Having trouble fitting in

celticgirl · Apr 22, 2010

I'm a newer old nurse. I love it though and dont let it get to me. Most of the other nurses find it hard to believe I have a daughter their age. I just laugh and keep on working. We have a lot to offer to the younger set and to nursing. We have life experience but we also have a newer education. It goes well together. There are several other "older" new nurses on my floor. I'm so thankful to have them in my corner.

momerz · Apr 22, 2010

Thanks for the original question and positive response. I am 52 and beginning nursing school in the fall. I have already met some of my fellow students and they not only are the age of my 3 children, but 2 went to high school with my daughter!! I have been worried about the age difference for quite some time. I actually turned down 2 previous nursing school acceptances because of my age. It's not that I feel I won't be able to handle school. It's more about the fear of not being hired after graduation because I have a "limited time" to practice because of my age. Hopefully I don't chicken out this time, because hospice nursing is something I would love to do!!

CC918 · Apr 22, 2010

i kind of feel the opposite of you. im a new grad nurse in my mid-20s. im on an acute psych unit where i'd say 80% of the staff are my parents age and they haven't hired any new grads in a good few years. so the youngest people i've met are over 30. i feel like i don't fit in on my unit sometimes, in terms of conversations, common interests, and just the fact im the only new person there.

brownbook · Apr 22, 2010

I know what you mean. I just remind myself I'm there to be a good nurse and not to socialize. However I do want to be social and friendly with my co-workers. Be yourself, be friendly and helpful. Shout to yourself STOP when your're thinking paranoid thoughts. (I have these paranoid thoughts also.)

brownbook · Apr 22, 2010

Momerz, 52 sounds so young to me!!! I'm 58 and my co-worker is 60. We both "feel young" and are going strong. A good "mature" worker can offer a lot to an employer over a young person. The young one's change jobs, get married, get pregnant, the older ones are usually done with all that.

momerz · Apr 22, 2010

Good advice brownbook. I guess we all have our own fears, no matter what age!!

Hang in there CC918!!

momerz · Apr 22, 2010

brownbook - it's funny you say that 52 sounds young to you. I remember when I was starting this journey and was 47 and felt ancient. What I wouldn't do to be 47 again :)

GraceNotes · Apr 22, 2010

Feeling like I don't really fit in, as well. I'm a new older nurse and feel like my coworkers, though not younger than me, have little tolerance for my inexperience. When I'm thinking rationally I know I'm doing a good job & their problems are their problems, literally. I just wish they'd try to be a smidge nice! Why always so cranky?? I don't want to fit in by joining in the crab-fest, so I try to focus on my work and be pleasant, but I'm so lonely for some occasional "productive" shop talk & camaraderie.

onetiredmomma · Apr 22, 2010

I'm an old-old nurse :). I find it hard to relate to all the "younguns" I work with who don't have the same work ethic as I do, who gather to talk about their latest date, party or whatever when call lights are going off and the aides are running around like crazy. I agree with the smile, be pleasant and do your job theory.

cokeforbreakfast · Apr 22, 2010

I am the oldest (40) of a 16 student post-bacc cohort, and I wouldn't change it for anything. They tease me all the time about being old, and I mother them...if it wasn't for those "kids" I wouldn't have made it through nursing school. As an added bonus, they taught me how to text!

With regard to the work ethic, I think it is different with post bacc students, even the young ones. They were a driven group!

bandas · Apr 22, 2010

I'm a 31 yr old newer nurse, mom of 3, and married for 10 yrs. The floor that I work on has a good mix from 20's up to 50's and we pretty much all tend to get along really well. One of the nurses on my floor is the mother of a girl I went to school with. Of course, we are usually so busy that no one has time to sit around and just talk. Of course, I think that good work ethic is highly respected in our area and you wouldn't last very long without it. I always feel like you should be friendly, courteous, helpful...but these girls don't have to be your best friends if you just don't have much in common. Just put your all into your patients and go home knowing that you are doing a good job.

As far as age...one of my best friends I found in nursing school. She's my mom's age and I love her to death. So stay open to friendships where you might not expect it.