does age REALLY matter?

moongirl · Aug 5, 2008

sigh.. to be 25 again and think 50 is old... :chuckle

ohmeowzer RN, RN · 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

i ordered my walker already... i need it for my 3- 12 hour shifts next week.. i sure home some of those youngsters on the floor can push me in the wheelchair for the last 6 hours of the shift.... if i don't pass on before then....

i am bringing my ben gay with me to work... not only helps with the sore old bones but it keeps my sinuses clear, so the dementia dosen't show as much.... did anyone see my bifocals and hearing aids,? i lost my drool cup last week, anyone know where there's a drool cup sale? i hate to mess my unifroms...

Oz2 · Aug 5, 2008

Lmao! :lol2:

Tash4nvyblues, RN · Aug 5, 2008

O.k. I don't want to offend ANYONE out there......
You can start biting my head off now!

You got your wish, I think you were hoping for a reaction. Did you honestly think that people would not be offended by a post like that. A very immature post. Why don't you share with us, from your extensive experience, why you have become so critical of the mature age students, and then we may understand why you feel this way.

RN1982 · Aug 5, 2008

here is my feelings about an older student in nursing school:

if you got the grades, the energy and the motivation to do it, go ahead. don't let some arrogant student who thinks "older" nurses should leave the nursing school spots open for the "younger" crowd get you down or make you feel insignificant. with the shortage that there is, we are willing able to take anyone. age matters little.

your post should have stopped at "ok, i don't want to offend anyone"

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Aug 5, 2008

I cannot count how many people I know that are 25ish who went to college for 4 yrs or longer to get their degree in their "dream" job only to work a few years at it and go back to school to get another degree.

I honestly don't think many people know exactly what they want to do as a career for the rest of their lives in their early 20's. Don't get me wrong, there are those that do, but the vast majority of people entering college right from high school don't, they think they do, until they are actually working in the field they went to school for.

You could turn your statement around about the "older" students getting a spot in nursing school, and only putting in 15 yrs or so. How about those younger ones (OP's age) who get a spot in nursing school work a couple of years, get married start families and decide to stay home to raise their children. Now an older student who already raised their kids and can devote their time to their career aren't able to get that spot.

Many of the younger students that get into school end up failing out because they are too interested in partying and living it up in their youth. Us "older" ones have been there done that so to speak.

I just graduated at the age of 39. I cannot retire and collect social security (If its even there when I get to the age) until I am 71 if I want to get all the money due me. Thats much more than 15 years left to work. I have no plans on retiring early, I bore easily when I am not working.

With the shortage the way it is, every single person who graduates and obtains their nursing license is needed..young or old.

And don't you worry about me not being able to keep up with you younger ones, I bet I could run circles around you. I have years of experience multi-tasking and not much will rattle me. Keep watch over your shoulder, that flash of color you see buzz past you just might be one of those older nurses you don't want in school.

There were 4 of us in school that were in our late 30's and early 40's. We would laugh our butts off at the 20, 21, 22 yr olds who would complain about being tired, how it was tough working all day at clinicals, how much their backs hurt blah blah blah..never once did any of us older ones utter those words...just saying....

carluvscats · Aug 5, 2008

A p.s. to my original post, to the OP:

Someday (if you're REALLY lucky), years from now, you will look in the mirror..... your boobs will be sagging, you will see fine lines around your eyes and mouth ~ laugh lines/worry lines, all of them well-earned..... your heart will be full of memories.... and you will never wish to be that 25 year old again who thought that OLDER meant something less than..... wonderful.

p.s.s...........humility goes a long way in life.

2bNurseNickStat · Aug 5, 2008

:no:I am one of the "younger people" and know that some of the "Older" (ugh, barely can type it) people are the best people that go into the nursing profession.

I am extremely thankful I've had "experienced" nurses to mentor me, young and old. I don't see in any way, shape, or form how age has anything to do with you being a good nurse. I know 23 year old nurses I would love to have take care of me and I know nurses who are new grads in their late fifty's who I would trust my life to.

When thinking about nursing, age never enters my mind...I'm more worried about the care they give or the care I give then the age of the nurse. When it comes down to it...I want the "experienced" nurses at my bedside...whether the are 23 or 56. Good nurses come in all ages, regardless of how old they were when they started school...

GilaRRT · 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!

Well, first you need to understand the facts. People are not retiring from nursing. The shortage is not because the old geezers are buying the farm in masse or retiring in number to buy a RV and tour the USA for their few remaining years. The nursing shortage is not actually a shortage. There are more than enough nurses; however, many nurses graduate, get their butt handed to them every day for a year or two, and run away from nursing never to come back. This is a scary reality that you will face if you manage to graduate and pass the NCLEX.

I will refrain from the flame throwing and ritual witch hunting that we nurses are world famous for doing. However, I will say, you need to have some real experience and facts to back up your claims before spouting off. Come back in a few years when the smell of similac is no longer on your breath and see how you feel about this topic.

Annisme · Aug 5, 2008

Since I am a nursing student who will graduate when I am 51, I feel that I need to address your post. I have spent the last 6 years preparing for the day I graduate with my BSN (yes, 3 wasted years instead of just 2). At my advanced age, I have learned a few things, one of which is there are times to keep your mouth shut because you just might learn something! This might be a lesson you want to pick up quickly. I would love for you to spend some time following me around to see just how you do. My schedule looks like this:

12 units at school (including 2-12 hour clinicals) and keeping all A's

2 or 3 12 hr shifts/week (NOCS) on a busy surgical floor

Secretary of a Horsemen's Club

Helping my husband run his business and doing all the books including tax returns

Helping my daughter with her 2 boys who have severe disabilities (this means traveling 90 miles to her house so that I can take care of them)

Watching my neighbor's 7 month old a few hours a week

Traveling up to 12 hours away from home on weekends for ministry

Oh yes, I have a wonderful husband, 4 grown children, 6 grandchildren, 4 dogs, 1 horse, 15 koi and a house to clean, all of which need and deserve my attention.

I would invite you to meet my mom, too. She has been an active RN since 1956, is the director of a volunteer hospice and takes patients...she is 75.

I'm sorry you would consider my efforts wasted. I hope you can answer your own question.

PICNICRN, BSN, RN · Aug 5, 2008

"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?"

the next time you get your social security statement in the mail, you might want to read it! i am only 35 and i cannot draw until i am 73 years old(not that i count on it even being there). i assume you are much younger than me- probably puts you working into your late 70's!!! now, that would give you at least 20 something years of work and retirement savings if you started nursing in your 50's. :twocents:

RNJim22 · Aug 5, 2008

Ah to be 23 again and have answers to life's questions.......I long for those days. It reminds me of the time I called a friend to ask her if I could borrow her mountain bike to go trail riding because I didn't want to scuff up my new Cannondale I had just bought the week before. She was dumbfounded at my request. It seemed like a good idea at the time...just like saving nursing spots for young entitled folks instead of worn out old folks. I love the adventures of life!!! :loveya:

"There is more to life than increasing its speed." - Ghandi

Thanks for listening :typing