Graduate RN at 57 years old

Nurses General Nursing

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:sarcastic:Here's my brief history: I earned my LPN way back in 1981. Worked for a short while in PCU (back then: Progressive Care Unit), Physician's offices & a little home health care. , but left the field to open a small custom bake shop for 10 years ( which was very successful, but always kept being reminded that my true passion was to be an RN). Now, I am excited & proud to announce, I will be graduating from an ADN program this December (on my birthday!) at 57 years old. I plan to continue toward my BSN, & be around 60+ then! The reality is, most nurses at my age are thinking about retiring, as I am now starting my new career! Is there hope for me finding a job in the world of younger applicants? Will I be accepted positively as a new nurse? I feel so much younger than my actual age, but I know the younger nurses may see me as a "senior", & of course, that is not how I see myself.

Any older new grads out there/

Specializes in ED; Med Surg.

Dear Bruce Wayne,

Just a heads up. I am 55 years old and a new nurse. In school I ran rings around the other students who were whining that 12 hours was too long to work. I work full time nights on a busy med surg floor and continue to "keep up" with the younger nurses. I have been at the same facility for 15 years working shift work and have only called out a handful of times. I also teach others the computer system and actually know how to use a keyboard. I plan on working for another 15 years if my feeble old body and feeble husband can take it. Age has nothing to do with performance. Just my humble opinion.

PS I second what OCRN said!!

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Hey I often say things simply to be devil's advocate and advance the conversation. I'm happy that my weak arguments have been able to be countered so successfully.

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Actually, I know a couple of unit managers that do think along Bruce's line. One actually said that her vacancy was going to the male applicant because he wouldn't get pregnant! She figured even if he did take paternity leave (yes, we have it up here) she could deal with it easier than having to deal with morning sickness, missed days, and having to keep the job open even when she knew the applicant planned on resigning after her year of mat leave.

Another will hire male new grads before females because she's fed up of the drama on our unit.

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.
Actually, I know a couple of unit managers that do think along Bruce's line...

To be real, a lot of managers do.

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Specializes in ICU.

Yes, ageism is alive and well. I know managers who have been trying to find ways to "get rid" of the older nurses, but mainly because they make more money than the newer hires. All of our older nurses are quite proficient with computers and everything else; that hasn't been an issue. I have noticed that most of our hires this year have been in the 22 year-old range, but when "poop hits the fan," they call the older ones for advice! If you are going to be a new nurse~at new nurse pay~ then hopefully age won't be an issue.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Emergency, CEN.

If you were interviewing a young female nurse would you be thinking "Hmmm, I wonder if she's married? If she is, I wonder if she has kids or is planning to get pregnant? Wow, if she gets pregnant, I wonder how much maternity time she's going to need? How many times is she going to get pregnant? Am I going to have to make accommodations if she wants to breastfeed? Is she going to be calling off frequently because her kid is always picking up the latest virus/gi bug? What about her husband? Is their marriage stable, or is there going to be constant drama? Is she going to be difficult about working off shifts/holidays/weekends?

​See how that works?

Bruce Wayne and OCRN are completely right. I got the "how old are your kids, are you going to be out a lot taking care of them if they are sick" attitude. The managers hiring are always concerned about covering those shifts. We've all seen what resentment happens when someone likes to call out once a week or whenever they feel like it.

The trick is to address it without being asked. I used the "you're probably wondering this... This is my plan for dealing with it" in my interview. You really have to sell yourself. Figure out what they might worry about with you and tell them why they don't have to.

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Wow! thanks for all the encouraging words about me being "a 57 year old RN graduate" & congratulations to those of you who are right there in my shoes. No I will not be getting pregnant & leaving on maternity leave, or calling in because my children are sick or have no baby sitter, or out partying too much the night before. As for Bruce Wayne's "devil advocate" :) comments about if sitting across desk conducting interview--I appreciate your thoughts because that prepares me for answers in case those questions do come up at interview time.

Oh, & by way, for the gender mystery.... I'm a married woman:)

Next question (need advice):

After graduation, a job will probably require me to complete my BSN within 3- 5years (I'll be 60-62 if it takes that long) Okay, thats what I'm planning , but had no idea about that requirement until 1/2 way thru this program. I thought, yeah, I will finally be the RN I always wanted to be, & then get certified into a specialty, like emergency or peri op. Obviously not that easy:(

Now I still have the education loans to pay. For those of you in management, what are your thoughts?

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Specializes in Med Surg, Hospice.

Whoo Hoo! Another one who pursued the dream that was over the age of 40! It's so nice to find another who decided to just go for it. I went back at 46 to start my BSN program. I did 4 years of part time before finally winning a scholarship at work (they only took 1 person out of my city, and I was fortunate enough to be the recipient) and was able to start full time in January 2012. I will graduate in December... at 51. And I have a job waiting, so I don't have to go through the will anyone hire me phase.

My Mom just told me about a lady who goes to water aerobics with her who has a daughter who started nursing school when she was 60. She graduated at 64 and is currently employed and has no plans to retire. So, yes, you can get hired after 50.

Congratulations on your graduation! It's nice to find another kindred spirit. :)

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.
... For those of you in management, what are your thoughts?

Again, congrats!

As I hinted previously, unless required, I wouldn't bother with the BSN. Credits are expensive, and the time dedicated will be subtracted from that available for your family, friends, hobbies, and your personal chill-out time. (I love my time off!)

Financially, we need to factor in how long we'll remain working, and whether the thousands expended in college will be reasonably recouped.

Otherwise, taking specialty classes in favorite areas now and then, or even obtaining certifications that don't necessitate a BSN would be great ideas IMHO.

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Yes, & thanks again for the 'congrats!

I read your advice the first time & it has made me do some re- thinking. I posted my question this last time to get some more viewpoints. The area I live in is over saturated with nursing schools ,so there are too many new grads here. All the hospitals here want the 'Magnet' status, so they all require BSN+ God willing, I'll probably retire at 72. That means 15 years to work. Never ever thought I'd have to work til that age, but all retirement savings was lost in the economy crash of ' 08:(

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