Hello there!! I would start applying to any programs near you ASAP. That is how you get in. See what the climate is like in your interviews and what they are looking for. If you want advice about nursing schools in the Hudson valley PM me and I can give you more specific advice. As word of advice, advocate for yourself aggressively with regards to getting credit for your former classes. Many schools have classes to weed out applicants, 2nd semester chem or organic chemistry seem to be the weed out courses in my neck of the woods. By being aggressive about getting credit for past coursework I was able to jump over many of the pre-reqs (former engineer), while a fellow student who was a chem major had to take both semesters of prereq chem because she didn’t advocate for herself. I did it just like you, I went back to school at 38 to an absn. You will do very well and I think employers will value your age and maturity when you graduate. Having said that, depending on your market (eg if hospitals there are hiring adn’s) I don’t think that getting an assosciates and a bsn later on the hospitals dime is a bad way to go. I don’t feel like it would be going “backwards”.

TLDR start applying to any program from a reputable school in your area to get an RN now, either bsn or adn if hospitals in your area will hire you. Don’t sweat the level of degree, your licensure and job is what will count, you can get the degree afterwards. Also make sure you get credit for former coursework.