Never Too Late to Learn: How Kathi H. Transformed Her Nursing Career at 73
For more than 50 years, Kathi H. has explored the full spectrum of nursing. She’s worked in the emergency department, on a cardiac unit, as a school nurse, in case management, and in leadership. She’s taught future nurses and completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) at age 62.
But at 73, Kathi took on a new challenge: Enrolling in Maryville University’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Post-Master’s Certificate program.
“I’ve always been a lifelong learner,” she says. “When I finished my DNP, I thought that was it. But the need for psychiatric mental health care is so great, and I realized I still had more to contribute. I never imagined I’d be in school again at 73, but here I am.”
A career across the spectrum of nursing
Kathi’s career began in the early 1970s when she earned an associate degree in nursing. She went on to work in medical-surgical, cardiac, and ER settings; serve as a school nurse and case manager; lead teams; and teach the next generation of nurses.
“I’ve been fortunate to do a little bit of everything,” she says. “Each role gave me a new perspective, and together, they’ve shaped the way I see patients and their families.”
Her years in the field also gave her a front-row seat to the evolution of nursing.
“When I first started, we didn’t talk much about the mental health side of care,” she recalls. “Now we understand how deeply physical and mental health are connected.”
Pursuing advanced practice to expand her voice
Even with decades of experience, Kathi wanted to push herself further.
She had been a registered nurse long enough to see gaps in care and policy — and she often felt she didn’t have enough of a voice to address them. That desire to shape care more directly led her to continue her education and build more advanced nursing knowledge.
She first earned her master’s degree quickly at Florida Atlantic University and then, at age 62, completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice.
“I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it,” she recalls. “I still remember walking across the stage with my doctorate — it was overwhelming. It reminded me that learning doesn’t stop just because you reach a certain age.”
Earning the DNP gave her the advanced knowledge and authority she wanted to advocate for underserved patients and to design and deliver care the way she believed it should be done.
Identifying a critical gap in mental health
Kathi continued volunteering at free and community clinics, where she could focus on immigrants, seasonal workers, and people living well below the poverty line.
Over time, she noticed another troubling trend: Clinics often had family or women’s health nurse practitioners on hand, but virtually no psychiatric mental health providers.
She saw patients struggling with untreated depression, trauma, and addiction — and nowhere to refer them. Meanwhile, her own family had experienced the toll of late-onset mental illness and the shortcomings of fragmented care.
Rather than watch the gap widen, Kathi decided to fill it.
“No matter where I was — in schools, in the ER, in case management — the need for mental health services was always there,” Kathi says. “Sometimes it was hidden, sometimes it was right on the surface, but it was always present. I realized that if I had the knowledge and skills, I could help meet that need.”
Choosing Maryville for psychiatric mental health
At 72, Kathi enrolled in Maryville University’s psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) certificate program.
She was looking for something challenging but practical — a program that blended therapy and medication management instead of treating them as separate worlds. Maryville’s approach lined up perfectly with how she already pictured practicing: One provider who can assess, diagnose, follow, counsel, and prescribe so patients get consistent care and build real trust.
What also stood out to her was the faculty. They weren’t just academics; they were active practitioners who wove current, real-world insights into their lessons. The clinical placements were clearly laid out and gave her supervised experience with a wide range of patients.
Kathi admits she was nervous at first.
“I thought, ‘Am I really going to be able to keep up with students who are 30 or 40 years younger than me?’” she says with a laugh.
But the support she found at Maryville made the difference.
“The faculty were so encouraging,” she explains. “They understood that we all had jobs and families. They really wanted us to succeed.”
Applying her new skills — and inspiring others
As a Maryville graduate, Kathi integrates her psychiatric mental health training into both practice and teaching.
“The PMHNP program has given me a whole new lens,” she says. “I can recognize mental health needs more quickly and support patients more effectively. And when I teach, I can pass that perspective on to my students — that caring for the whole person includes their mental health.”
She also feels energized by being able to contribute in a new way after so many years in the profession.
“The need for mental health care is only growing,” she explains. “I’m grateful that I can be part of addressing it.”
Looking back, Kathi hopes her story shows others that it’s never too late.
“My advice is: Don’t let age or fear hold you back,” she says. “If you feel called to learn, to try something new, to grow in your career — do it. Nursing is so diverse, and you never know where it might take you.”