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First post. Just starting nursing school at age 40. I'm currently working as a CNA at a hospital in Nashville. Not sure how long my aged body will be able to handle the 12 hour shifts. Can you go directly into clinical jobs (8-5) after school or do you need to work a year or two on the floor in order to open doors for your career? Thanks.

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? not sure what sort of clinical jobs you are talking about that are 8-5

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Specializes in ICU, ER.

You would usually need at least a year of work experience. What degree are you going for? A BSN is often required for the type of positions I believe you are talking about.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

If you are speaking of working in a physician's office, neither a BSN nor floor experience is traditionally required. However, all bets are off in this atmosphere of 50 applicants for every available position. Unfortunately, most MD offices in my experience are not hiring RN's anymore. The one specialty that I thought still valued RN's was OB, but I saw a thread just yesterday that said that even OB's are phasing out the nursing staff in favor of unlicensed personnel in order to save money.

I graduated at age 40 with my ASN. I did a year or so of 12's on the floor, then moved back to 10's. Now I'm in an 8-5 job which suits me fine. However, I must say that plenty of my fellow nurses who are my age or older are still doing 12's without difficulty. Maybe it's a matter of building your stamina as you get into the routine.

I think it's like anything else....a couple of years of floor experience will never serve you wrong.

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Don't laugh, but I am also "older" and I have been working out and getting in a lot of cardio work. I do an hour on the treadmill, building my endurance.

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Specializes in CVICU.

I'm 42, have been working 12 hour nights for 3 years, and would not switch to 10's, 8's or days for anything! I love it. You find that your body adapts.

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Specializes in home health & nonprofit management.

I would tire out after about 10 hours in clinic while in NS but I was 38 and 30 lbs overweight. I made some lifestyle changes as soon as I graduated and now at the age of 40, I am no longer overweight and can easily get thru a 16 hour day. Its important to maintain your body, esp. after 40

Things that have worked for me are eating small protein based snacks through out the day, drinking 1/2 my wt in oz's of water, eliminating all soft drinks and caffeine and being active on purpose. I had an adrenals, thyroid and female hormones check which allowed for a few tweaks that have made a huge difference in my mood and energy levels. A good book that I picked up is the Mood Cure by Julia Ross discussing the effects of food, vitamins and amino acids. I also changed my diet to a more whole foods one based on the book Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon. Hope this helps!

Jen

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Thanks everyone... I was actually talking about in an MD office or another dept. in the hospital that sees pts. on an outpatient basis. I'm getting my AS degree (already have a BA) and then going to do a bridge. I'm ok with 12s right now but if everything happens as planned I'll only be getting older. Just basically gathering info right now on what other shift options are out there. I don't mind less pay or working five 8 hr. shifts.

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At my hospital, they require atleast one year of floor experience before you are allowed to work in the general medicine clinics, the speciality, or the outpatient surgery clinics.

And everyone and their moma are applying for those positions.

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Specializes in CVICU.
if everything happens as planned I'll only be getting older.
If you find a way to change the plan so that you start getting younger, you will share, won't you?
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