does age REALLY matter?

Published

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!

Specializes in DD, HHC, Med Surg, PCU, Resource.

I don't think age has anything to do with it.

Even if the older (or for that matter younger) nurse only had 5 years to give, and she was an excellent nurse for those five years wouldn't she have made a difference for her patients? Isn't that what is important?

I may be reading the OP wrong, but I just think it is sad if she really feels that quanity of time served is more valuable than the quality of time served.

I'm in the camp that everyone should be allowed to live up to their full potential, and putting an age cap on (even if only implied) is discrimination and should not be tolerated.

The other side of the coin would not be fair either. It would be hurtful to feel that one should not be allowed in your program because others felt that because being young equaled inmaturity, older nurses should get the coveted spots.

If you earned it, it should be yours. How ever long it lasts is really no ones business, and everyone else should really show some tolerance to other groups. I'm making a general statement, not saying anyone specifically. All that matters is what you do with it when you have it.

Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.
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.

I said exactly what I feel. It just happens to be the opposite of what you feel.

"Speaking your mind" isn't limited to just the people that agree with your beliefs.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Nursing Education.

i only read the first page of replies... but isn't your SS amount based on like the last 10 or 15 years that you work? if you work until you are 68... then it would help.

but i have to ask... nursing is hard on the body. do these nurses expect to be working the floor until retirement?

Specializes in Pediatrics, Nursing Education.
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.

well, agree with you or not people should not critize others on the board for grammer errors... its is bad web board manners.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Nursing Education.
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.

wow, jealous much?

i have to say that i agree with taking nursing to the next level. BSN is ENTRY LEVEL. More MSN prepared nurses. Doctorally prepared nurses in leadership roles.

If we are going to demand the respect we are all screaming for... at all levels of the profession... we have to produce the creditials to command it.

i am not saying that the associates and other levels of nursing are NOT appreciated. they are part of the backbone of nursing. but we have to encourage education rather than look snidely upon those who are increasing their opportunities and lending credibility to the profession by increasing their level of education.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Nursing Education.
I went into nursing 20 years ago when I was in my 20's, had no children and not many responsibilities. I am returning now in my mid 40's after running a family business, raising 3 daughters and now helping my Mom navigate the nastiness of dementia. I know for a fact that I am going to be a better nurse, simply because I have had more life experiences. I also feel like I have a good 20 years left in me so I don't think it really matters.

I think the bottom line is, if you have a passion for nursing, that is where you should be regardless of your age.

LOL

OK... i am going to get totally flammed for this. Sorry to those of you who I offend in the process...

I think that a twenty something can bring just as much to the profession as the "mature" student can.

And in the end, it isn't about "you"...

What I mean is, how can personal and life experiences make you a better nurse than a 20-something? I think the 20 something can be just as good a nurse - clinically, professionally, etc.

Its about taking care of the patients. Its not about "you" (the role of "nurse"... nothing to the writer of this message) - it is about a professional duty.

Yes... I understand that you can be more compassionate, understanding, etc when you bring life experiences in to play... BUT. I think a 20 something can be just as compassionate and understanding.

I also know WAY too many nurses who let their life experiences get IN their way when it comes to performing their professional tasks. In an unprofessional manner. That includes older and middle aged nurses. Actually, I know that some "older" nurses are so set in their ways that they buck change, refuse to accept better and safer ways of doing things, and can be harsh, judgemental and critical to patients and coworkers from backgrounds differing upon theirs because of their previous experience. I see newer nurses who are accepting to change and are willing to do things to make things better in their enviroments... and they won't buck them "just because". If they buck, they have a darn good reason and rational behind it. Of course, you can have newer nurses who act like this and older nurses who are more accepting, but the fact that experienced nurses buck change, for instance, based on their past experiences is a HUGE problem in some places.

We all go through life with baggage. It is important for the nurse to put that away when working with the public and with people from all sorts of different lifestyles... patients, coworkers, ect.

Do you know what I mean? And in the end, its about the patient, not the nurse taking care of them...

I'm waiting for the rocks to start to be thrown now!!

Specializes in Med/Surg/Ortho/HH/Radiology-Now Retired.
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!

1) us "oldies" were on the planet before you; ...... so get in line! :D

2) a colleague of mine is still working; at 72 years of age and doing a brilliant job! runs rings around the younger nurses!

3) never underestimate the capabilities of us "oldies!" :dancgrp::clpty::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Specializes in Med/Surg/Ortho/HH/Radiology-Now Retired.
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:

remind me to show this post to my well over 50 friend who recently obtained her doctorate!

