Nursing Graduate Proves – at Age 45 – It’s Never Too Late to Go Back to School

Sean Hennessey

Date

November 12, 2025

Topics

Area of Expertise

Acute Care

Midlife career change has Lisa Faucon happier than ever, and looking ahead to life’s new chapter

It was a scroll on Instagram that changed the trajectory of Lisa Faucon’s life.

A 45-year-old dietitian in San Francisco, Faucon was tired of her career and was looking for something new. That’s when she went on Instagram and saw a message from an old college roommate who had become a nurse.

“We hadn't talked in about 25 years, and when I saw Vanessa’s message, I instantly Facetimed to catch up,” recalled Faucon, “and I told her how I wasn't very happy and how I should have been a nurse like her.”

That friend, Vanessa Henry, didn’t hesitate with advice and encouragement.

“I instantly said, ‘You can definitely do it, Lisa. If anyone can, it’s you,’” Henry told her college friend. “I meant what I said, and I was absolutely right.”

That call and ensuing encouragement to work in a hospital setting was just what the doctor ordered.

“Vanessa said, ‘Lisa, you’re in the perfect place to start over, if you want to go back to school and become a nurse, you absolutely can,’” Faucon said. “I remember laughing and saying, ‘Can I really do this? We didn’t even have the internet in college! No Google, just library books and microfiche. I wasn’t sure I could keep up with how fast everything moves now, or with students half my age.’”

The Southern New Hampshire native took the plunge, first taking her prerequisites at community college (which became free in California after the pandemic). Faucon earned A’s which gave her the confidence to keep going.

But there was one problem – the waiting list.

It wasn’t just a two-year wait to get into a two-year nursing program, it was a two-year wait to enter the lottery to see if you were accepted into the program. That two-year wait could be all for naught.

“And I said, ‘Wow, if I do it that way, sure, I'll save a lot of money, but I'll be in my 50’s, and I just didn't want to wait until my 50’s,” reasoned Faucon. “I started looking at some accelerated programs.”

Enter Instagram. Again.

“I think the MGH Institute popped up in my Instagram feed, and I hadn't even given the school a thought,” noted Faucon. “I thought, ‘There's no way I'm going to get into the MGH Institute program. I'm not smart enough, and I haven't done enough.’ Even though I was getting straight A's, I still didn't think I would be able to get in.”

Faucon was right; she wasn’t accepted the first time into the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program largely because she hadn’t completed retaking her prerequisites, (the prerequisites she passed after college had since expired). Undaunted and undeterred, she plowed ahead.

“I told myself, ‘That’s okay. I’ll finish my courses, strengthen my essay, write more letters, and apply again,’” she said.

With prerequisites completed for the second time in her life, the next application was the charm. Not only was Faucon accepted into the MGH Institute’s ABSN program, but she earned a scholarship.

Fast forward one year; Faucon graduated with a 3.95 GPA and thoroughly enjoyed the clinical rotations, most of which were within the MGB system.

“The teaching and clinical rotations were just phenomenal,” said Faucon. “The professors were so passionate and deeply invested in our success, they challenged us, but they also supported us every step of the way. The rotations offered incredible exposure and hands-on learning opportunities across so many specialties. I loved every minute of it. After 18 years as a dietitian, I was already comfortable walking into patient rooms and connecting with people, but nursing allowed me to take that connection to an entirely new level. But the year wasn’t without its challenges, which included a steep technical learning curve.

“I had to completely relearn how to learn. When I was in college, we took notes with a pencil and paper. Today, the pace is so fast that you just can’t do that anymore - everything is digital. I had to learn how to use a Mac, sync it with an iPad, download PowerPoints, and take notes with a stylus. I remember not even knowing how to create a folder to save my documents during my first Health Assessment class. It was humbling but also empowering. My younger classmates were incredibly kind and patient, guiding me through it all without hesitation! And while I had a lot to learn, I knew how to work hard, stay organized, focus, eliminate distractions, and make sacrifices; habits I’d built throughout my career.”

When it came time for Faucon to officially be pinned and welcomed into the field of nursing, the moment was every bit as emotional as she imagined. It was Henry, the college roommate and ICU nurse for 23 years, who stood proudly by her side to perform the pinning.

Two women pose for a selfie — Lisa Faucon (l) with college roommate and fellow nurse, Vanessa Henry, at the recent School of Nursing pinning ceremony. Henry, who convinced Faucon that it wasn’t too late to change careers, was by her friend’s side for the pinning.

“To have Vanessa there, the person who first told me I could do this, my best friend from 27 years ago who I met on the 8th floor of Day Hall at Syracuse University, the one who believed in me long before I believed in myself, made it all come full circle,” Faucon noted. “It felt like the perfect ending to an incredible chapter and the beginning of a brand-new one. It was truly one of the proudest and most meaningful moments of my 45 years.”

“I was so deeply honored,” Henry said. “I knew I had to be in Boston for that moment, to see Lisa walk across that stage and finally become the nurse she was always meant to be. Watching her achieve this dream was incredibly moving. To know I played even a small part in inspiring her to change her life for the better is something I will cherish forever.”

When it came to the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), the rigorous test nursing graduates need to pass to become registered nurses, Faucon passed with excellence. As a candidate proceeds through the exam, the NLCEX uses a computer-adaptive testing (CAT) system that adjusts the difficulty of questions in real-time. When the system is 95% confident that a candidate’s ability is above or below the passing standard, it can stop the test, which can happen anywhere between 75 and 145 questions. Faucon needed just 85 questions, which speaks to her mastery of the material.

Now that she’s a registered nurse, Faucon hopes to land a job in the Cardiac Surgical Intensive Care Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital, where she is currently working as a critical care technician.

“The work is not only exciting and challenging, but I’ve never experienced such a positive, collaborative environment,” said Faucon. “I genuinely look forward to every shift I get to work there.”

Excitement about the possibilities from a nurse-to-be, and from one who’s been there for 25 years.

“I’ve always loved being a nurse, and it makes me so happy that Lisa found her way here too,” Henry said. “I can’t wait to see her grow into whatever kind of nurse she wants to be. I know she’ll thrive in whichever one she chooses. To watch my good friend step into her calling and find the same purpose and joy that nursing has given me is incredibly special.”

For Faucon, that’s the plan, and there’s no looking back.

“I’m beyond proud of myself,” Faucon said, her voice catching slightly. “This past year was the most transformative, beautiful, and fulfilling year of my life. I’ve never felt more alive, more certain of my purpose, or more grateful to finally be doing what I was meant to do. Being back in Boston and this happy has brought so much joy; not just to me, but to my whole family. To see the pride in my parents’ eyes, to feel their happiness for me — I couldn’t have asked for a greater gift. Nursing has changed me in ways I never could have imagined, and it’s the happiest I’ve ever been.”