Well, you're going to be 50 soon... you might as well be 50 doing something you like.
this post was submitted on 11 Apr 2026
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No Stupid Questions
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No such thing. Ask away!
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Not stupid at all!
Though I've heard that the path to being an NP is faster from RN than switching to PA. Might be worth looking at.
Worst case scenario, you end up having to job jump between PA and nursing until you find a job that lets you settle into a specific practice/position. Which is harder in middle age, but isn't prohibitive imo.
From the patient side of things, an NP or PA with practical experience as a nurse is like gold. An MD might have more education and a broader knowledge base because of that; but nobody can match the hands on, dedicated skills of someone that's done what you're proposing. The best providers I have ever had in twenty years plus of disability have been the ones like that. You've not only been there and done that, you could teach all of it purely from experience.
So stupid? Hell no! The only stupid part is that the industry is so fucked that an experienced nurse wants to stop doing that job. What you'll bring to the table is going to help people. That's never stupid. It will be a harder road for you in some ways (though not as physically brutal as nursing for damn sure), but at least it will be different.
If you decide to go that route, good on you :)
NP and PA are both reasonable options. NP is probably faster, but both can end up at about the same place.
Wouldn't it be easier to go from RN to ARNP than starting over to train as a PA?
No
Would recommend the NP route, especially starting as an RN.
Short answer: no.
Long answer: what 's the worst that could happen? Best case scenario is that you achieve what you set out to achieve. Worst case scenario is that it doesn't work out and have to go back to nursing - albeit with new knowledge. So even in that situation, you could leverage your knowledge to improve your position.
I know someone who worked in law and switched to the transportation sector (started studying again) at just above 30. Not 46, but not fresh out of high school, either. I met someone yesterday who used to be a restaurant boss and reschooled to be become a train attendant. You would be far from the only person doing something like that - and even if you were - as I said, what's the worst that could happen? Go for it.
Random internet people doesnt know this better than you.