Specializes in DD, HHC, Med Surg, PCU, Resource.
i only read the first page of replies... but isn't your ss amount based on like the last 10 or 15 years that you work? if you work until you are 68... then it would help.

but i have to ask... nursing is hard on the body. do these nurses expect to be working the floor until retirement?

you are right that nursing is hard on the body, and younger bodies are certainly more resilient. but what i don't understand is the argument that just because one is older, that they will not be able to do the job. do you feel that once a person reaches a certain age being worthwhile ceases to exist?

it has already been stated on here that there are nurses in the their upper 60's and 70's doing it and doing it well. obviously, they expected to do it. the other thing to consider is the age of retirement keeps going up. if you retire early you get penalized.

physically, i don't expect to be on the same level as a 22 year old. but, only i know what i am capable of doing. personally, i want to do other things after i get experience on the floor. that is the great thing about nursing, there are so many options. it is true that much of that depends on education. but there are still places that nurses without higher degrees could go if they felt that floor nursing was getting to be too much. their contribution can still continue to be worthwhile.

it is sad that it that our society is so infatuated with youth. unfortunately it fades, and when you are then the older one you may not be so keen on others feeling you should not be doing your job because of your age. i see that is our culture. eastern societies hold their elders in high regards, here they are quickly expendible.

just remember, everyone gets old.

lastly, i still don't see the need for the argument. if we go back to the op orignal question about whether or not it is fair that an older student is taking a place that a younger student could posess.

of course it is fair, the younger student had the same oppurtunity to make the grade to earn the slot. i think it is sour grapes to complain, if they didn't get the slot. they obviously should have worked harder. i feel the same could be said if it were turned around, and an older student was complaining about a younger student.

who has the right to tell anyone they are not worthy to seek out their dreams?

.

Specializes in DD, HHC, Med Surg, PCU, Resource.
LOL

OK... i am going to get totally flammed for this. Sorry to those of you who I offend in the process...

I think that a twenty something can bring just as much to the profession as the "mature" student can.

And in the end, it isn't about "you"...

What I mean is, how can personal and life experiences make you a better nurse than a 20-something? I think the 20 something can be just as good a nurse - clinically, professionally, etc.

Its about taking care of the patients. Its not about "you" (the role of "nurse"... nothing to the writer of this message) - it is about a professional duty.

Yes... I understand that you can be more compassionate, understanding, etc when you bring life experiences in to play... BUT. I think a 20 something can be just as compassionate and understanding.

I also know WAY too many nurses who let their life experiences get IN their way when it comes to performing their professional tasks. In an unprofessional manner. That includes older and middle aged nurses. Actually, I know that some "older" nurses are so set in their ways that they buck change, refuse to accept better and safer ways of doing things, and can be harsh, judgemental and critical to patients and coworkers from backgrounds differing upon theirs because of their previous experience. I see newer nurses who are accepting to change and are willing to do things to make things better in their enviroments... and they won't buck them "just because". If they buck, they have a darn good reason and rational behind it. Of course, you can have newer nurses who act like this and older nurses who are more accepting, but the fact that experienced nurses buck change, for instance, based on their past experiences is a HUGE problem in some places.

We all go through life with baggage. It is important for the nurse to put that away when working with the public and with people from all sorts of different lifestyles... patients, coworkers, ect.

Do you know what I mean? And in the end, its about the patient, not the nurse taking care of them...

I'm waiting for the rocks to start to be thrown now!!

Exactly!

And how can the fact that someone who is 20 be a better nurse because they are younger?

It goes both ways.

Don't we need both kinds of nurses? Imagine the possiblilities if they could actually work together.

Ok...I hear hokey music being cued in the backgroud...I'll stop now:wink2:

Specializes in Med/Surg/Ortho/HH/Radiology-Now Retired.
don't we need both kinds of nurses? imagine the possiblilities if they could actually work together.

exactly! hear hear, well said!

the world is a different place to the one i lived in as a younger nurse. times have changed immeasurably. people change career directions for many and varied reasons. life is unpredictable and unknown, things happen and people choose or need to make changes and new choices.

growing up in the australian outback in the 1950's the rule was; married women had to give up their job. only single women were permitted to be employed. it was a town run by and dictated by unions!

the depression rate among the women was incredible! their loss of self esteem and sense of productivity, (apart from making babies that is!) was a serious and ongoing problem.

the only women who could continue to work was ..... yep! nurses!

oddly enough though, it also used to be a rule that if, as a student, you married, you had to leave the nursing profession! my mother was one of those nurses!

when older, she tried to return to the profession and complete her training. but alas, no. they wouldn't permit it! sheer lunacy! but, we're talking about the 1950's!

thank god that things are different today!

no person should be denied the opportunity to pursue a career based on age, gender, religion, race, etc etc. if you've got the desire, the requirements of the course etc etc, you should not be denied that chance.

it's an "interesting" fact here in australia, employers are actively pursuing older workers. because the population and hence the workforce, is ageing, the country needs those folks to help keep the wheels in motion!

you know, essentially we humans are time travellers. our brains and capabilities don't necessarily go away just because we grow older.

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.

O my lord.

Well, I guess if we signed into some sort of slavery pact, that you MUST work for 25+ years as a nurse, then your reasoning might be correct. There is no guarantee that a 25 year old such as yourself will be able to stick it out for 15 or more years as a nurse. While we are at it, we might as well make sure that no one with a chronic condition (asthma, hepatitis, obesity, cancer or history of cancer, diabetes, smoking, HTN, etc) or a genetic inclination for a chronic condition should get a place in school before the young, healthy crowd. After all, that fat 25 year old may very well die of numerous problems, or at least be disabled to the point of not being able to work, by the age of 45.

Many nurses leave the profession for a variety of reasons, some after only a few years of service, some after decades. Are their educations and contributions lessened, wasted because they didn't spend 50 years in a career? I don't think so.

Man, egocentrism abounds. Since when is there one perfect nurse? Are we all so short sighted that we think that the way we did came to nursing, the way we currently are is the only way? I'd say you're short on brains and heart if you buy that.

Now get off my lawn, you d#*m kids!

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