Problems with the aging nurses

Ruby Vee, BSN · Feb 6, 2012

hello community!
while this post may seem a little insensitive for some, others can totally relate. i shouldn't have to verbalize "age has nothing to do with the ability to do the job". but, as of recently the aging nursing population has refused to step down from the high paced work place environment when they clearly can see they're no longer fit to run with the 20-late 50's crowd. this is not to say some beyond their late 50s aren't able to hold their own, but i have a charge nurse who is well into her 70s who refuses to stand too long, assist patients with immobility issues, hell**excuse me** she refuses to work with patients with anything cardi related.
the question is: when will nurses accept like with any other field you have to know when your body has had enough of the? while we need nurses, of course, are we that desperate that we place the burden on others to ration with the census?

actually, this post seems a lot insensitive.

probably the aging nursing population has refused to step down from the high paced work place environment because they are unable to find one of those cushy desk jobs. (could that be because entitled, lazy twenty-somethings are going for the cushy desk jobs because they don't want to work nights, weekends, holidays, clean up poop or maybe even touch patients? let's not go there -- that would be just as ageist as your post!)

the thing is, i know great nurses of every age. and i know not-so-great nurses of every age . . . sadly, more of the latter are way younger than me. i can't stand too long, i have mobility issues of my own and i have various health issues that come with age . . . . i also have a wealth of knowledge and experience and could teach a new nurse a lot. i do as much as i can, and my colleagues are kind enough not to ask me to do certain things unless it's necessary. if it's necessary, i suck it up. i stood for hours last week when my patient was coding . . . and paid for it in pain the next day. but i did it.

however, my colleagues are just as kind to those pregnant nurses who don't want to lift, walk all the way down the hall, go into an isolation room or clean up anything smelly because it makes them nauseated. and the mothers who want off a few hours early to attend junior's soccer game.

i've been a nurse for 35 years and never been pregnant long enough to need accomodations . . . but i've certainly taken up the slack for pregnant co-workers who cannot -- or will not -- do their share of the work. and i've taken up the slack over the years for older co-workers who can't lift or stand for long periods of time. i've taken up the slack for co-workers with sports injuries who can't lift or stand. i may need more help now than i did 30 years ago, but dammit, i've given all the help my colleagues needed over the years. i don't feel guilty at all that i'm slowing down. i can still do my job, and i do it much better than many the new nurse who spends the entire shift in the break room or on facebook.

danarooo, BSN, RN · Feb 6, 2012

We do need nurses, and it would sure make it easier for all us new grads to get jobs if the aging nurse population would retire to clear the way (with the economy it's hard I know). With that being said, I know some 80 something nurses, and while some have serious limitations which require others to pick up the slack some are such a wealth of knowledge that I wished I could simply osmose out their knowledge and experience into my own head with simplay a touch.

I do think that if you are physically unable to take care of your patients and others with their own patient loads have to pick up your slack more often that not then another nursing related position with a lower activity level should be taken. Nurses are spread thin enough without the extra work caused by co-workers who constantly need help or are high maintenance and picky!

NurseBatzy · Feb 6, 2012

I usually don't post on the more controversial threads, like this one, but I have a story that might fit as an example. Now, I won't throw age into the post, but physical capacity.

I used to work with a nurse who used a walker outside of work, but not when she was working. A fantastic woman. Knowledge like nobody's business, experience the likes of which I won't likely see. Interpersonal skills, the whole nine. The unit was small, the rooms were like closets, with no room to move around, and we were constantly tripping over things just to get in the door.

One day there was a patient who fell out of bed. And then he coded. And he landed in front of the door. There were only 2 nurses in the unit. One nurse got the door open and dragged the patient away so this other, less physically capable nurse could get in. The code blue was called, CPR started by the more physically capable nurse. Unfortunately, these two nurses alone were unable to lift the patient back to bed, and less physically capable nurse could not get to the ground to perform CPR. Eventually, more help came and patient was dragged into the hallway to complete the code, which ended poorly.

Risk management felt that more physically capable nurse's compressions were inadequate after 2 minutes due to fatigue and no one to relieve her.

Interestingly, more physically capable nurse was older than less physically capable nurse. Take from this story what you will, I won't take sides. Old, young, hefty, skinny, short, tall, male, female, or other, we all have good and bad qualities, and we all need to know what we can and can't do.

