Am I too old?

dog1 · Sep 25, 2008

Now that is really sad! He had to bring his attorney to fight age discrimination. The director where I am applying said he liked older students so I am just going to have to go with that and trust that I will get a fair shot at 45. Could have applied earlier but didn't want to miss any of my son's life. He is 14 now.

dog1

LackeyRN · Sep 25, 2008

Thanks to all for replying to this post. I'm in my mid-30's and applying to programs for fall 2009. After following some threads here in the pre-CRNA forum I was starting to feel a little too old myself. Thanks for the honesty and encouragement; thanks to honeydawn75 for asking the question.

NewTexasRN · Sep 25, 2008

Oh, stop it! Half the people in my ADN program are in the their forties. 33 is a wonderful age!

CaptGaston · Sep 25, 2008

Well, there are some 50 and 60 somethings at my gym, and they can run circles around some of the 20 somethings. I have always said it is not the age or the miles, it is the maintence.....

boynurse2 · Oct 1, 2008

I wasted some time. At that particular school the director once told us undergrad students at the time he was only interested in nurses with 10-15 yrs experience. So I worked awhile for experience and life happened. 10yrs later I was worried about approaching the too old age for the school since the new director did not like the "numbers" from the older students. Go figure. As I posted earlier, the older students at my school 30's-50's are doing just fine.

jfk6668 · Oct 1, 2008

This may sound mean...but is it really that bad that a school doesn't want to accept a 54 year old?.....when they finish they'll be 56....and if you consider the normal retirement age...that means they will only provide anesthesia services for 9 years.....19 if they work to 75.....

If seats are so limited and there is a shortage of anesthesia providers....don't adcoms need to consider the needs of the community?

A 30 year old applicant will be able to practice 30 years plus(assuming 65)........40 years if they work to 75

Sedna · Oct 2, 2008

Yes, jfk6668, if the 54 year old is more qualified than the younger candidate, it's that bad ... and it's also age discrimination.

I'm 52 and I have a year to go in my Nurse Anesthesia program. I'm hoping to work until I'm 70. Are you suggesting perhaps I should have been denied this opportunity?

jfk6668 · Oct 2, 2008

not at all....but im saying the needs of the community are a factor......if a program likes a certain type of candidate...young, old, certain experience, whatever...it's likely because a certain type of candiate hasnt done as well......

I'm all for people doing whatever they want at any age......don't be so offended............

Sedna · Oct 2, 2008

If you were 52, highly qualified for nurse anesthesia school, and told you were too old to become a CRNA would you not be offended?

CaptGaston · Oct 2, 2008

Then should we prohibit the nurse from entering the CRNA program who has intentions of just being a part time CRNA related to her desire to raise a family? See the can of worms you can open with this thought process??

Trauma Columnist · Oct 3, 2008

Too old is nowadays not something you would want to be discussing when there is any chance of age discrimination. People as a whole work longer. I'm an APN and went back to school in my 40's and plan to work until I'm 70. And, believe me, if I wanted to go to anesthesia school now, I'd be applying and I'm 50!

shandsburnRN-CRNA · Oct 4, 2008

Age is but a number. You are NEVER too old to improve yourself. If you want it, go out and get it. You only live once, don't cut yourself short and grow old wishing you had done something that you didn't.