sense because I already have a bachelor’s degree (and other degrees) and I wanted to move forward efficiently. For you it might be different. Do your research.
Your Age Is Actually an Asset
At 39 I bring life experience, emotional intelligence, and resilience that a 22 year old fresh out of high school does not have. I have been through hard things. I have learned from failure. I have developed patience and grace. These are not weaknesses in nursing. They are superpowers. Your maturity and experience will make you a better nurse, not a worse one.
What Comes Next
I will soon begin my first semester of nursing school at an accelerated BSN program. I am terrified and excited in equal measure. I know there will be nights when I question everything. There will be exams that humiliate me. There will be moments when I wonder what I was thinking walking away from a stable career. But on the flip side, I know I am going to nerd out. I know that I am going to enjoy learning. I know that I am gong to take it all in.
Because I know why I am doing this. I know what called me here. And I know that at 39 years old I am brave enough to answer that call.
If you are sitting with a quiet ache right now. If you are wondering if it is too late to change. If you are sensing that there is something more you are supposed to be doing with your gifts and your life.
It is not too late. You are not too old. Your dream is not too far behind you.
Get still and listen to your heart. Get quiet enough to hear it. And then be brave enough to follow it wherever it leads.
You belong exactly where you are being called to go.
All my love,
Des
I am a proud holder of a Master’s Degree in Public Health, where my focus was primarily on Community Health. My academic and professional journey has been deeply enriched by research in the field of Stress Management. This has not only broadened my understanding but also deeply influenced the insights and perspectives I share here. This blog is a testament to that journey, offering resources and guidance tailored to your personal journey of faith, wellness and self-care.
