hiring older nurses

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I see many threads of students in their 30s and up asking if they are too old to go back to school, change careers, etc. The answer is no.

I've also seen threads where older nurses couldn't find jobs and they believe it is their age. Does anybody know how employeers feel about age?

I'm just curious and asking because I'm sure other people have wondered as well.

Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.

I work in a hospital based clinic and am the youngest nurse in the clinic at 30. The majority of my coworkers are over 55 and have been nurses for decades. My last unit was mostly nurses, mostly new grads, in their 20s and mid-30s. I have worked and precepted in both enivornments and there are pros and cons to each.

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I work in a hospital based clinic and am the youngest nurse in the clinic at 30. The majority of my coworkers are over 55 and have been nurses for decades. My last unit was mostly nurses, mostly new grads, in their 20s and mid-30s. I have worked and precepted in both enivornments and there are pros and cons to each.

I'd love it if you would elaborate. :)

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Precepting, Education.

My mom went back to school for nursing at 50 and was hired immediately after graduating. I think that life experience, developed people skills, and a good work ethic always trump the "age card".

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People have their bias when it comes to age. Some prefer younger staff others prefer older staff. Each age tends to have it's strengths, however those perceived strengths are little more than generalizations. Younger people are seen as more "techy", faster to catch on, more up to date with newer ideas, but less loyal and very catty. Older people tend to be seen as full of skills, full of wisdom, more interested in work than social hour, more loyal, but slower, less techy, and stuck in their old ways. Neither set of assumptions is right. I think having a healthy mix of newer grads and more experience staff - regardless of their age - makes for a safe unit.

Many of the older people in my dept have retired due to the stress we are under. They were "lifers" who stayed here for 20+ years, but have reached a point of no return. They all kept up with the tech advances, new skills, and were always willing to teach the newbies. In fact they are/were a HECK of a lot more patient and understanding towards new staff than I. Now we have more new grads (of all ages) and it has been an adjustment for me. I miss my older coworkers :cry:.

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Specializes in cardiac ICU.

This post has made me feel better about my prospects. I am 42 and about to re-enter nursing after 20+ years of being out of the field. I am probably too old for hospital work. Younger nurses are just that: young, full of energy and tireless, which makes them just the right stuff for demanding corporate hospitals :yes:

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This post has made me feel better about my prospects. I am 42 and about to re-enter nursing after 20+ years of being out of the field. I am probably too old for hospital work. Younger nurses are just that: young, full of energy and tireless, which makes them just the right stuff for demanding corporate hospitals :yes:

I'm glad :) Good luck

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Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.
I'd love it if you would elaborate. :)

TBH, most of emmylou's incorrect generalizations have been my general experience at least with the outliers on both ends of the spectrum. And of course older nurses don't always equal experienced nurses. Younger nurses come with built-in technology experience (and I'm talking email, excel, word background -- not necessarily the EMR). They never struggle with the technology aspects of my current job, at least. Most of the older nurses don't either and there are older nurses who can run circles around me in, say, excel. But if someone is going to have issues with computer/technology stuff, it's going to be an older nurse.

New nurses come with fewer ingrained bad habits but take longer to train. With new nurses, it's almost impossible to make the distinction between a stupid person who is never going to get what you are teaching and someone who is just inexperienced which, when you eventually have to fire the stupid nurse, leads to a hindsight filled ball of frustration.

Newer nurses have that new grad anxiety. Experienced nurses have, and I quote directly from an experienced nurse that I oriented, "I used to be the resource for the unit and now I'm not" to deal with. Newer nurses don't know what they don't know. Experienced nurses feel the onus is on them to know things that they may not know.

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It doesn't so much matter the age to me, I like working with older nurses, they have a vast amount of experience to share. I feel hospitals discriminate against older nurses because of this fast food type of nursing we have now...it is so fast paced and they assume you won't be able to keep up..you will be too slow. They want young new blood to mold and control. It is sad that older nurses are being pushed out and due to not having a high enough degree, can't teach. It is a total loss. I get frustrated at work because I have to consult with a bunch of inexperienced nurses. Older nurses should be able to teach with just their ASN if they have knowledge. I am meaning on the hospital unit, not at a university. Some older nurses are too tired and old to go back for a MSN.

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Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.

Where I work most of the new hires are young and attractive. They work more hours, and are generally treated better than those of us "older". There's really no middle ground. We're either 20-30 or 50-60.

My belief that youth is preferred, might just be a matter of perception. I'm sure the 20 somethings think the same thing about me.

One thing I absolutely know for sure, how we look matters. I know it matters everywhere, but I always thought when you handle bodily fluids for a living, it might not matter as much. I guess I was wrong.

I haven't looked for a job in 12 years. The responders here lean toward age not mattering.

My place of employment must just be the exception because nobody over 30 has been hired for years.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Precepting, Education.

My 56 year old mom works Med-Surg...just sayin...

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Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.
It doesn't so much matter the age to me, I like working with older nurses, they have a vast amount of experience to share. I feel hospitals discriminate against older nurses because of this fast food type of nursing we have now...it is so fast paced and they assume you won't be able to keep up..you will be too slow. They want young new blood to mold and control. It is sad that older nurses are being pushed out and due to not having a high enough degree, can't teach. It is a total loss. I get frustrated at work because I have to consult with a bunch of inexperienced nurses. Older nurses should be able to teach with just their ASN if they have knowledge. I am meaning on the hospital unit, not at a university. Some older nurses are too tired and old to go back for a MSN.

I'm an older nurse and the reason I'm not interested in an advanced degree is just a simple matter of investment and return.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, OB, ICU, Public Health Nursing.

Economics plays a big role in this issue. Those experienced nurses are often at the top of the pay scale. Many hospitals are going for less experienced nurses because of the cost difference.

New grads are expensive to train. That is why hospitals look for younger nurse with at least one year of experience.

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