does age REALLY matter?

NurseyPoo7 · Aug 5, 2008

Us nurses can use all the help we can get, so I support anyone who wants to go to nursing school and is serious about it.

I went to nursing school with plenty of older women and men who wanted to become nurses and often times they were some of the more dedicated students.

BinkieRN, BSN, RN · Aug 5, 2008

but... REALLY if you're over 50 years old, it takes 2 years to become an RN. How much longer can you work and before you retire?
And so my question is, do you think that person's spot would have been better off to a younger person who could aleast work MORE than 15 years in nursing before it's like, "oh, I can't no longer catch up with all the action?" I mean, we are in a nursing shortage, and we have enough nurses retiring as it is...to now have new nurses that won't really last that long in the field.

I think you're totally wrong. I work with several new RN's in their 50's and they can run circles around some of the younger RN's. They are smart. They are fast. They plan on working until at least 68 when they can get social security. I say if they can get into school more power to them! Who's to say a 25 year old will graduate and remain a nurse for that long?

The age of the average RN today is 46.

pirap · Aug 5, 2008

i am 36 years old and have not been in nursing that long. when i was in orientation there was an rn that became a nurse in her late 40's that was 74 years old..yes 74 years and she could work circles around me. i never thought she was day over 40.

i think you are a little selfish in your thoughts..many of those ladies sacrificed and devoted their entire "young" years to their children. they raised up their babies and now they have all the time in the world to finally get to do something for themselves. what should they do-stay home? what should their job be???mcdonalds, deliver papers, work at the gas station-all necessary jobs of course..

nursing isn't always about skills. an "older" nurse brings to the profession that not too many younger nurses can-life experiences-whether from her home life or a previous first career. something that i rarely see in a 19-27 year old.

i think it's pretty sad that you would look at "older" classmates and make such hurtful comments.

and to answer your question that nurse who graduated from rn school at 50 years old just retired at the ripe "old" age of 76..so 26 years???

i'm not in my 50's but those words hurt me for hurt feelings you might have caused someone working so hard toward a career in nursing. it's words like those that push the nursing field back a few steps. we should embrace anyone with the drive, determination, ability to get a nursing license-not discriminate because of someone's age. what you are saying is no different than saying "whites deserve to go to nursing school and african-americans or hispanics don't." it's no different...

MedicalLPN, LPN · Aug 5, 2008

That's silly... some of the best nurses I've ever worked with fall within the criteria you have described.

ohmeowzer RN, RN · Aug 5, 2008

O.k. I don't want to offend ANYONE out there, I just want to know what are the opinions of different people and maybe not feel so bad for thinking this way. I'm currently attending an ADN program and I'm so happy that I was accepted to nursing school. HOWEVER, I have to say, It really gets me thinking when I see the OLDER crowd, and what I mean with that is people who are OVER 50, who get into nursing school. Now, I have NOTHING against ACCOMPLISHING a life-long dream! I'm all for that, but... REALLY if you're over 50 years old, it takes 2 years to become an RN. How much longer can you work and before you retire?
And so my question is, do you think that person's spot would have been better off to a younger person who could aleast work MORE than 15 years in nursing before it's like, "oh, I can't no longer catch up with all the action?" I mean, we are in a nursing shortage, and we have enough nurses retiring as it is...to now have new nurses that won't really last that long in the field.
You can start biting my head off now!

i work with a RN who is 75 years old .. she's been a RN i think since she's been 65. she is awesome and we all love her , she is just as good as us young chicks ( and i am not a spring chicken). she told us she is working until she needs a walker.. and i may need a walker before her...lol

no age dosen't matter .. just because your over 50 , dosen't mean you have one foot in the grave and one foot on the banana peel...

you have a chance to be what ever you want as long as there is the breath of life left in you. and the new 40 is 60... :yeah:

carluvscats · Aug 5, 2008

To answer your question, no.... in my opinion, age matters very little. And many times, with age comes wisdom; wisdom that only happens when one has lived a few years. Besides, people are working longer and putting off retirement til later.

We tend to value youthfulness so much in our society that it smacks of ageism sometimes. Drives me crazy.

More power to anyone at ANY age who follows their dreams!!!!!!!

moongirl · Aug 5, 2008

I feel very very honored to work with a 73 year old woman who has 40 years of OB experience. She can kick 25 y.o. hiney any day of the week.

personally, I would like to work to age 75. I graduated at almost 40. That gives me 35 years on the job

Oz2 · Aug 5, 2008

O.k. I don't want to offend ANYONE out there...

More like you knew it would be offensive but didn't care and asked anyway.

And allnurses.com can't understand why many of us have expressed an interest in an older students forum...

:banghead:

nursegreen · Aug 5, 2008

WOW!!!! What an arrogant post. Why don't you look at how many "younger" people go into nursing and realize a year or two down the road it's not for them and that they hate nursing. Now that's definitly a waste. Also, how is that different than someone who is in their 50's and has been a nurse for 30 years? Are they suppose to just stop being a nurse? I don't think so. I graduated with someone over 50 and he was in the top three of our class. Should there be a limit on the age allowed in nursing school, no. You also have to keep in mind that now the earliest someone can retire is 62 and that would give him twelve more years to work. Research states that the average life span of a nurse is seven years!!!!!!!!!

rhondaa83 · Aug 5, 2008

All of the money in the world, could never buy a 25 year old, a 50 year olds experiences. I am 42, just starting out, and when I have a question, guess who I go to? The oldest nurse, they always have the answers and some time saving tips for me. Also an older nurse has much more patience with someone like me who is asking a lot of questions. I have noticed the younger nurses look at me sometimes like I am a complete idiot for asking a question about something I did not know.More than half of My teachers at my college went into nursing in their 40,s and have went on to teach and are now in their 50,s. Again, they are my favorite teachers because they are patient and they understand what women with children are going through going back to school. I am sorry that you feel the way you do about older nurses, now I have to go and apply some bengay to my aching muscles after an eight hour shift. LOL Rhonda

ohmeowzer RN, RN · Aug 5, 2008

WOW!!!! What an arrogant post. Why don't you look at how many "younger" people go into nursing and realize a year or two down the road it's not for them and that they hate nursing. Now that's definitly a waste. Also, how is that different than someone who is in their 50's and has been a nurse for 30 years? Are they suppose to just stop being a nurse? I don't think so. I graduated with someone over 50 and he was in the top three of our class. Should there be a limit on the age allowed in nursing school, no. You also have to keep in mind that now the earliest someone can retire is 62 and that would give him twelve more years to work. Research states that the average life span of a nurse is seven years!!!!!!!!!

amen to this post... :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :nurse: :heartbeat