Do you think doing this job alone has aged you? I know other things age you as well, but I'm talking re nursing specifically.
I was looking at my now calloused feet, dry hands, unfit, fat body (yes it's my fault entirely, I admit that) - and nearly white and very dry hair. My joints are starting to audibly creak, my back and the arches of my feet are starting to ache and throb after long shifts, and all my eating patterns have been affected. Being on call has ruined my digestion (I take medication for reflux and indigestion now, no H Pylori, waiting for bloods to come back), have a totally messed up sleeping pattern and have very little social life (due to being on call, or being called out at short notice). I can't seem to relax much anymore, I get taxed more than I make, especially when I work my butt off, I have no money left over for anything, and seem to have an underlying constant headache. I'm tired all the time (had the bloods done nothing abnormal as yet), don't have any energy it seems to do the other things I enjoy, and have lost interest in this life as a nurse. I don't feel inspired by it anymore at all, and I think it takes a dastardly toll on your body (couldn't think of another word but dastardly just then!)
God only knows how people do this fulltime as they get older and raise families, and keep it altogether, I take my hat and my shorts and my t-shirt off to you all!
I would honestly say doing nursing has aged me ten years more in the past 2 years I have been a RN.
Do you think nursing alone ages you, and what do you do to combat it? How has it aged you do you think? Do you really think it is worth doing as a job in terms of the stress it puts you under?
I'm not sure what the stress is doing to me interally because I can't see the wear and tear. My BP is good and my labwork is good and I'm on no meds. But 20 years of nursing emotional stress probably has aged me a bit.
So far after 20 years of med-surg nursing so good on the old 52 year old body. I can still spend 12-hours on my feet running around without much physical symptoms. It's tough exhausting work, but it was 20 years ago too.
What helps me is that I only work 2 12's in a row, never three, and I try to eat right, keep a healthy weight and exercise, including back exercises and stretches. But there are no guarantees.
I'm not sure what the stress is doing to me interally because I can't see the wear and tear. My BP is good and my labwork is good and I'm on no meds. But 20 years of nursing emotional stress probably has aged me a bit.
So far after 20 years of med-surg nursing so good on the old 52 year old body. I can still spend 12-hours on my feet running around without much physical symptoms. It's tough exhausting work, but it was 20 years ago too.
What helps me is that I only work 2 12's in a row, never three, and I try to eat right, keep a healthy weight and exercise, including back exercises and stretches. But there are no guarantees.
Good nutrition, healthy weight, EXERCISE, limiting your back to back 12's-sounds like a great formula for avoiding more than normal wear and tear. Well done.:)
Thanks...now that I think about it, I did get plantar faicitis (sp?) on one heel a few years ago from being on my feet so much, and being barefoot on my tile floors all the time. I now wear inserts and daily do foot stretching exercises, and wear flip flops at home. I haven't had a recurrence. I guess that qualifies as an "age related" wear and tear. :)
Oh YES!!! 36 years later and 50# heavier, white hair, swollen joints, bad knees, bad back, repetetive motion disorder, had to fight tooth and nail for recompensation for back injury. Would I go back and do differently? Heck NO! I AM A NURSE. That's all I want, wanted, will ever want to be.
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
When I look at my graduation pictures v what I look like now, I could cry. I had no idea this work would wear me down to this extent. It's sad, and I try not to think about it too much. I've become just like those nurses I used to see when I was a student and saw nurses who'd been working for 25y or more. They all looked so tired.
I used to come to work with a full face of make-up, cute hair cut, clever earrings...the works. Now I have a no-nonsense hairdo which is easy to maintain, wear little makeup and have had the same earrings in for months. Since we're color-coded I don't have to worry about cute uniforms; not that it would matter, because I have gained weight over those years.
I really just can't be bothered getting all tricked up anymore. I'd rather have an extra 15 min of sleep.
Yes, I think nursing has aged me! I have only been working as a nurse for a few months and am actually pretty young. I see it already on my face. I think it's stress related and the crazy sleep schedule.
When I look at my graduation pictures v what I look like now, I could cry. I had no idea this work would wear me down to this extent. It's sad, and I try not to think about it too much. I've become just like those nurses I used to see when I was a student and saw nurses who'd been working for 25y or more. They all looked so tired.
I used to come to work with a full face of make-up, cute hair cut, clever earrings...the works. Now I have a no-nonsense hairdo which is easy to maintain, wear little makeup and have had the same earrings in for months. Since we're color-coded I don't have to worry about cute uniforms; not that it would matter, because I have gained weight over those years.
I really just can't be bothered getting all tricked up anymore. I'd rather have an extra 15 min of sleep.
That's what got me started thinking re all this OCNRN63. I was cleaning up on the weekend, and looking at my old photos and feeling really quite sad. I don't want my life to end with me looking like I'm 30 years older than I am. I also don't have that ZEST for life or nursing anymore that I used to have when younger. It's all bills and work and trying to keep my head above water.
