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?

[bagladyrn, RN]

I have an idea. I think we should establish a go fund me account. All the youngsters could donate. When enough is deposited to cover expenses one COB could retire, opening up a job for a newbie. Then the next COB moves up in line and donations start again.

Hey - it's better odds than the lottery!

[katfish67lpn]

Me too :) and I am 2 years away from 50. I think I keep very well. We're all learning a new computer system and the older nurses are definitely having a hard time.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

I'm middle age and I could keep up if I wanted to, but why? The patient ratios are terrible now and the floors are understaffed.

I have no desire to work any of the floors. Clinics, occupational health, telehealth, case management, education, research and administration are some viable options.

[SororAKS, ADN, RN]

I'll be returning to the profession at age 52. For me, it's not a matter of keeping up with the young grads. I've paid my dues and am not in a hurry. I work smarter and not harder (part of the reason for my hiatus is that I didn't learn that lesson until it was too late). I see my experience and age in a positive light, am a natural leader, and have a very good sense of humor; I've also seen so much there's very little that intimidates or bothers me. No, I'm not 25 anymore. But oddly, I feel the same in terms of the sky is the limit, as I did back then. I just have a lot more common sense now than I did then. My plans at the moment are to continue to do my CEU's for the next few months, and then start my refresher/re entry clinical. After that, I'm not sure where I will work, but it will be part time/PRN. I had my fill of weekends, holidays, and messed up hours. THAT part is different.

[SororAKS, ADN, RN]

Interestingly, when I was a youngster I didn't want the older nurses to leave. They were the ones that had the experience and knew how to handle everything that I was scared I couldn't. I respected them for their wisdom, candor, courage and balls of steel.

[Jensmom7, BSN, RN]

Interestingly, when I was a youngster I didn't want the older nurses to leave. They were the ones that had the experience and knew how to handle everything that I was scared I couldn't. I respected them for their wisdom, candor, courage and balls of steel.

Now some of them want us to die off so they can step into the "plum" positions they feel entitled to straight out of school because omg who wants to actually touch sick people? And why should they need clinical experience before they get those positions?

That attitude makes me appreciate committed, enthusiastic new nurses even more.

[Libby1987]

I've been thinking about this topic daily. My initial response was that I'm not old, I'm in good health and am still performing well. I go to the gym, ride my green horse etc.

But I've also been positioning myself for 3rd part of my career. The first was learning my trade, the 2nd was excelling and fine tuning it, the 3rd will be in leadership. I'm still prime but I'm also planning on a position that will be less physical and will take me to retirement, or at least retirement from full time.

It's not that I can't keep up now, and wouldn't be able to keep up in the future, it's about continuing to plan and grow my career in a direction I want to finish it out. At 50 I'm still growing, not winding down, but I am trying to be realistic about what I can and want to do in the final years.

[Jules A, MSN]

Interestingly, when I was a youngster I didn't want the older nurses to leave. They were the ones that had the experience and knew how to handle everything that I was scared I couldn't. I respected them for their wisdom, candor, courage and balls of steel.

I was blessed to have been mentored by older nurses who just handed me knowledge that would have taken years, if ever, to have figured out on my own. There is no doubt in my mind that I became an excellent nurse fairly quickly thanks to their generous guidance. At one job in particular when my older colleagues started retiring and next thing I knew the hospital became enamored with filling the units with brand new grads for low pay of course. After 6 months they were doing charge and in psych the knowledge deficit was glaring, imo.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

This sounds like a nice set up, congratulations! Personally I don't think most people are able to comfortably or competently work well into their 60s and 70s. I'm financially prepared and planning to retire in the 60-62 year old range God willing.

Have to disagree with that. I am in my mid 60's, my job is constantly changed and becoming more demanding on the old noggin'. Use it or lose it.

[Farawyn]

Have to disagree with that. I am in my mid 60's, my job is constantly changed and becoming more demanding on the old noggin'. Use it or lose it.

Wow, I thought you were like, 40.

I don't know why...?

[BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN]

I didn't find it insulting, I have 30

years in, just on the other side of 50. Somedays those 12 hour shifts feel like they are going to kill me, the knees are getting old, other days it's okay. And I can keep up and run over the youngins but that is because most of them don't do more than they need too, never stay past their shift to help or come in to help. Many of us of this age have a different work ethic and it tends to lend itself to burn out.

I have a Masters and am

hoping to transition into Informatics. Otherwise I can retire after this year, which is sounding pretty darn good!

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Wow, I thought you were like, 40.

I don't know why...?

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