~ A young(ish), hefty, tall, female nurse

OCNRN63, RN · Feb 7, 2012

We do need nurses, and it would sure make it easier for all us new grads to get jobs if the aging nurse population would retire to clear the way (with the economy it's hard I know). With that being said, I know some 80 something nurses, and while some have serious limitations which require others to pick up the slack some are such a wealth of knowledge that I wished I could simply osmose out their knowledge and experience into my own head with simplay a touch.
I do think that if you are physically unable to take care of your patients and others with their own patient loads have to pick up your slack more often that not then another nursing related position with a lower activity level should be taken. Nurses are spread thin enough without the extra work caused by co-workers who constantly need help or are high maintenance and picky!

Let me see if I have this right: we older nurses are supposed to retire so you new nurses can have our jobs.

Yeah, you guys aren't entitled at all. (That was sarcasm.)

As for that knowledge? No, you may not download it from us. Get it the way we did...the hard way, with work and studying, certification exams, etc.

loriangel14, RN · Feb 7, 2012

While you are discounting the older nurse as being invaluable because of physical limitations you are ignoring the valuable years of experience that they have.First of all I work with a 67 and 72 year old that can run rings around the rest of us PLUS they are an endless source of wisdom.

Your arrogance is astounding.

Whispera, MSN, RN · Feb 7, 2012

I think it's a tradeoff. The more experienced nurses help the less experienced through sharing their wisdom and knowledge about all sorts of things. The less experienced share their strength. If we all work together we can take quite nice care of our patients. Everyone has something to offer....

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Feb 7, 2012

while you may have a valid concern about your cn, i would caution you against stereotyping all nurses of a certain age, as each and every nurse is unique in their abilities and presentation.
i'll make a deal with you:
if you resist from condemning all middle-aged nurses as incapable, i will resist from condemning all 20-somethings, as cocky, arrogant, and short-sighted.
deal?
leslie

The OP has a valid point and did not come off as stereotyping. She clearly stated that some older nurses can hold their own but some physically cannot.

I work with a couple of nurses in their 70's. One of them can run circles around me and I'm 23. The other one, is a danger to herself and the patients. One night I really thought she was going to have a MI from the stress of the shift. She is also physically slow and I would be worried about her responding in a code in a safe and efficient manner .

Some nurses in their 60's and 70's have no choice but to work, to have money and insurance, I get that. However, at what point do you hang up your steth and stop putting yourself and patients at risk.

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Feb 7, 2012

"There but for the Grace of God Go I".
Someday you will be that nurse. Unable to retire because the profession you have devoted your life to repays you with no pension, no benefits, no nest egg. Forced into poverty on a system you have paid into your entire life that provides you with enough to either be hungry of have medical care and medicine and live below poverty level. Forced to try to rebuild that nest egg that took a life time to accumulate.......that you were forced by the government and you employer to put into the stock market to have it lost to the click of a mouse because of the greed and amoral behavior of a select wealthy few and corrupt government.
Maybe she is Stuck working because she has raised her children and paid for them to have a better life now to have nothing herself. Maybe she has outstanding medical bills from a spouse, is raising her grandchildren. What bothers you most? That they value her presence and you somehow feel they don't value yours? What makes it ok for you to feel she should go and you have the right to stay? It is not your place to say. I am sure administration knows of her capabilities and limitations and have accepted her on those terms.
I agree with Leslie......you agree to lay off us old bats and we will lay off talking about the lazy, self-indulged, selfish generation.

never mind

CapeCodMermaid, RN · Feb 7, 2012

If you resent picking up the slack of an older nurse who can't physically keep up, imagine how the older nurses feel picking up the slack new grads create by not knowing anything.

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Feb 7, 2012

If you resent picking up the slack of an older nurse who can't physically keep up, imagine how the older nurses feel picking up the slack new grads create by not knowing anything.

Valid point as well.

dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN · Feb 7, 2012

We do need nurses, and it would sure make it easier for all us new grads to get jobs if the aging nurse population would retire to clear the way (with the economy it's hard I know).

Was kind of wondering if/when this argument was going to be brought up. I hear it quite often from my peers. Like the older generation of nurses WANTED to lose their life savings and have to work a physically demanding job faaaar into when they probably expected to retire. Just to **** us youngins off.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Feb 7, 2012

if you resent picking up the slack of an older nurse who can't physically keep up, imagine how the older nurses feel picking up the slack new grads create by not knowing anything.

but if you were to actually say what you just said, you'd be accused of eating your young.

i've said the same thing on other threads, and i've been accused of bullying, young-eating and forgetting what it's like to be new. none are true.