When I was younger, I swore I'd NEVER be like those older nurses who didn't look after themselves - now I'm one of them. Yes and sleep is a big priority - I didn't sleep at all last night anyway, and am VERY tired, so now I give up worrying about that.
Wearing a uniform is OK cos I don't have to think re what to wear, but I rarely wear make up on my days off and don't dress up, cos I don't even have the money to go anywhere - just too many bills and get taxed too much.
Oh well, I will be getting out of this after this year, if not sooner. I did like office work to a certain extent in a hospital setting, cos I could at least wear nice shoes and clothes, now I just wear my ugly, old-fasioned nursing shoes.
I swear one day I will wake up and my hair will be COMPLETELY white - and it will all have fallen out on the pillow if I don't get out of this game soon. Actually my old boss who was a clinical coordinator of nursing, said her hair virtually went white overnight due to the stress from nursing. Apparently, it can happen.
Yes, I think nursing has aged me! I have only been working as a nurse for a few months and am actually pretty young. I see it already on my face. I think it's stress related and the crazy sleep schedule.
Hi anotherone,
I wish I hadn't gone back to nursing when I was older. I started when I was young, and with my then fiance and he did not like the fact that we were going to be apart a lot (neither did I), as in those days you had to go away to do clinicals in the country, etc. We got paid for it, but not much, and the accommodation was terrible. I was planning on getting married anyway, so didn't see the point of finishing then. I wish I'd at least finished nursing when I was younger, done it for a year or two, then gone onto another degree.
It gets HARDER to keep going as you age in nursing I think. I have so many friends who don't do nursing (barr one who is a Clinical Nurse), and they ALL look younger than me - some are Mums, some have professional jobs. They all wear their jewellery and nice clothes, and can do their hair in differing styles whilst at work. But not me! My skin has really suffered from the horrid, drying air conditioning.
Went out to look at creams today, but they had no emu oil cream so will have to go on the net today. Apparently a friend told me it's really good for very dry, itchy skin.
The ONLY good thing re age it seems is the wisdom that comes with it (for most people)!
When I look at my graduation pictures v what I look like now, I could cry. I had no idea this work would wear me down to this extent. It's sad, and I try not to think about it too much. I've become just like those nurses I used to see when I was a student and saw nurses who'd been working for 25y or more. They all looked so tired.
I used to come to work with a full face of make-up, cute hair cut, clever earrings...the works. Now I have a no-nonsense hairdo which is easy to maintain, wear little makeup and have had the same earrings in for months. Since we're color-coded I don't have to worry about cute uniforms; not that it would matter, because I have gained weight over those years.
I really just can't be bothered getting all tricked up anymore. I'd rather have an extra 15 min of sleep.
Well, anyone is going to look a lot older 25 years down the line, especially if they dispense with make up, nice hair style, etc.
I do agree that certain professions can "age" a person more than others, though. Most of my friends who work in corporate positions have intact lumbar discs, unlike myself.
I believe what sets nursing apart from many jobs is the mental and emotional stress which is added to the physical labor involved. But I think the profession which ages a person the most is President of the US. Those guys look horrible after one or two terms in office!
Well, anyone is going to look a lot older 25 years down the line, especially if they dispense with make up, nice hair style, etc.
Too true. But as someone else said, I can't even be bothered wearing make up on my days off and just put my hair up in a clip or a bun-style. It's too much effort to get dressed up when you can't really afford to go anywhere anyway.
I do agree that certain professions can "age" a person more than others, though. Most of my friends who work in corporate positions have intact lumbar discs, unlike myself.
I've never had chronic back pain, as I've always cared for my back (even arguing with others no I'm not lifting obese patients before the 'no lifting' rule in our country came in. But I've met nurses who said they haven't lifted, but obese patients have fell on them, or the slipped on fluid someone didn't bother to clean up. Sorry to hear you have problems with this.
I believe what sets nursing apart from many jobs is the mental and emotional stress which is added to the physical labor involved. But I think the profession which ages a person the most is President of the US. Those guys look horrible after one or two terms in office!
Yes, when I went to work back in pscyh after a few weeks break, I forgot how emotionally draining it was. And Obama has so many grey hairs now!
Tweety, BSN, RN
36,273 Posts
I have no health complaints.
I'm not sure what the stress is doing to me interally because I can't see the wear and tear. My BP is good and my labwork is good and I'm on no meds. But 20 years of nursing emotional stress probably has aged me a bit.
So far after 20 years of med-surg nursing so good on the old 52 year old body. I can still spend 12-hours on my feet running around without much physical symptoms. It's tough exhausting work, but it was 20 years ago too.
What helps me is that I only work 2 12's in a row, never three, and I try to eat right, keep a healthy weight and exercise, including back exercises and stretches. But there are no guarantees.