Age Issues and The Modern Male Nurse

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I have my fi-aid stuff under control, I have a school picked out, a BSN program lined up, and the ultimate goal of becoming a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner in mind. I'm 48 years old. Am I insane? If so, why? If not, why not? Should I consider another avenue, like Clinical Counseling at my age? Thoughts . . .

I appreciate the sentiment that I'm not crazy. But I would suggest to you that it is not their behavior that is ostracizing them but maybe your perception of them as "Old Students". They are probably as old as your parents or grandparents and I can imagine it is a bit weird for you to think of them as your peers in class. I would give them some credit for having gotten this far in life and having the fortitude to go back to school for a new career.

As a nurse, it will be up to you to be open to your patients needs, so why not start now and make sure they feel welcome. They might surprise with how much they can offer you in return.

I agree. There are two men over 50 in our class and they bring a great perspective. Of course, I'm 39 so I'm on the older side as well so I might be biased. And it's an accelerated program where everyone has previous degrees, so the "young" students are in their early to mid 20s.

I would love to think the way you think, age is not an issue, perhaps race is , the reality sometimes reveals different attitudes and truth against minor things like ages or races in this nursing 'education' field; I am an immigrant from East Asia 25 years ago, grew up in HI, got BS in Electrical Engineering from Penn State Univ by buring midnight oil for 5 years, then now studing RN clinical in HACC to enhence my dream of becoming bioengineer, my plan is to learn pathophysiology through the experience of RN clinical, but one of the instrutors constantly showes me cold face and responses when I need instructions from her, I feel the tension of uncertain thoughts, that thoughts of speaking with accets makes her unhappy, inl my years working in engineering field, speaking with accent is viewed as talents and intenational capacity to engineering work force, but to nursing or this particular instructor, it seems a negative mark for nursing students, I wonder what ' culturely competent care ' actually mean in this nursing teaching class, perhaps I am over sensitive to this response, perhaps I misinterpret the reaction from her to me, right now, I do find myself very disturbed by this educational experience, is it because CC's educational quality is as said a 13th grade level, or this is an arbitury problem hidden and negletible in educational institute, can I trust the future nurses taught by this kind of instructors and graduated from it. should I quit the RN clinical, I am there mainly to gain insight to find approach to design good medical devices, but this exprience really got me to think the trust on the nursing educations.:lol2:

Specializes in Cardiac, Rehab.
I would love to think the way you think, age is not an issue, perhaps race is , the reality sometimes reveals different attitudes and truth against minor things like ages or races in this nursing 'education' field; I am an immigrant from East Asia 25 years ago, grew up in HI, got BS in Electrical Engineering from Penn State Univ by buring midnight oil for 5 years, then now studing RN clinical in HACC to enhence my dream of becoming bioengineer, my plan is to learn pathophysiology through the experience of RN clinical, but one of the instrutors constantly showes me cold face and responses when I need instructions from her, I feel the tension of uncertain thoughts, that thoughts of speaking with accets makes her unhappy, inl my years working in engineering field, speaking with accent is viewed as talents and intenational capacity to engineering work force, but to nursing or this particular instructor, it seems a negative mark for nursing students, I wonder what ' culturely competent care ' actually mean in this nursing teaching class, perhaps I am over sensitive to this response, perhaps I misinterpret the reaction from her to me, right now, I do find myself very disturbed by this educational experience, is it because CC's educational quality is as said a 13th grade level, or this is an arbitury problem hidden and negletible in educational institute, can I trust the future nurses taught by this kind of instructors and graduated from it. should I quit the RN clinical, I am there mainly to gain insight to find approach to design good medical devices, but this exprience really got me to think the trust on the nursing educations.:lol2:

A couple of wow's. This is an old thread for sure, but still very relevant. The other has to do with this posters peceptions of nursing school at I guess is the community college level. I'm still hanging in, just passed the halfway point but still very engaged and enjoying the journey. The more time I spend with patients, the more I become convinced that having some years under my belt isn't a disadvantage, but much more an advantage. I relate much better to the older patients because in many ways I feel their pain (literally) as well as empathizing with their situations in a place that most folks would rather not be in. I think I do pretty well with the younger folks as well, maybe I'm just more laid back or easier to talk to. Either way, when I am in the hospital, I am a happy camper, enjoying the interactions and learning as much as I can.

And maybe that brings me to the second part, a response to the poster here. Honestly, I cant say whether its either the instructors or the student here that has the issue. But I will key in on one point. Wanting to become an RN to gain knowledge of pathophys so you can move on to bioengineering misses one big point. Please correct me if I am wrong, but it sounds like you are there for your own purposes and not for the patients. Lots of folks try nursing out because it is "a solid career" and it can be. But without the conscious decision that you are in it to help other people misses the point entirely. Maybe your instructors already know or sense that. Except for caring for other people, why would you want to put yourself in this type of environment ? If I'm wrong, then please respond. I'll gladly eat my own words.

Bob

I have my fi-aid stuff under control, I have a school picked out, a BSN program lined up, and the ultimate goal of becoming a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner in mind. I'm 48 years old. Am I insane? If so, why? If not, why not? Should I consider another avenue, like Clinical Counseling at my age? Thoughts . . .

Rocky,

Yep, you are quite clearly crazy. I'm 46 and will be starting pre-reqs in the next couple of months. 46 is obviously the upper age cutoff and I personally think someone as old as you has no business whatsoever doing something valuable and fulfilling with their life. The personal and professional experience you've gained in previous jobs and other situations will serve no good purpose whatsoever as you proceed through school or after you become a NP. Your dreams of helping people and having a positive impact are so silly as to be almost laughable......give it up.....please put these childish dreams away.....for your own good and the good of those who you might help if by some incredible twist of fate, you should actually achieve your dreams.

s:D

well you probably have around 28 years to live (if you make to the average life expectancy in 2011 (76 for males.)) A BSN program will take about 4 years, and then final prep for the NCLEX-RN (several months), you are looking at 19 years of nursing considering you take 5 years off for retirement, so no you are not crazy at all for wanting to do this. You still have time to have a long fulfilling career/life as an RN.

Hi, I'm in my mid fifties and six months into my first year on a Nursing degree. Working with peers that are younger than my own children worried me. How would they react, would they feel awkward with me around, would they even talk to me? and if they did would I understand them??? Well it turns out I was the only one who had any such hang up and that disappearred in my first week. Dive in head first and you'll be ok.

A couple of wow's. This is an old thread for sure, but still very relevant. The other has to do with this posters peceptions of nursing school at I guess is the community college level. I'm still hanging in, just passed the halfway point but still very engaged and enjoying the journey. The more time I spend with patients, the more I become convinced that having some years under my belt isn't a disadvantage, but much more an advantage. I relate much better to the older patients because in many ways I feel their pain (literally) as well as empathizing with their situations in a place that most folks would rather not be in. I think I do pretty well with the younger folks as well, maybe I'm just more laid back or easier to talk to. Either way, when I am in the hospital, I am a happy camper, enjoying the interactions and learning as much as I can.

And maybe that brings me to the second part, a response to the poster here. Honestly, I cant say whether its either the instructors or the student here that has the issue. But I will key in on one point. Wanting to become an RN to gain knowledge of pathophys so you can move on to bioengineering misses one big point. Please correct me if I am wrong, but it sounds like you are there for your own purposes and not for the patients. Lots of folks try nursing out because it is "a solid career" and it can be. But without the conscious decision that you are in it to help other people misses the point entirely. Maybe your instructors already know or sense that. Except for caring for other people, why would you want to put yourself in this type of environment ? If I'm wrong, then please respond. I'll gladly eat my own words.

Bob

Dear friend

I should honestly mention that I have been a part time CNA in a nursing home for 4 years, nursing assistant's work in nursing home is sweaty and smelly and is quite different from the work in engineering and combat zones, to me, CNAs are part of nursing team, out of 50 CNAs in this facility, only less than 10 really put their hearts into patient care, also most of my nursing classmates in RN class are there just for a better chances of future employment, majority of them never had any patient care experience. They all say they love to help people, but never even trying to volunteer ro work in any nursing facility. 4 years ago, I was a fatique soldier, returning from Iraq combat zone with severe sense of guilt ( a sign of PTSD ), my RN friend brought me into nursing home to work as a volunteer, that time while lossing my faith in everything of my life, I still remain believing that nurses are the center of upmost humanity and earn my absolute trust, however today those nursing instructors showing me the nurses are ordinary human beings who can pretend nice as angels and sustain a career just like politicians. I am disappointed with this discovery but not quitting my CNA work, my elderly friends ( my residents ) trust me with the care I provide to them, and at the same time, I realy gratify that my PTSD is gone, and the credits all go to my elderly patients, I owe my friends, and I am designing and making madical devices to help their physical therapy and recovery, with good background in medical science, I am very capable to learn the pathophysioloty I have been learning, yes I am a CNA, however can help much more than those selective RN, I do not plan to go back to that school to learn discriminating. Thank you my friend for helping my thought process.

Just do it if it is what you really want

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