Am I too old to be new in the ER?

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I am currently a school nurse and before that worked for five years in urgent care. It was hospital based and we occaisionally saw chest pain and other real emergencies but of course, shipped them via ambulance to the main hospital lickedy split. I am 48 years old and I want to work in the hospital over the summer. I am thinking ER would be a good place. I like the variety, the turnover. Anyone in ER start there later in their career? I have critical care, ACLS, educator and mangagement backgrounds as well as the school nurse thing. What do you think?

Specializes in mental health, medical, emergency,commun.

hi of course your not too old, i am nearly 49 and just started in an ed in australia, its freaky at times , but you have to be safe and ask questions all the time, be humble and teachable, youll be ok

regards s1716698:yeah:

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48 is not to old to start in the ER. I am 47. I went back to ER nursing last July after being out of nursing for almost 9 years due to family and health issues.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, PSYCH, PP, CEN.

started in ER at age 49

can't help braggin, I can run circles around the younger ones

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I am still a student, I will be 48 when I graduate. I am hoping to

work in the ER when I graduate. I am an ex-paramedic and love the

ER.

Sandy

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You'll be great, and good luck.

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Specializes in ER/SICU/Med-Surg/Ortho/Trauma/Flight.

I agree with everyone on here, your not to old and it would be beneficial to have you, I love working with the older nurses more then I do the younger, Im a supervisor, Im 29 now, I have been in the er since I started as an LPN, and yes bill is right the ones of us that are older or have been there awhile can run circles around the new 20 year olds its hilarious, Ill still be going and there almost asleep. lol. I think it would be great to have you in er. But also yes, the Jr. high bs pulled by the younger RN's and LPN's does get old, I mean we are "ADULTS", we dont need to gossip or make fun of others and were not in high school.

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I became an ER nurse at 47 years of age after nursing in a med/surg unit for 2 years. I, too, worried about being too old. I have found that I am quite welcome there and am more than up to the task of working in the ER. There have been a few shift where I wanted to tear my hair out, but for the most part, I am having the time of my life there. Good luck to you... I know you will do well.

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47 is the age in which I started in the ER. I was a med-surg nurse for 2 years before that. I got an excellent 12-week orientation with mentoring. I love the place and find that I do just fine. :nurse:

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I graduated from nursing school last December at age 47 and started out in the ED in February - it's been wonderful! I've been a paramedic since 2000 which helped. You are never too old to try something new.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, PACU.

47 when I started ER. It isn't so much your energy level as it is your thought process-thinking smart saves a lot of wasted energy running around. It is so very true that wisdom comes with age. You will do fine.

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Specializes in mental health, medical, emergency,commun.

I am 50, been in emergency for about 4 months, its challenging, but good stuff, give it a go

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