Am I too old to pursue surgical tech

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi

im 41 and recently divorced. I'm finally going back to school and was excited about the surgical tech program. I don't have enough credits to get accepted into the program and need a job fast so I've decided to go for sterile tech instead. I'm worried that I'm fast approaching the age when people won't hire me. But my goal is to work as a sterile tech for a year. Use that as credits to get into the surgical tech school and land a job I know it's physically demanding and I have no health problems. I feel fit enough but is the age thing a barrier? Also do people retire from that line of work or do their bodies just give out over time?

i live in Alabama and sterile techs only start out at $11.67 at best Does anyone in that field know if hospitals bump the pay after you've been in it for a few years or is it just the standard .50 a year raise? Sorry if all my questions are confusing. These are 2 fields I'm very interested in

Your not to old to do anything.... You are young! Of you don't mind me asking what part of AL are you in?

Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

Agreed- you're not too old.

Welcome to AN.com, Lassy1! Check out this forum:

https://allnurses.com/operating-room-nursing/

Oh my goodness, I'm almost 38 and I could never imagine my age being a negative to get hired, even three years from now. If you are fit to work without restrictions, unless you tell them, the interviewer will have zero clue how old you are. HR has that info, but not the people interviewing.

I've in school for a new career and I won't finish my masters (to be a licensed substance abuse counselor) until I am 41. It never even crossed my mind that age discrimination would be an issue...and I still don't think that.

Go for your dreams.

I'm 42 (soon to turn 43 in a week and a half) and I'm hoping to get into the nursing program by age 45. I went to a nursing orientation one day at the school I currently attend and woman who was giving the orientation stated that some places prefer the ones who are a little older. This was due to the fact that they have a more realistic view of the world than those who are younger. She had seen alot of older women come through the program with no problems. I say go for it and see what happens.

BTW, what part of AL do you live in? I am in the north part.

I graduated nursing school and began job hunting after my 40th birthday, and have not seen my age as a barrier at all getting jobs. However, I do hear that concern from the nurses I work with in their 60s who are job hunting. HR may not know your age but if you appear close to retirement age, I guess they feel that some employers may silently (and illegally) discriminate. At 41, you still have at least 25 years to work by my estimate (unless you have the means to retire early of course, and if so good for you!) which means hiring and training you is certainly worth any employer's investment.

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