does age REALLY matter?

widi96 · Aug 5, 2008

Wow. For a group that is suppose to be compassionate and educate, the responders certainly aren't giving the OP anything but grief.

From a logical standpoint without having a lot of facts - her post makes sense. The OP stated that she respected new 'older' nurses and those who follow their dreams at any age - the question was is is logical with the very limited space available in nursing education - is it a better investment for schools to educate younger students, with the sole argument that they could work longer. She said absolutely nothing derogatory about those individuals or the care they give.

Now, to answer the question (I do not have any hard facts/statistics in front of me). It is pretty much a gamble either way. Younger new nurses are more likely to change professions, decide to be stay at home moms, etc. while those who decide to go into nursing when they are older are more likely to have more concrete ideas with what they would like to do with the rest of their lives. So they may give nursing a good 10-20 years, but that may be all the 'young' nurses want to give either before changing the direction of their career.

pattycakeRN · Aug 5, 2008

Sheesh... people need to let up on this person. She simply made a statement/asked a question. Most of you reacted by attacking her and becoming extremely defensive, instead of responding in a mature and educational manner. I see your responses about '50 year olds running circles around 25 year olds'- okay, okay! We hear that most older nurses are still doing well and feel they can whomp some young nurse butt... but is that what it's about?

I have asked this very same question of some older nurses I work with- and actually gotten a decent, honest answer. I've never been attacked by anyone. And I think we're talking about 2 different things here... older nurses who have been nurses a long time, or older nurses who have been nursing a relatively short time. Everyone starts out the same way- just because one is older doesn't mean they are (or should be) more confident or knowledgeable. The snide comments are just childish.

Furthermore, the word older is simply that- a word. Why oh why does everyone have to take offense to it?! I am 24, anyone who is older than me is 'older'! Simple math. It's not done to offend anyone, and if it does, I'm awfully sorry that you're that sensitive. I'm going to gag if one more person calls that 'ageism'.

pattycakeRN · 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

Hmm. That's a great story:rolleyes:... but no one said they had the 'answers to life's questions'. Young people are just trying to make it through life like older people are... we're not stupid.

pattycakeRN · Aug 5, 2008

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.

Ugh, What a sad, sniping reply. The OP wasnt attacking anyone. Can't we all just get along?

casi, ASN, RN · Aug 5, 2008

Nursing schools take the top students in hopes that they are the most likely to pass. Wouldn't it be a waste of spots if they gave them out to younger people who weren't as likely to pass the classes?

There also is no way to say what student will devote the most time to the nursing profession. My 24 year old self could burn out in a couple of years and decide that I want to run away and become an accountant.

One thing I love about nursing is the diversity amoung nurses. Everyone has a different life experience that we can all learn from.

Tash4nvyblues, 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?
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.

She said absolutely nothing derogatory about those individuals or the care they give.

Yes, the statement is not derogatory at all and says nothing about the care given, read it again.

Most of you reacted by attacking her and becoming extremely defensive, instead of responding in a mature and educational manner.

Yes, you are right, the underlined quote is a very mature and educated statement, thanks for pointing that out.

The post itself was not very well thought out and, yes, it would offend me the way it has been written, maybe if it was put across differently it would not have got the response received. People do become defensive when they feel someone is offending them. Equal opportunity for all. :yeah:

GilaRRT · Aug 5, 2008

Not sad, true. Many nurses take off after a year or so and do not return to nursing. This has nothing to do with age and everything to do with the sad shape of health care in the US.

As far as sniping? I disagree. Perhaps you should read some of the other posts? I suspect the OP is simply ignorant and lacks the experience to understand the complex issues in nursing and healthcare. No name calling or put downs in my post. I stand by the similac comment. We are all new and ignorant at some point. In fact, I am willing to cut the OP some slack. However, you need to have a well thought and researched argument before you come to the table throwing around ris-kay statements, or people will call you out on your stance.

Where do you get the impression I thought the OP was attacking anybody?

2bNurseNickStat · Aug 5, 2008

Ugh, What a sad, sniping reply. The OP wasnt attacking anyone. Can't we all just get along?

