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.
I have to defend Pinkynbd..I agree with what she is saying. We need to grow in our profession, and by that I mean go on to get Masters and Doctorate degrees. We need to show the "new face" of nursing in 2008, and that is done by achieving graduate degrees/research. That is not possible if you go to nursing school in your 50's.... you are lucky to get you ADN & a paycheck. Sorry, but that is how I feel. I am a 24 year old RN, I believe and have the will to continue my education to master level and beyond to represent my profession:nurse:
Well, aren't YOU special? I bet your co-workers just love working with you. Well, the DNPs, at least.
And, as I said before, if the OP and the other youngins would work as hard for their grades (the OP could use a little more time in English 1301, for instance) as some of the old ones, they'd HAVE a seat and not have to worry about this whole subject.
I just got this question when I asked myself this very question. After seeing my in-laws that they are in their late 60s and how it is for them to keep a job and get one b/c of their age and how employers really don't see they profit from them, (let's face it! it's a REALITY in this world, employers don't want retiring people), I thought to myself, I could probably work as a nurse until my late 60's and then do want I like, my hobbies, Like ceramics. But then it hit me, what about those that are going into nursing at such a late age like into their 50s, how long can you work before you're thought of as "non-productive"? I know this isn't other careers, this is nursing and experience counts, but physically how much can you tolerate? And I guess it's great if most of them go into education b/c we REALLY need these instructors, so in that way I guess it really works out.
Wow, maybe someone should let John McCain know that at age 70 he is thought of as "non-productive".
To the OP- please take the time to read current data on the median age in the U.S. work-force. As a mother of three, a" second time around" college
student, and future nurse...learn to arm yourself with the facts needed to back up opinion. It benefits everyone in the long run.
I did not say that the OP's statement was mature or educated - SHE WAS ASKING A QUESTION! She was asking us to help educate her. Have you said anything to help answer the question as to why educating 'older' new nurses is a good thing? If you are around 'older people' who can not actively do things (let's see, like we see 95% of on our hospital floor), I can see where the OP would get the misconception that an 'older person' could not tolerate the work like a 'younger person'. It should be our responsibility to help correct this misconception, not feed into the theory that nurses eat their young.
I did answer the question in 2 ways; equal opportunity for all, I'm sure sums it up pretty clearly, the second way I have answered on this thread is by thanking the posts that I agree with, why type the same comment twice if it's already there.
I agree that the op should be able to ask the question, but cut out the comments, that make the mature age student sound like they have one foot in the grave, that was tactless and uneccessary, and is inviting the response that was given, and she even predicted this response, so she was already questioning her own approach.
I applaud the op for saying out loud what a lot of people think even though they knew (and it happened) that they would be flamed to a crisp. Many older nurses do indeed have physical ailments, and most do not go on to the age of 68. There are precious few spots in nursing schools and the competition is fierce in some areas, so it's a natural human thought, just like the older students who post threads about how catty young students are who want to spend their time gossiping/text messaging and finding a doctor for a husband, and that young nurses can't possible be serious enough and know enough about life to be nurses.
Unfortunately for me the bottom line is regardless of how we feel about who takes spots in nursing school age discrimination is illegal in America. It would be wrong on so many levels to but a cap on the age of nurse student admissions. End of discussion. IMO.
Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.
Life offers no quarantees . Who is to say what will happen in the future maybe the younger nurse will leave nursing in 3 years after having a baby or two and the older nurse will work for 20 years. Maybe that old experienced person will contribute to the profession in a wonderful way that will impact many or maybe that person will save a life or two.I thought that we are a fair nation and and as long as that person met the requirements they too can have an equal chance. The average time that a nurse stays at the bedside in a hospital setting is quite low (5-6 years). So maybe we need to focus on why that is? After 27 years as a nurse (I just turned 50) I have some pretty good ideas on why that is. Yes I have stayed at the bedside that long and have a huge impact on the quality of nursing care delivered in the hospital.By the way,there is something to be said for general life experience as it allows the nurse to draw on all that experience when assisting others through their healthcare.
I have to say, I love to read these reactions....and I'm glad that at LEAST some won't be afraid to say what they really feel, even if it means agreeing to some point with me.
And even though I've repeated this, my question went out to nursing students IN their 50's not younger than that.
For the comment about McCain, Yeah he is too old and I'm not voting for him.
As far as the writer who wrote that I needed to repeat English 1301, spelling was never one of my best qualities but I'm trying and sometimes when you type fast you dont notice the errors you make and by then 5 seconds have past by and you can't edit.
I would like to hear people's comments about being an older NP/CRNA/CNM student. How do faculty, preceptors, and other nurses treat you? Are you respected? Or not? Treated like you're too old to be in the program? Are you asked how old you are? Or are you valued as much as the twenty somethings? How do faculty treat you, as you are in the same peer group (40s - 50s) as most faculty? What do they say about older students? Just curious. I have never heard anyone discuss these issues before and they weigh heavily on me these days.
: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...
Bortaz, MSN, RN
2,628 Posts
Well, aren't YOU special? I bet your co-workers just love working with you. Well, the DNPs, at least.
And, as I said before, if the OP and the other youngins would work as hard for their grades (the OP could use a little more time in English 1301, for instance) as some of the old ones, they'd HAVE a seat and not have to worry about this whole subject.