can I Find A job at 62

Hello all!

Enjoyed reading your comments about work options for us older nurses. Each situation about working as an older nurse seems to be different. Other factors to consider in going back to nursing work at age 62 are individual health, energy, and stamina. For example, I recently worked in a private duty home health job thinking that the slower pace of the work might match my older age and less energy. I learned some hard lessons about the energy demands in care of patient's who are elibigle for insurance to pay for private duty R.N. home care---examples of the physical energy demands include turning very heavy patients often to change their diapers, bathing and dressing big patients who are paralyzed due to spinal cord injury,and constantly calming very confused combative patients who have Alzheimer's Disease--plus there are the mental energy demands of even getting to work such as waking at 4:30 A.M. to work a case requiring 6A to 6P hours, or driving 60 miles round trip to a patient's home, and hunting to find the location of the patient assignment homes.

Most older nurses I know including myself have worked as nurses all our adult lives and now have less energy and less stamina. For this reason, we are very thankful for the option to start receiving Social Security pension payments at age 62! But maybe you feel you have more energy for work since it seems you have not worked outside of your home in a long time. Best wishes in your decision about work! Peace to you.

husband and I want to move to brevard county florida. Have been a nurse for 22 yrs. last 11 yrs. in md and sc as a homecare hospice nurse

Afraid I will not be hired in fl because of my age.

Would anyone hire me?

I had no trouble finding a job as a NEW grad at 55. I had two offers on the same day. I work at a large level 1 trauma center which is also a teaching hospital. They would grab you so fast your head would spin at my hospital, unfortunately we are not in Fl. I bet if you go toward the large public hospitals you will find what you want. Also, DO NOT sell your self short. Ask for the salary your experience deserves. Good luck to you.
Mahage

HI Mahage I am a new graduate at 53--do you think I will have a hard time getting a position? I graduated a few years back but I couldn't go into nursing right away because of pension issues with my other job. Just finishing up a refresher course that I felt I needed but I will be considered a new grad since I never used my degree. I graduated with honors while I worked my other job just so I could retire and do nursing which I have always wanted to do.
I am so afraid that being older with no nursing experience and this recession I will not land a job. I want to work a level 1 trauma teaching hospital too--do you think I have a chance? Where do you work at?