Ageism in Nursing?

[Guest1176712]

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. 

[Ele_phant]

There's 2 retirement age nurses on my ward and they are both excellent and have great intuition about what patient's need. One of them struggles a bit with the computer but there is always someone around to help. I always have a better shift taking handover from one who doesn't say much about what tasks she's done or are due but will tell me exactly what each patient needs that day - and she is normally right! I think that is old school nursing and really important for good care

[OUxPhys, BSN, RN]

I didn't see this at my hospital (where compared to other area hospitals mine has a lot of floor nurses with a lot of experience....which is a great thing). I do know a couple of the area hospitals, one in particular that is notorious for doing this, have been taken to court because they fired and/or let go older employees with a spotless record.

[Jordee, BSN, RN]

I'm 63 on a busy med/surg tele floor. One of 4 "older" nurses. My floor is crazy busy, I keep up. It's the younger nurses that are leaving because of pay inequity with the travel nurses and ongoing stress--ageism is the least of nursing's problems. Lack of nursing leadership is the problem, we need leaders  who can improve working conditions and pay for nurses.

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

4 hours ago, Jordee said:

Lack of nursing leadership is the problem, we need leaders  who can improve working conditions and pay for nurses.

I don't know how much they can change conditions when bean counters ultimately have control. It's frustrating

[Guest1176712]

2 hours ago, Hoosier_RN said:

I don't know how much they can change conditions when bean counters ultimately have control. It's frustrating

From what I'm seeing, walking out the door is the best way to improve your condition. ? Unions, The Last Pizza Party FBook, Ratio Law. Look, do you really think we can go on like this? I know I can't. I'm a fighter and I've come cross RNs who actually mock me for this fight. Now, I can't see how a nurse would defend a miserable situation like this unless they were mentally ill, planted, or benefitting somehow. At this point, I don't give a damn. The fight is ON. I won't stop. I might fall, but Ill get back up. Because, this time it's personal. This messes with my life and my family. Now, if any of you feel this way, then help out.