b'|CAREERHow Do You Start or Change a Healthcare Career After 40?Advice for making a mid-career switch By Krystina Ostermeyer RN, BSN, CDEP erhaps youre feeling stale in your cur- imately 40 percent of all college students arethat you select will depend on the career rent career. Maybe you can pay the25 and older, and this number is expected topath, of course.bills, but youre not feeling as if yourincrease to 9 million students by 2024. Allied healthcare professionals, such as work is meaningful. Youre over 40, but youThe hurdle for most adults going back toMRI technologists, pharmacy technologists, dont want to stay in a job when youre onlyschool is often, How am I going to pay for it? dental hygienists, and phlebotomists are all feeling complacent. Youve investigatedThe first step is to complete the Freecareers that can earn decent salaries with-other careers and are wondering if startingApplication for Federal Student Aid, or theout lengthy education programs. For exam-a career in healthcare or changing your spe- FAFSA. Students who are over the age of 25ple, a phlebotomy technician program may cialty is right for you. no longer need to supply parental income,be completed in 1-3 months. Because these making some students more likely to qual- programs may be shorter, the cost may also THE ANSWER IS PROBABLY YES. ify for federal financial aid and Pell grantsbe less.Being over 40 need not be a deterrent towhen perhaps they wouldnt have been eligi- If youre interested in nursing, it is pru-starting a new career path. For example, theble previously. dent to do your research. There are various National Sample Survey of Registered NursesReview programs that may be available atoptions instead of the typical nursing school shows that 45 percent of all RNs are over theyour institution. Some institutions may havethat your Aunt Betty attended 40 years ago. age of 50. This same survey also states thatprograms that help students understandHere are a few examples:the average age of an RN is 47, with this agetheir finances in regard to education.increasing yearly! You should also be aware of tax credits;Online nursing schools. An ideal fit So, ladies and gentlemenheres a quickmost students are eligible for the Americanfor many nontraditional students, an guide on how to start or change your health- Opportunity Tax Credit and the Lifetimeonline program allows nursing students care career after the age of 40! Learning Credit, which can equate to a gooda format that fits their livesfitting in chunk of change with your tax return. work schedules, kids schedules, social FINANCING COLLEGE scheduleslife. Many online nursing The number of nontraditional students, orKNOW YOUR OPTIONS schools can be pricey, so it is important students 25 and older, is growing. The U.S.There are various education options availableto research finances before enrolling.ISTOCK Department of Education states that approx- to nontraditional learners. The programAccelerated BSN programs. An accel-www.elitecme.com |2019| EDUCATION 11'