Contemplating whether to become RN . . . .

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HELP!!!! Hello, I'm new here and have come here often just to see what the field of nursing is really about. I'm 42 and have a very good chance of getting into nursing school NEXT year. My apprehension, however, is comprised of a multitude of things, including first and foremost the fact that I have a bad back coupled with my age. I've talked to a few nurses I know and they complain mostly about their hours, midnights and holidays, even after 20+ years! I would love, and NEED, a good paying and secure job but I don't think that's enough to go into the field. I'd probably need to have back surgery some day soon as well and may not even pass the physical?! I guess I'm just looking for some sort of feedback from professionals in the field as to how difficult the profession can be for someone of my age and circumstance. I actually dropped out of the same nursing program 20 years ago (when I should have finished!) reason being I thought I would work around geriatrics my whole life (how dumb was that!). I'm just not sure if it's the right field to go into and if I could last through midnights, lifting, etc. at my age. Also, what are thoughts of going into a 2 year program VS accelerated BSN program?

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

You're going to get feedback from nurses with bad backs that tell you to go for it, that they did it, that they are in non-lifting positions.

Personally, I advise against it. The statistics are sobering. http://www.nurseweek.com/news/features/01-01/back.asp

Some back injuries are preventable, especially with good preventative care and following good techniques, using equipment and getting help.

You are going to have to be honest on health care questionaires to get into nursing school and to get a job.

Nursing is indeed a secure decent paying job, but to risk injury and a lifetime of pain is a tough choice.

Good luck.

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Proudmomof3,

I was born with a back deformity that has caused me to have pain all my life. As you know, life goes on and doesn't wait for our backs to stop hurting. At 45 years of age, I broke L-5 in a freak accident. I had surgery while taking pre-classes to get into nursing school. My doctor advised against going into nursing, but I didn't listen. Now, five years later I'm a registered nurse, working in a prison, and couldn't be happier about becoming a nurse. There are a lot of different types of jobs for nurses. My job involves helping inmates with their heath problems. I love the teaching aspect of nursing and most of these men know very little about health matters.

The point is, you may not be able to work in a hospital tugging on large patients, but you'll find something, somewhere that fits you.

Remember, we only get one shot at life. Go for it!

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But the important thing to remember is that to graduate from nursing school you have to be able to make it through nursing school. I've seen students injured and I've seen the resentment caused by some students getting the lighter assignment.

I started nursing at 40 in good health. Now, my knees hurt, my back aches, and I'm beginning to resent working every other weekend and 50% of the yearly stats.

Depending on where you live and work many of the "lighter duties" nursing jobs are simply not open to new grads, they don't have the experience, even public health asks for one to two years experience and they are asking for it to be from a hospital or LTC.

If I had to do it over, I would have finished an eduation degree, or gone to library school, or even become a health records administrator. They all work daylight hours and no patients are involved.

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My advice to anyone wanting to be a nurse -- take the time and work as a tech/cna for a while. Really get a good look at what it's like to work on a unit somewhere. There you will also see how physical the work is, even for the nurses, much less the techs.

You COULD work in a NICU or something, and not have the heavy pts to lift - I mean, it is doable. Your age is NOT a huge factor -- many of us start late in our 40's, but you really ought to be in the best health possible.

I wish I'd worked as a tech at least for perhaps 3 months or so. I would have learned so much that could have helped me. I advise anyone to do it if they can before making the decision to go to nursing school.

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Specializes in Infection Preventionist/ Occ Health.

I suggest that you proceed with caution. I would talk with people in your area about the lifting requirements at area hospitals. You will have to pass a pre-employment physical, and with a history of significant back problems you may be excluded. It would certainly be frustrating to go through nursing school and come out the other end not being able to get a job. If you are dishonest about a diagnosis on your physical at the time of hire, that may be grounds for dismissal later on.

The fact of the matter is that no-lifting positions are rare in nursing, especially if you are right out of school. For instance, my current job is considered "no lift" for the most part. However, I am still expected to respond to codes (including patient aggression), participate in CPR, and be able to do inspections of some tight areas that require a lot of bending, kneeling, etc. I had to have experience with bedside nursing (as well as my laboratory experience) to be qualified for my current position.

As an aside, when I was having hip tendonitis related to an old sports injury, my orthopedist recommended against the NICU. He stated that there is a lot of bending and awkward positions that could cause problems for someone who is having pain. His wife was a NICU nurse, so he would know!

There are other health care positions that do not require as much lifting. For example, working in the laboratory (though this can be physically demanding), Health Unit Coordinator positions (check out your local technical school), medical assistants in physician offices, pharmacy technicians (though standing for long hours is required). These may be better options for someone with a history of moderate to severe back problems.

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Specializes in Long Term and Acute Care.

If you don't like Geriatrics you are limiting yourself alot. Thats my personal thought.

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Specializes in NICU.
If you don't like Geriatrics you are limiting yourself alot. Thats my personal thought.

There are so many other areas of nursing. And not everyone likes the same things. That's one of the good things about nursing. I don't like geriatrics either so I got a job in the NICU. There's something for everyone.

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Specializes in ED.

I would only recommend going to nursing school if it is truly in your heart that you want to be a nurse more than anything. I am a new grad and I love this career that I chose. If I did not, I would have had an impossible time in nursing school because it was so much harder and such a bigger challenge than I ever expected. If your heart is not in it, nursing school will be 2 or more years of he** if you know what I mean!!!

I do not have a back injury but tend to get a sore back after doing a lot of lifting. I really try to focus on using good mechanics and I ask for help a lot when it comes to lifting and moving patients. I am 34 so I'm hitting middle age!! I think that nursing is really hard on the back. After clinical I would sometimes be really sore from all the moving and lifting and bending. I am going to be working in an ED so it isn't as much of that, but still some. I know there are jobs out there that are easier on the body but like someone else said, you have to get through nursing school, and that is really demanding on the body and mind!!!!

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Specializes in NICU.
I would only recommend going to nursing school if it is truly in your heart that you want to be a nurse more than anything. I am a new grad and I love this career that I chose. If I did not, I would have had an impossible time in nursing school because it was so much harder and such a bigger challenge than I ever expected. If your heart is not in it, nursing school will be 2 or more years of he** if you know what I mean!!!

I do not have a back injury but tend to get a sore back after doing a lot of lifting. I really try to focus on using good mechanics and I ask for help a lot when it comes to lifting and moving patients. I am 34 so I'm hitting middle age!! I think that nursing is really hard on the back. After clinical I would sometimes be really sore from all the moving and lifting and bending. I am going to be working in an ED so it isn't as much of that, but still some. I know there are jobs out there that are easier on the body but like someone else said, you have to get through nursing school, and that is really demanding on the body and mind!!!!

Well said. I definitely think you have to really want to be a nurse to even make it through school. If you don't love nursing and want it more than anything, you won't put up with all of the stress and constant studying! I think that's why my program always lost so many people during the first semester... people realize they don't love or even like it enough for all that it entails.

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