Aging Nurses - Where do we go?

[TamDar429]

I am an aging nurse (50) who can't really keep up with the young new grads. Why can't there be a nurse company (or hospital or nursing home or staffing agency) that employs such nurses that will work for less money and do less stressful/multi-tasking nursing jobs? I mean we are still valuable. Seems like money and doing things in a rush are what employers want but everywhere is so short staffed. I don't mean to be disrespectful to anyone or anywhere; I just think we are resources that are not being utilized. Thoughts please?

[Farawyn]

Is 40 better than 60? I may come across as younger online because I am way kewl.

I always think posters look like their avatars. So you are clearly a hot Madonna.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

I always think posters look like their avatars. So you are clearly a hot Madonna.

Plus ...I am (still) blonde, smoke and come from Michigan!

[martymoose, BSN, RN]

I always think posters look like their avatars. So you are clearly a hot Madonna.

Yep- I look like this in real life. Really!

[SororAKS, ADN, RN]

Been there,done that: You are kewl, and you do rock :)

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I always think posters look like their avatars. So you are clearly a hot Madonna.

And I'm a big, red flower!

[momof3al RN]

i'll be 50 in jan, do a great job and i don't feel inadequate next to younger nurses, plus a little maturity helps with this job IMO. i'm able to empathize and don't get in a huff or offended with difficult patients or families. plus i'm a single mom to 3 kids and will be paying for college for my oldest in 5 years, so slowing down is not an option. i work baylor, because i think with the stress, responsiblity and long hours, i deserve to get PAID!

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Thank you Soror.

[SandraFenway]

50 is not old, that's prime time in terms of experience and physicality intersecting. You're young enough to do all the tasks and old enough to prioritize/organize up the wazoo. Perfect age. If you can't "keep up with the younger new grads", something else is going on with you? Have you had a complete physical? Do you feel confused? What's going on?

[sailornurse]

Sometimes you have to re-invent yourself. I agree with PPs on the variety of nursing opportunities out there. Sometimes you need to think outside the box. I will give you an example. While working on the telemetry unit, one of our nurses injured his shoulder when a patient fell. One day, I come in to the break room to hear something to the effect of "he can't work as a nurse anymore". My reply: yeah he can work in outpatient/pre-procedure, endoscopy, pacu, peds, nursery etc. So negative thinking we can only work in hospitals or acute care units. I talked with him after he came back to work from surgery. He ended up transferring to the urgent care clinic. I will be 58 in a few weeks. And I started as a teen-age LPN. I am applying for the DNP in case I return to teaching, I will need it to compete with those new pups going from BSN to DNP with less then 5 years experience. I am noticing some arthritis in my hands. So am planning ahead. OP, look for other possibilities. I went back to school for MSN/FNP due to becoming a single mom, the 12 hours shifts did not work for me. I ended up teaching for ten years because as 9 month faculty I had the summers off, winter break, spring break also, so could spend them with my daughter. I left teaching when she was a senior in high school as I doubled my salary to work full time as hospice NP. I look for opportunities to expand my knowledge, "another tool in my kit". So this year I added part time asthma/allergy/immunology & one weekend a month at a psych hospital doing H&Ps/medical consults.

Not planning to retire until 67 but might also keep going part time. When I was teaching one of the professors was in her 80s. There is a place for us Crusty Old Bats, you just have to be creative, keep a positive attitude. I have stayed in jobs that initially I was planning on canceling the interview.

[Jules A, MSN]

50 is not old, that's prime time in terms of experience and physicality intersecting. You're young enough to do all the tasks and old enough to prioritize/organize up the wazoo. Perfect age. If you can't "keep up with the younger new grads", something else is going on with you? Have you had a complete physical? Do you feel confused? What's going on?

Where did you get this from? Whats going on is the natural aging process. By the age of 50 there absolutely is a decline in multiple systems. I'm not saying its the end of the road but as an early 50s person who again has maintained a decent weight, is physically active and continues to work significant overtime I absolutely can feel the aging process. I am slower and no way am I still in my prime with regard to physical stamina or reflexes.

[RNperdiem, RN]

Nursing isn't the only line of work. I might find a non-nursing job if I had to.

[Libby1987]

Where did you get this from? Whats going on is the natural aging process. By the age of 50 there absolutely is a decline in multiple systems. I'm not saying its the end of the road but as an early 50s person who again has maintained a decent weight, is physically active and continues to work significant overtime I absolutely can feel the aging process. I am slower and no way am I still in my prime with regard to physical stamina or reflexes.

Poster is saying it's the prime of experience and physicality intersecting. I'm not as physically strong at 50 that I was in my mid 40's (which was prime for me) but my knowledge, experience and professional function is at its highest. I think on a graph it would show the intersection as pretty prime.