Going to Nursing School at an Older Age

[AmaurosisFugax]

I have been planning to go to nursing school (direct entry MSN) & have been progressing in that direction. The other day I was having a conversation with a coworker (a non-practicing nurse!) and she said, now at your age (I am in my 40s) you have 10, maybe 20 years of nursing, but if a younger candidate gets your seat they can practice nursing for like 40 years, so why should you get a seat? It's more beneficial to train a younger nurse. I was rather tacken aback by the question & said something to the effect the more nurses the better and it is illegal to discriminate based on age, and she said the nursing shortage is a myth and age discrimination happens, no matter what! While I always believe education is throughout one's life and one should pursue one's aspirations, it got me thinking. (In some countries where their are no age discrimination laws this does happen). Is it really socially more desirable to prefer younger candidates? And does this factor into admissions decisions?

[Kirsty J.]

Yay for the baby boomers..... pave the way Babies!!!!

[whodatnurse]

Your vocabulary as well will give many things away about you.

Indeed! :)

[royhanosn]

you fail to realize you have life experience! you KNOW how to talk with patients, without having to rely on a cell phone to text them!

sit back, relax! young grads are inexperienced, as above!

[oneazspirit]

YOU make your world sweetie. Young people die too, every second! I don't think they calculate a death rate when hiring. I really think God is in charge here. You want good things-YOU make them happen. You screw it up-it's your fault. No one elses.

I have never heard such horrible age discrimination in my life!!!!

[moma8gma1]

THANK YOU!!! I do SO agree w/ the posters regarding age giving us a bit of an edge in some ways. The wisdom life experience provides must be earned -- it can't be bought. (Think Maya Angelou's "Wouldn't Take Nothing For My Journey Now.")

I was bashed on one of the boards here awhile back by a youngster who took offense to a post I wrote about learning through the years by my many mistakes. (A stab at self-deprecating humor which was completely lost on her.) Her angry reaction displayed her immaturity, and though I wanted to explain to her what self-deprecating humor was, she wasn't receptive so I gave up, as I knew it was a lost cause... for now.

[walk6miles]

Do you really want to go to nursing school or do you just want to talk about it.?? At the age of 27 I applied at my local college for pre-nursing classes. I let the counsellor talk me out of it. I had a very real career in the business world BUT something just wasn't right...I wanted more.

Fast forward to a move to accomodate my husband's career. I don't know what the exact impetus was but after we settled in and I had secured a job as personnel manager for a ten offrice law firm, I just got in my car one day and drove to the local community college. They had a trial course: two years of school would give me an ADN in nursing. We had classes twice during the week (evenings) and clinicals on Saturday and part of Sunday. I jumped at the chance and at that time, I was knocking on the door of turning 40 and so it was: I graduated at the age of 40.

I am now almost 62 and although some very life-altering events have just occurred, I have to say, a bad day of nursing (ohhh boy) still fills me with satisfaction.

Go for it....I had almost 22 wonderful years - I am grateful for all the education given to me by my wonderful patients and co-workers and friends. The crap that is sitting on my front door step will be handled and I will pass on one day feeling good about nursing and my wonderful life. Good luck!

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

You're welcome. Also, depending on the size of the hospital/unit, certain floors are not bad. I was on an 84 bed medicine floor this year in my last placement, and there were 2 nurses stations. We used to joke that we should have skates or something. And, because of cut backs, the nurses had to perform porter duties, and move beds/patients often. It was exhausting for everyone, and I am physically fit. But it was a great floor for experience, and all the nurses worked amazingly well together.

For me, the team aspect is important. If I know you have my back, and I have yours, I can handle the physical/ mental demands no problem.

In my second year of nursing, I worked on a med floor that was half that size, and we were busy half the time and bored half the time. I was always looking for things to keep me occupied. A happy medium is preferable.

I also have friends in the RNAO, and 2 work in sales, in offices, as RN's. Or there is also telehealth. So many options, which is one reason why I really like nursing.

[rjsunnybrook]

I am 58 years old. I have been a nurse 20 years. I finished my BSN 6 years ago with a 3.9 GPA and was turned down for masters school this fall. I DO WONDER if it is an age thing. I have at least 10-15 more years of work ahead of me, and I would like the opportunities to work in a field that I am passionate about. The MSN is my door to this,so I will keep checking out schools

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

On the subject of nursing/age/ experience: One of my friends got a job in Emerg (she is also older and honours student), and approximately 8 of my close nursing friends, some young, some older, got jobs recently. In part, it IS timing, and who you know. The other has to do with you, and how much you want a job. When I was job searching in the late 90's, I remember that it took me about 6 months to land a job. Perhaps it may or may not take that long again. Who knows?

But, it is inspiring to hear positive stories on these boards from older women, experienced nurses, and nurses who just work hard. Thank you.

[Bill E. Rubin]

But, it is inspiring to hear positive stories on these boards from older women, experienced nurses, and nurses who just work hard. Thank you.

And even from a few of us older men.

[kcochrane]

One thing that concerns me is whether physically I am "up" to a nursing career. I am in fairly decent shape but a little over weight. And it seems that I have a new ache or pain every other month. They come and go and I can only assume they are normal aging. But it does concern me.

I work beside, 12 hour shifts, 3-5 days a week (depends on how many I pick up). It took awhile to get used to the 12 hours on my feet, but I did. I'm at least 50 pounds overweight and 47. So you can still build up stamina for the job. I try to do some weights twice a week and get on my treadmill on my days off. That helps too. If bedside is too much, like someone else mentioned, you have many many options.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Yes of course :)