Concern: Age Discrimination for a New 58 RN

Nurses Relations

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Hello,

I am done with my first career. I really would like to become an RN. I would be 58 when I would graduate with an A.S. Degree.

  • I am very worried though about age discrimination in hiring.

  • Also, they say there is and will be a nursing shortage, but I don't quite buy that. Please, please respond.


Thank you so much

:D

Specializes in Pediatrics, Geriatrics, LTC.

I am 53 and graduated when I was 50. Got all three jobs I applied for. One because I was older! I graduated at the very top of my class. The only problem is my knees and it almost stopped me from getting a job! They had to see that I could kneel down and do CPR if necessary! I did it, got the job. My LPN cost me 10,000. It's 113 a month. No problems anywhere! Go for it!

Specializes in CVICU, Obs/Gyn, Derm, NICU.
Hello,

I am done with my first career. I really would like to become an RN. I would be 58 when I would graduate with an A.S. Degree.

  • I am very worried though about age discrimination in hiring.

  • Also, they say there is and will be a nursing shortage, but I don't quite buy that. Please, please respond.


Thank you so much

:D

IMHO you will have more opportunity if you are prepared to relocate ... also if have no objection to nights.

New nurses who happen to be older should remember to 'work it'.

Make a list of all your skills learned from previous career/s and life .... decide what will give you advantage in nursing ....and then

'work it'. And make it visible. Sell yourselves.

Many older nurses are much too passive and easily over-shadowed by younger competition. And that's a shame.

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

In all honesty the two new grads that I have worked with who were in their late 50s were extremely anxious and not able to react quickly with the load of work that was expected of them even after an extended orientation in both cases. They were very intelligent and nice but imo not any nearly as quick as needed and without a few years of experience to make up for it neither lasted on my unit. Is this everyone in their 50s? No but in these cases it was imo largely because of their older age so it is something to think about and just because you have a dream doesn't mean it is practical. I wish you all the best with whatever you decide.

Specializes in MDS/Office.

There IS Age Discrimination in Nursing just like any other field.

I had an incident where I went into a Temporary Nursing Agency filled out an application & appx 5-6 years later, I received a letter from the State EEOC about a Discrimination Lawsuit with this Temporary Agency.

I ended up with a nice Settlement, just for filling out an application.... :yelclap:

1 Votes
Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
There IS Age Discrimination in Nursing just like any other field.

I had an incident where I went into a Temporary Nursing Agency filled out an application & appx 5-6 years later, I received a letter from the State EEOC about a Discrimination Lawsuit with this Temporary Agency.

I ended up with a nice Settlement, just for filling out an application.... :yelclap:

Oh really, how nice? Maybe I should start filling out apps just in case. :D

Specializes in Med-Surg, Cardiac.

I know I couldn't find an ED or ICU position when I graduated at 56 despite 25+ years as a paramedic. One MD I know (not involved in the hiring process) said I shouldn't be discouraged; I'm not unqualified, just too old. It could also have been that I don't interview well. I was very grateful to find a med-surg position in a big hospital. However all of us 50 somethings managed to find decent jobs, but that was before the nursing glut began in earnest.

Agree with many pp that (1) age discrimination is real, and it starts in your forties; and (2) there is no nursing shortage.

That said, the situation is not hopeless.

If you can afford nursing school without taking out large student loans), and this is really your dream, why not pursue it? (Perhaps consider LPN instead of RN, if you don't want to work in a hospital. It's faster and also gives you several options. Many doctors offices still hire LPNs - or MAs - but certainly not RNs.)

Agree with others, it's all about networking, connections, who you know. And, if you can, try to work as an aide during nursing school. Perhaps volunteer. Anything to get you in the door.

Then, you need a lot of luck. But honestly, so do the rest of us (I've been unemployed for > 1 year).

Wishing you the very best,

DeLana

We had one nurse in his early 60's in my graduating class. He had a job within 3 months after graduation in 2010. I say if you have the drive, time, and money to invest in a new career then go for it. However, there is an excess of new grads in this country and it will most likely be a tough job search when you get done.

Specializes in FNP.

I love how all you young whippersnappers seem to think the OP is anywhere close to retirement, lol. Did you guys see that congress is poised to raise the entry into medicare services to 67 next session? So 67 for entry to medicare and 72 to collect social security; sounds like the OP (and all of you) may be working for quite a while yet.

OP, go for it. good luck.

Specializes in Ambulatory Surgery, PACU,SICU.

I agree that it all depends on networking and willingness to work. I am 45, 2nd career RN, had a job offer while still in school, because I worked as a PCT during school and had met lots of people. I kept my previous FT job also, so no loans.

Hello, I will start our program in August and will be 41. I took my prereqs with a man in his early 60s. Many of my study buddies were older than I was at the time. I like being an older student. I have the experience of raising three children, losing pregnancies and going through ivf; I have taken care of my mother who has gone through depression, prescription drug withdrawls, ischemic attack of her gut which lead to iliostomy, scleroderma, kidney disease, blood pressure issues just to name a few. I have been with a friend who sadly died from glioma and was blessed to be with them through hospice. I may not be 20 but I bring a level of life experience that will serve me well.

I am sure you too have life experience that will serve you in a positive manner. I do not worry about a shortage. I do not worry what other people think of me as an older student as I cannot control the thoughts and feelings of others.

Even now I have a friend that does not understand why on earth I want to continue with school. My reply," I can appreciate your point of view however this is my dream." I have been on this journey for ten years and to me the journey is just as much fun as the end result. As soon as I started living this way, the worries just left and I can focus on the joy of today.

There are those that will want to rain on your parade. Just ignore them. Live your own life, going after your own dreams and desires and the rest will fall into place as they should.

I place my life and trust in God. I know that wherever I am, it is where I am supposed to be and so that also takes away my stress. Even if the situation is not a good one, I try to take from it the lesson being offered and that makes me a stronger person moving forward.

I am happy to say, my mother, although having the iliostomy, is living a healthy and happy life and I am grateful I was able to go through that journey with her even though terribly hard.

sorry for the rambles. I think you can and should go for it!

Best of luck!

Specializes in Icu, Corrections, CICU.

It is great your thinking of nursing, but age discrimination does exist in all fields nowadays. Also there doesn't appear to be a shortage but a glut. Also the BSN is heavily being recruited for enrty level into nursing where I live. The applications all ask are you a BSN or they want you to have a BSN within 5 years. This isn't just in the hospitals it is becoming entry level now because there is a glut of nurses.

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