Re: A Nursing Career Over 50

I became an LPN at 54 and will begin my local RN bridge program in August. Go for it. j

Re: A Nursing Career Over 50

Hello,

I just turned 64 and retired from teaching high school biology for 39 years. I had to retire due to a contract I made with my school board 5 years ago. But, I'm not ready to retire and nursing seemed to be a logical new career for me. I have a BA in biology and a MS in physiology. The school I applied to would not accept my prereq courses because they were taken over 10 years ago and they were not swayed by the fact that I taught the very course as an adjunct many times (anatomy/physiology), at the very same school I was applying to! I wrote the president of the school and the dean and finally my courses were accepted and I was eventually granted acceptance to the school starting this Fall.

So now begins my tenure as a minority: an old, male nursing student; I'm looking forward to it. What I'm not looking forward to is being a classmate of some of my former students, which is very possible.

Good luck with your career decisions.

RG

Re: A Nursing Career Over 50

hello!

I really encourage older workers go back to nursing if that is their dream.
I am just wondering how many of them found jobs in the hospital or nursing
homes.

I have nurses friends at their 50 could not find jobs at all for 1 year.
I am curious it is their age or this lousy economy. People often
told me you should have connection; May be that helps too.

snoopy_nurse

Re: A Nursing Career Over 50

There is most definitley age discrimination in nursing. If you are over 50 you will have a tough time finding a job. Electronic application submission allows them to use a database to search for candidates under 40. Do everything you can to not divuldge anything that will reveal your age. It's a bunch of crap but it is a fact, no question.

Re: A Nursing Career Over 50

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.

Re: A Nursing Career Over 50

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.

Re: A Nursing Career Over 50

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.

Re: A Nursing Career Over 50

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

Re: A Nursing Career Over 50

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.

Re: A Nursing Career Over 50

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!!