regarding age entering nursing

Fiona59 · Dec 13, 2007

Do you really want to go back to school fulltime and deal with studying, essays, clinicals and class politics?

Clinicals are not only during the day shift they happen when there is time for you on the units.

RN is a four year degree, PN is two years. Both have waiting lists depending on the school and province involved.

Do you like the idea of being on your feet for up to 11 hours at a time (my all time worst day was 13 hours)? Missing meal breaks because there is not enough staff?

How do you react to people being rude and hostile to you (patients and families)? Does the thought of being physcially assaulted phase you (I've been bit and punched by seniors in LTC facilities, they are not "all sweet little old ladies)?

Having said that I do enjoy my job but when the shift goes bad it goes bad.

Also remember that the vast majority of nurses in Canada are unionized. As a new grad you will not have the choice of the prized shifts or units. Yes, you could get into ICU, L&D, and ER. There are reasons (apart from the nursing shortage) that some units have vacancies (and I mean constant vacancies). I know of one service in my hospital that has 24 PN vacancies and it's because of poor management.

I would stay a teacher. Decent hours, no weekends, and yes I know you work evenings marking and meeting parents but you have the option of putting your work aside and taking a break. Nurses don't. Do you want to get up at 0500 to pull yourself in for a 0700 start in the dead of winter?

linzz · Dec 13, 2007

I became an RPN in my late thirties and it is just as the previous poster Fiona59 described it. I had no problem with the school work but the clinical and now work hours are the worst. Often you must start on a call in basis and wait for a part time shift to open up. In Ontario, only 60% of RN's have a full time job and about 20% of LPN's do. So, if I was a teacher, there is no way I would become a nurse. JMO.

loriangel14, RN · Dec 14, 2007

I will be 42 tomorrow and I started my first job as an RPN in September. I had no diificulty in gettting a job and I am getting about 8-9 shifts per pay as a part timer. Yes there are some down sides and some times I have long days but I also am loving my new profession and overall am glad I made the change.

linzz · Dec 14, 2007

Just read your post again, so this time I will answer your question about age. I don't think that you are too old at all. Many nurses are in their thirties, forties and beyond. I found it a bit weird being in school in my thirties but that is just my issue because I had gone to university and graduated at age 22 and that was it for school for me until I went to nursing school. Anyways, I think the average nurse is 45 years old.

Fiona59 · Dec 14, 2007

What the OP really needs to consider is their physical condition. I started this just after I turned 40 and am inching closer to 50 daily.

My legs and knees hurt. All of my co-workers, my age or older are trying to find day surgery or clinic jobs for less heavy lifting, more reasonable hours. I can only think of one nurse over 60 that works on the floor and she only works .5FTE.

There are times I love my job but looking back I should have probably become a transcriptionist or coder, no weekends or nights unless you want them, regular breaks, own cubicle, no family contact, no responsibility for another human beings life.

linzz · Dec 15, 2007

Once again, I must agree with Fiona59, many nurses are in their forties but not many floor nurse after age 60. I have three aunts in their sixties, all RN's and two are still floor nursing however they have retired and only work casual shifts so they can work one day a week if they want. The other aunt retired at age 61 and needed both knees and a hip replaced. Wow, something to look forward to.

spiritmagejkt · Dec 15, 2007

Three words GO FOR IT. You have a considerable advantage over young adults just coming out of high school. We had a nurse who was also a teacher where I worked. In fact most of the people I worked with were second carreer people.

I will add there are other specialties other than traditional floor nursing. Public health and school health are much less strenuous. I'm 42 and I still am in pretty good shape but I know my days of being the floor powerlifter are numbered. Peds and school health would be good things for you to look at being a teacher its the closest to what you do now carreer wise.

Fiona59 · Dec 15, 2007

Public Health/School Programmes require seniority. New Grads don't have a lot of hope in winding up in these areas, nursing shortage or not.

pinaypower · Apr 5, 2008

age doesn't really matter if you are willing to pursue nursing, all you need is determination and focus. i have a classmate who is 57 years old and not minding the hardship of studying.

sometimes it can be so hard but it will all paid of once you know that you have classmates and family who are willing to support you.

xbcparamedic · Apr 6, 2008

I need to wade in on this topic....I just turned forty and let me tell you I have a significant advantage over the "twenty somethings" in my class. We have just finished semester 2 and our first clinical rotation of the Bsn program and the advantages I have are clear. First I know what it is like to work!! and I know what a 12 hour shift feels like, how to cope with the 3:30 am crash.. If you stay healthy and use common sense you will avoid injury within the workplace. I only plan on working another 10-15 years after grad, unless a nice cushy community nursing position or a Critical Care Transport position in the States wants a casual. Stay healthy, mind and body. 6 semesters to go....ugh

EDERAU · Apr 7, 2008

:yeah:i AM STILL ON MY THIRD YEAR AND I AM 42 YEARS OLD AND WORKING AS ASST. MANAGER OF A BANK. MY DAUGHTER IS ALSO TAKING UP NURSING AND WE ARE ALMOST ON SAME YEAR TO GRADUATE HOPEFULLY. I HAD MY DUTIES FROM 11 TO 7 AM AND SOMETIMES THE SPIRIT IS WILLING BUT THE FLESH IS WEAK BUT STILL CAN MANAGE IT. AGE DOES NOT MATTER AND IN FACT I AM MORE ENTHUSIASTIC THAN EVER TO LEARN NURSING SKILLS EVEN SURPASSING THE VIGOR OF MY YOUNGER CLASSMATES. THE EXPECTATIONS ARE GREAT FROM ME THAT IS WHY I STUDY HARD AND SHOW TO MY C.I. ,CLASSMATES, AND MY FAMILY THAT THEY ARE WRONG ON THEIR EARLIER PERCEPTION AND PESSIMISM.TAKING UP NURSING MADE ME AND MY DAUGHTER EVEN CLOSER BECAUSE WE DISCUSS OUR ASSIGNMENTS AND CLINICAL EXPERIENCES. MY ONLY DIFFICULTY IS HOW TO DIVIDE MY TIME WITH MY CLASSES AND MY WORK. I AM PLANNING TO RESIGN NEXT YEAR BECAUSE OF MY DUTIES.FOR MY OTHER SIX OTHER SECOND COURSERS COLLEAGUES HANG IN THERE AND WITH GOD'S BLESSING WE CAN FINISH IT DESPITE THE DIFFULTIES AND THE INSURMOUNTABLE ODDS. :bugeyes: