A Nursing Career Over 50

Nurses Men

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Hi Everyone,

I want to enter nursing as a second career. I am a 54 year old male with BBA and MBA degrees, who will be retiring early at the end of 2008. Is this a realistic option for me (will nursing schools accept me at this age)? What about prerequisites? Must I retake them?

Thanks!!!

Can I tell you the truth, I'll be blunt.

Your mind is still active and will absorb new material BUT your body will tell you the truth.

I've been nursing 10 years and just turned 50. I'm one of the oldest nurses on my floor. There is a 60yo who works a .5FTE and a 55yo who works .75FTE. I'm also a part timer. Acute care nursing takes it's toll on your body, knees, shoulders, back, hips will hurt like you never imagined even using the correct body mechanics.

Now for everybody that says "oh, but there are other jobs" -- yes there are but you usually need hospital experience for them. I'd love a public health job but I don't have enough seniority for one. My 55yo coworker applied for one (has 32 years in) and lost it to a 27yo with three years in who has a bad back (the easier jobs can be given to those with documented injuries that require "light duties".

Plus at our advanced ages, the clinical times spent in hospital are usually doable BUT students don't work the complete 12 hour shift.

Yes, I'm telling you the truth. It sucks. I figure I've got maybe 5 years left in acute care and I'm not holding my breath for a clinic job.

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Fiona59 said

Now for everybody that says "oh, but there are other jobs" -- yes there are but you usually need hospital experience for them. I'd love a public health job but I don't have enough seniority for one. My 55yo coworker applied for one (has 32 years in) and lost it to a 27yo with three years in who has a bad back (the easier jobs can be given to those with documented injuries that require "light duties".

I was wondering Fiona where you are from?--I never heard of someone getting a job preference because of a bad back.

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Canada.

Certain jobs are deemed to be "light duties" ie: no patient transfers, no standing for prolonged periods, etc. I know of an OR nurse who developed an allergy to the cleaning fluids in the OR that bumped her way into a public health position. Many of our "light duties" personnel wind up being the educators for the CPR inhouse programme. Others wind up as unit educators.

It's all covered in the various union contracts. It keeps "injured" staff employed rather than forcing them out of nursing forever.

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I am 63 having started as an orderly at 19 and then corpsman, lpn and rn. so I guess that is about 44 years experience in all aspects of nursing, specialties etc. In my opinon you should look for an administrative position to put the skills you have already to use and do the best to improve medical care in this nation. I believe you would be wasting your time and probably not be happy if you became an RN

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Specializes in med surgical.

All my younger classmates are hired after graduation in June. I have a second career and still no interview despite all my resume submission. Is state out of california better to the older workers? I just need my first year of experience.

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I know how dificult it is to find a job. Actually you should be looking for advertised vacancies and making personal visits to make applications. It is ok to post resumes on line with nursecom or monster but submitting them to prospective employers at random is a waste of time. They will most likely just end up in a file, most likely file 13 unread. People just dont waste their time reading unsolicited resumes.

When you start going in person an filing applications and having interviews you will be able to learn if you can get a job or what you have to change to get one. You are a good prospect as with no experience you can be hired at a lower rate of pay.

You may also try to start grooming yourself to look as young as possible while remaining approppriate. Try to be familiare with the problems facing your employer and community. Always let the interviewer lead the way and feel good about themself rather than be worried about yourself. They now ask questions occasionly that are supposed to show you can think. Dont make a quick answer but give a veiled one.

Good Luck!!

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I just got my bsn in May, 3 months ago. I have always wanted to be in a management role. I have workd at bed for 15 years. I will start the graduate course next week. I will be 52 when I graduate with the msn degree, Hope I can find a good job.:)

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What is wrong with 50, 52, 62? as long as you can do the job! I don't think many people will

be retiring in the future looking at long term economic models. Education and your health is key!

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Specializes in RN. Med/Surg.

I just passed my NCLEX-RN last Thursday, I'll be 57 next month. I've worked the last 18 months as an LPN, and I've not run into anything that has hindered my progress because of age. Between age and the fact that I'm 6'3"... well I get my share of double-takes. j

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Awesome congratulations! You give me encouragement!

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Specializes in Hospice and Home Health.

This is an issue for me as well. I have my bachelor and master's of music degrees, so am coming from yet another realm. I will be 51 next month and I am trying to wrap up the prereqs so that I can apply at last. I expected to be the oldest in my classes, but I'm not! One friend from my school, who is now a 1st year nursing student at another school, is 64. For me, I got to a place where I couldn't ignore the call anymore, age aside. If you want to do it, do it.

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