I've posted an extremely similar reply pattycake on another thread saying, "Can't we just all get along?". I agree with the refrainig from flame-throwing comment, but I also definitely feel for many of the posters on this thread expressing their feelings either as a student who is (uggghhh...hate typing this) "older"...or as a person who is (see above) older and is responding to the thread as I've been judged in my profession for my "young" age and for many other not-so-age-related things...

I truly hope that we all just want to "get along" and develop a standard of care unparalleled to any other profession but feel that as long as we have misconceptions about nursing it is very difficult to do that.

But isn't this why this is such an excellent website? To clear up misconceptions about the trade and to learn from one another's points of view? I know I have done so just by reading these forums before I was even a registered member!

I'm glad that we, as HCPs, are able to express and share opinions alike on this website. And I may be redundant to my previous post....but age doesn't make a good nurse...:)

rubystar · Aug 5, 2008

Nope, age doesn't matter either way.

I think the OP had a good argument but it really discounted the valid life experience and the passion of some of the 'older' nursing students. I also think some of the negative responses to this thread made a bit too much of a song and dance. Yeah, it was a little insensitive but that's really no excuse.

I think that when you add it all together, the 'older' students come out equal or better in terms of contributing to the profession. I mean if somebody gets to be that age and decides to go for a profession that takes a lot of dedication just to get through the program, they must want to really do it. :twocents:

I really don't understand the negativity towards each other Nursing generates. I think it's really sad.

2bNurseNickStat · Aug 5, 2008

I've posted an extremely similar reply pattycake on another thread saying, "Can't we just all get along?". I agree with the refrainig from flame-throwing comment, but I also definitely feel for many of the posters on this thread expressing their feelings either as a student who is (uggghhh...hate typing this) "older"...or as a person who is (see above) older and is responding to the thread as I've been judged in my profession for my "young" age and for many other not-so-age-related things...
I truly hope that we all just want to "get along" and develop a standard of care unparalleled to any other profession but feel that as long as we have misconceptions about nursing it is very difficult to do that.
But isn't this why this is such an excellent website? To clear up misconceptions about the trade and to learn from one another's points of view? I know I have done so just by reading these forums before I was even a registered member!
I'm glad that we, as HCPs, are able to express and share opinions alike on this website. And I may be redundant to my previous post....but age doesn't make a good nurse...:)

:wink2:And when I say age doesn't make a good nurse I mean age has nothing to do with GOOD nursing...old (ugghh) or young (ugghh) a great nurse is a great nurse:nurse:.

Bortaz, MSN, RN · Aug 5, 2008

It's been my experience, in nursing school, that the older students perform way, way better, both academically and in clinicals, than the text-message-obsessed, no-attention span younger crowd. I'm 40, and I can assure you, my phone rings off the hook, every semester, with the kids calling me, looking to borrow my notes or to have me tutor them.

At the hospitals, the younger crowd is often the one that is sitting on their rump in the nurses station, trying to avoid that patient with the poopy diaper.

Finally, I think your post was silly, and very, very plainly shows that you have a lot of growing up to do.

By the way, maybe if those younger students had studied harder, and worked harder, and been smarter and better prepared, they'd have been accepted into nursing school.

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!

Scrubby · Aug 5, 2008

[Where do you get the impression I thought the OP was attacking anybody?]

I know that this question isn't directed at me but perhaps reading your earlier comments might answer your question:

you said: [However, I will say, you need to have some real experience and facts to back up your claims before spouting off.] :wink2:

And given the caustic comments you made to the OP, well it seemed like a response to someone who was attacking something....

You know i'm pretty disgusted at some of the comments made on this thread. This is a classic example of nurses eating their young. Yeah the OP should have written her question maybe a little better but she really wanted an answer to her question. Nurses should be setting a better example than this. Nursing students come in all shapes and sizes, some have less life experience and maturity than others. This does not given anyone the right to gang up on them and make equally stupid and immature comments in return.

I have had many nursing students ask 'silly questions' and I have never reacted like this to them because it's bullying behaviour.

I completely agree with NurseNickStat comments. This is a great place to clear up any misconceptions about nursing.