you can definately do this.
It sounds like you are a very "hands on" person.
You may want to get your lpn/lvn first depending on whether or not they have that in your state and what their status there is.
An LPN program is very hands on, and you don't have to have college courses to get in.
You can get your RN or BSN from there and in 12 months you'll be done with the lpn program and you'll know whether it is for you or not as oppossed to getting all your college courses out of the way and then deciding it isn't for you.
I'm not saying doing what you're doing is the wrong way to go. I'm just basing it off a general stereotype, which usually is probably a bad thing but in your case maybe not.
It wouldn't hurt to at least explore the idea and see which one is right for you.
You DEFINATELY aren't too old to start nursing school.
As far as needles go, I used to be the same way only it wasn't needless necessarily, it was blood--more specifically MY BLOOD. I could cut myself open doing something stupid and it wouldn't bother me but if you stuck a needle in me the second I saw that blood I was out like a light.
IV therapy and all that nonsense scared me to death however I found that just staring right at the needle and saying okay BRING IT BABY! worked out really well. No more passing out.
I had no problem sticking someone else, it was just when I got stuck.
I still pass out when donating blood, but having lab drawn or whatever no longer bothers me.
You'll definately get over it I'm sure of that.
Good luck with your endeavors and keep us updated either way!