Any Of You 58 Or Older When You Finished?

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Jan 20, 2008

53, will be 55 for my RN.

I haven't had a problem getting hired.

One friend graduated at 65!

bill4745, RN · Jan 20, 2008

Left nursing (ICU) for 8 years, returned at 51. Had 4 job offers for ICU from 4 hospitals in a few days, all willing to give me several weeks of 1:1 precepting. Our maturity and work ethic is valued by any nurse recruiter who has any sense.

allthingsbright · Jan 20, 2008

Had a friend in her mid 50's just grad with me and she had a hard time finding a position--she thinks it is due in part to her age??? I just cant believe agism like that exists, but it does. She graduated with a 4.0, has just left a successful career in another field, great people skills, and I honestly cant see any other barrier to her getting a job. Hopefully she is just the exception, especially with the shortage going on!!!

akwesook · Jan 21, 2008

I was happy to see others with the same issue I have.I am 54. I got my LVN in 1981 but was out of nursing for 10 years and just came back but I am working on BSN on the internet and was a bit concerned about investing that much in education at my age. I hope it is worth it.

llg, PhD, RN · Jan 21, 2008

While I wish you all the best, I think there is a big difference between someone who took a few years out of a nursing career and is then returning to nursing and someone who is searching for her first job as an RN. I think it is very possible that a new grad older than 58 years old might indeed find her options more limited than those of a much younger person -- fair or not.

berniemcr · Jan 21, 2008

I was 57 when I graduated in 12/05. I must admit that it took me longer than my younger classmates to find a job. I have been working in a child/adolescent crisis center since 4/06.

The funniest thing I found was in my second interview when on of the people interviewing me stated "your age will not be detrimental in this job--your life experience will be what you need." I didn't even think they could mention the word age.

Psych is good when you are older because although there are takedowns, it is not the same as having to move a 300 lb person q 2 hrs. So much of what I do is talk and listen.

Good luck--I am happy I did it.

ohmeowzer RN, RN · Jan 21, 2008

had a classmate that was 60 when she started RN school and 65 when she graduated.. seh still works as a charge nurse and is going great in her 70's.. i wish i had half her energy.. good luck and keep us posted

SylviaC · Jan 21, 2008

kizzykatlove:

Would you believe I finished RN school at the age of 67. I had been an LPN for 13 years and decided if I had to work I wanted to work as an RN and get paid for what I did, so I enrolled in a community college and obtained my AAS in nursing. I had been working on the med-surg floor during the 13 years at the same hospital, and after 3 months of having my RN I transferred to the Ed. I love it and am treated with respect by the younger nurses and by my Nurse Manager. If your in good health and are serious about working as a nurse I'm sure you will get hired. You may have to work in a long-term sitting for a year before you transfer to a hospital, but I'm sure it can be done.

Good Luck

Trinh · Jan 21, 2008

Great discussion since there are many of us boomers entering nursing now. I will be 55, almost 56 when I Get my RN, BSN next year and am also concerned about job ops. Everyday I think, is this worth it? I have a social work degree, tobacco treatment experience and am a massage therapist so I hope this all will be useful in nursing. I do not know what kind of nursing I want to do, but I know it's not psych, been there done that as they say.

Anyhow, thanks for all the posts!

marieange · Jan 21, 2008

I'm 53 and currently in RN program at community college. I have been an LPN for 31 years. I will finish the AD in June 2009 (I will be 54) and will continue and get my BSN in anther 1 - 1 1/2 years. I plan on getting my masters in education and have a long term goal of teaching!

momof4ndocswife · Jan 21, 2008

I'm a new BSN grad at 52. Graduated cum laude (3.6) with a BS in biology 30 years ago and spent the majority of my life raising 4 children and volunteering in the community. Returned to school at 47, beginning an ADN program, and got 1/2 way through before dropping out to care for my mother who was diagnosed with metastatic cancer. Had difficulty returning to the technical program (limited spaces), so I started all over taking 2 and 1/2 years to complete the BSN.

'Was a top grad in my class (3.8) and the "class mom" with most of the others being 22-26-ish. Professors gave me wonderful recommendations and assured me I'd be highly sought after, but interviews always addressed my age (although an illegal question). I was surprised. I have no medical issues, am physically fit, and people tell me I look 10 yrs younger than my age.

I began a med-surg internship in a hospital in Sept. 07 and now work 12 hr night shift on a very demanding surgical floor. It's been challenging. I wish I'd taken a position on an easier floor where I'd have more time to devote to patient care rather than procedures and paperwork. Working for charge nurses 20-25 yrs younger isn't easy. Night shift is tough on my body, but I know I couldn't handle the increased chaos of dayshift on this floor. I know I'm still on the steep learning curve and am determined to fulfill my contract. I think my eventual calling might be more towards something like home health, however. I thought I'd enjoy hospital life, but it's a business that allows very little time for patient nurturing.

Good luck to all mature nursing students! I do think we have much to offer patients as we find the nursing niche for each of us.