hiring older nurses

Nurses General Nursing

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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 Oncology, Rehab, Public Health, Med Surg.
Depends on the age. There is a big difference between a thirty/forty-something (who has a potential of 20-30 years left of "work" in them) and someone pushing sixty and on the brink of applying for SS

).

I find this objectionable.

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I find this objectionable.

I'm in my 40s, and I do as well.

The true COBs are the best nurses I have ever worked with. Ages? 55-75. Experience? 30 plus years.

I'll take one of them over 3 newbies any day of the week.

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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:

Me too! I hadn't heard of anyone being out as long as I and having returned. I'd love to connect with you and compare notes if you're interested.:up:

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I'm 54, graduated from nursing school at age 53, and work in primary care. Many of our patients are on Medicare and they seem to appreciate my maturity. The doctors in our practice have been great to work with and the MAs defer to me for clinical help even though many of them have been working with patients years more than I have. There is definitely a niche for an older nurse.

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Specializes in Med-surg, telemetry, critical care..

As an older nurse, I am retired, due to strokes. I keep up by reading and watching. If I am in the hospital, I ask my nurse "what's up in the field?" I keep up. I miss working the floors, but I see the corporations are making it harder, acuity and staff/nurse ratio, and more complicated for RNs AND LVNS, so I certainly do not envy you. I don't think I could go back.

I was so lucky to have had nuns and older nurses to mentor me. I was so VERY young. If I could thank them all now, I certainly would.

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I just graduated at age 54. I will be 55 this Saturday and have had 2 Job offers and 2 more offers for interviews. I start my new position on the 18th.

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What are we considering " older? " 50?. 60? I work in home health and hospice. I do orientations and inserviving. Our staff ranges from mid 20s to mid 60s. We have hired new grads and tphose close retirement. Some stay some dont. Depends a lot more on skills and attitude than age.

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I feel there are many factors re hiring.

More experienced nurses are more expensive and can be very opinionated. At the same time they may offer the knowledge that an employer needs.

I feel that it is more about personalities and the right skill set. There are new grads who are very like-able at any age, a great fit and positive personality and there are the ones that are difficult to integrate into the team...

I like to work with all kind of nurses - makes for a more diverse environment.

In my current position it is essential to be mature and transcendent a certain amount of life experience -- there is literally a job out there for all ages, backgrounds, and skills in nursing --- the challenge is to find the one that you like and that will hire.

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What are we considering " older? " 50?. 60? I work in home health and hospice. I do orientations and inserviving. Our staff ranges from mid 20s to mid 60s. We have hired new grads and tphose close retirement. Some stay some dont. Depends a lot more on skills and attitude than age.

I didn't have a specific age in mind. I've just noticed alot of threads where people ask if they were too old so I started this thread to give them the answer and the chance to ask others as well

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

We are constantly looking for experienced nurses, but being an IMC, we have constant turnover and a huge percentage of new nurses. Three months of orientation for a nine month return on investment causes understaffing constantly.

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Specializes in Dialysis.
Oh yeah! The entitled children of helicopter parents are coming up, I cry to think about it. And before you tell me I'm wrong, lets all thing back to the Mommy is posting here about her DD's DUI and whether or not her special snowflake could get fired because she used someone else's passwords to take some continuing ed!

Already get the calls now from the parents that its so unfair their child didn't get moved to front of line for days shift, have to work holidays and weekends. Welcome to the real world kiddos!

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Already get the calls now from the parents that its so unfair their child didn't get moved to front of line for days shift, have to work holidays and weekends. Welcome to the real world kiddos!

Wait, their PARENTS are calling you? Are you kidding me?

What did you say to that?

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