Ageism in Nursing?

Nurses General Nursing

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I read a comment in Twitter where an older nurse was pulled aside and told to speed up. Getting older is tough and involves many factors that determine the amount and kind of work that a person can handle. Right now, even younger nurses are getting burnt out. I was thinking about the work nurses do and the speed at which we accomplish tasks. Do you think ageism is playing a part in the hiring process? Do you think nursing programs are responsible in providing information about the burnout problem in nursing before taking money, especially from student loans? There needs to be transparency in nursing from education to practice. 

2 hours ago, morelostthanfound said:

^^^This^^^  In my opinion, the mandatory BSN, imposed by many hospitals, is a veiled attempt at getting rid of senior nurses who are at the top of their pay scales.  The unsaid rationale, is that it's better to hire in new grads at a significant cost savings. Over the years, I've worked with quite a few '50 something' year old nurses, who were not grandfathered in and faced termination in a few years without meeting this requirement.  To pay out thousands of dollars and go through the hassle to obtain a BSN, was a bad BCR, and a deal breaker for many older nurses who later decided just to step down and take early retirement. Sad, when a BSN (and I have one), is such a superfluous, meaningless degree and is no substitute for years of experience.

Very interesting... I didn't see that before and glad you posted this piece. 

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On 9/18/2021 at 10:34 AM, Hoosier_RN said:

My clinic has 1 unfilled nurse position, which is no big deal, it only adds a few hours a week to each nurse there, but during interviews, I don't know how many have said "I won't work early mornings, evenings, nights, weekends or holidays" (so far they've all been recent grads). When told that all of those are required for healthcare, especially in a dialysis clinic, I've also heard that " I was told nursing hours and work environments are very flexible", like it's our faults that patients need care, and it's not just M-F 8-5. I wish the healthcare industry would quit perpetuating this myth of flexibility, as many with flexibility had to work years to get it, it didn't usually come right out of school

I agree that many applicants don't see that nursing is very family unfriendly depending on your circumstances. If you're single parent and don't have regular consistent help from fam or friends, you have an expensive problem, esp with student loan. The schedule for healthcare jobs does not follow the childcare schedules and is not flexible except for the days they approve you to work per your request.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Tele/ER/Urgent Care.
18 hours ago, HarleyvQuinn said:

Personally, I did. I advanced my education and chose FNP. I was merely pointing out that age doesn't necessarily equate to "slow," as it could instead be the result of injury. ?‍♀️

So did I! I just started my 45th year of nursing. Can’t imagine working 12 hour shifts on Med-surge or Tele or the ER at my age. Working at a clinic works well for me even though most days I’m using my heating pad for sciatica but sitting in between seeing pts helps tons plus M-F/8-5 hours. But you’re right, thinking back there were many younger, newer nurses that couldn’t keep up, guess I just figured they were still learning.

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On 9/19/2021 at 2:16 PM, AtomicNurse said:

I agree that many applicants don't see that nursing is very family unfriendly depending on your circumstances. If you're single parent and don't have regular consistent help from fam or friends, you have an expensive problem, esp with student loan. The schedule for healthcare jobs does not follow the childcare schedules and is not flexible except for the days they approve you to work per your request.

Since Covid:

"Third, about 15 percent of health care workers have children and no other family member in the household who can provide child care. With widespread closures of schools and child care facilities, nurses who are in this situation will find it difficult to work. "
 https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20200327.714037/full/

 

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12 hours ago, AtomicNurse said:

Since Covid:

"Third, about 15 percent of health care workers have children and no other family member in the household who can provide child care. With widespread closures of schools and child care facilities, nurses who are in this situation will find it difficult to work. "
 https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20200327.714037/full/

 

It's not just single parents. It's every family situation. We are feeling this immensely. Unfortunately it's the same nurses calling off repeatedly (we are growing suspicious about this) and it puts an extremely heavy load on those of us who are there everyday. I admit, I'm getting a little bitter about it. It's been 18 solid months of picking up their slack with no end in sight. I. Am. Tired.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

I was 55 when I slammed the door on Acute care last year. The younger cohort was apparently cohesive outside of the working environment, apparently, as evidenced by never-ending conversations about the previous night’s/weekend’s shenanigans. So, my final shift in acute care gifted me an assignment of all isolation patients when there were enough nurses for each of us to have only ONE. Every time I walked past the desk, they were ALL there sharing pics on their cellphones and having a grand old time. Typical case of ones looking out for their friends.  
 

No need to complain because I’d already reported it to three nursing supervisors and nothing was done.  I knew what I had to do. So I gave the fashionistas all new blue, plastic attire with matching eyewear. 
 

Ageism?? I call it BS. But I do hope that they love the look of the isolation gowns and compare photos of that.
 

There are perks to being older: we come with a wealth of knowledge and experience and go pretty much anywhere. 

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

Ageism also applies to young nurses. I started my career at 21 and nobody took me seriously. “Your too young to be a nurse”. 

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Specializes in Primary Care, Military.
On 9/19/2021 at 5:17 PM, PollywogNP said:

So did I! I just started my 45th year of nursing. Can’t imagine working 12 hour shifts on Med-surge or Tele or the ER at my age. Working at a clinic works well for me even though most days I’m using my heating pad for sciatica but sitting in between seeing pts helps tons plus M-F/8-5 hours. But you’re right, thinking back there were many younger, newer nurses that couldn’t keep up, guess I just figured they were still learning.

It was a huge hit to my pride to realize I had no choice but to slow down. It took a few stern lectures from surgeons, too. I'm in a position now where my career is intellectually stimulating and I'm still working clinically, though. Should've gone for NP sooner. 

 Invisible disabilities can cause conflict in professions like ours where everyone is expected to be high-speed, especially due to poor staffing. If anything, I think I'd say that hospital corporations don't really provide any substantial support for retaining experienced nurses. Whether injured, older, ill, or going through some acute crisis. The mentality seems to just be that nurses are a dime a dozen. 

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I totally agree with you Harley. Very accurate. 

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Specializes in CCRN, CPAN.

It seems that ageism has prevented me from getting any kind of new job. I went for my FNP and have 31 years RN experience, and get turned down over and over again. Mostly Ghosted after promising interviews. Very discouraging. It makes me think companies are not hiring nurses in their late 50's to early 60's thinking they will retire too soon. My advice would be to advance your degree when you're young so that you can settle into a healthy job when as you approach middle age. 

 

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Ageism is alive and well in some settings. I experienced it in CA. One hiring manager actually asked me "How old are you, anyway?"  (I was "older than 20" at the time, but motivated, willing and very able to do all of the work necessary.

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As an older Nurse with 11 years of ER Nursing and 14 Years of College Health Sports Medicine/Orthopedic experience who retired with an ADN degree. I precepted Nurses in the BSN program, instructed people on Insertion and maintenance of Picc Lines, IV's and how to change hubs of Central lines.   I have kept my ACLS, PALS, Picc Line certification up to date yet, I am no longer employable in a Hospital. I don't have a BSN degree so I am not qualified evidentially.  Have no desire to be in management or administration at all.  Love bedside Nursing.  Taking care of patients has always been where my heart has been.  

 I can work in Long Term Care and Home Care it appears.  What I don't understand in working your Nursing staff to the point of exhaustion to where they are leaving the profession.  They hire Travel Nurses.  Don't understand why older Nurses with years of experience who are looking to return to Nursing to help out are not even considered.  

My granddaughter graduated and started College looking to go into Nursing.  She has already quickly decided Nursing is not what she will do.  I am almost glad she has chosen another field. 

I wish every one working in Nursing and any medical field the very best.  I will be Praying for all of you.  

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