How old is too old to safely practice?

Specialties NP

Published

Okay - I just read one of a comment on another thread and was floored when the comment was about a person getting a DNP at 62 and a poster wondering how long they would be able to safely practice at that age...

So....my question is: how old is too old to safely practice as an APRN?

I will preface my remarks with the fact that I am in mid-late 50's, have been an APRN for 10 years, currently precept two new NPs, and my practice considers me at the top of my game.

So...at 62 I'll be washed up??? Ugh - I'm planning to work till I'm 70 as long as I remain physically able to do the work.

Is there a magic age when one should just hang up the lab coat?

Funny thing every time we had a snow storm down here i the south (you have to realize that we don't have snow plows and de-icing) all of the older RNs made it to work. The young ones stayed home. Reliability is underrated.

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No need for thanks really, I had a ball. If I were asked to start over and do it again I would. I learned so much and had the best time taking care of who ever walked in the door. You meet some of the most precious people in nursing. It is a rich field.

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Do you think these older providers had poor prescribing habits because they were old, or because they had gone through school too long ago and were not up to date on newer techniques and practices? If it's the latter, a newly educated 60 something NP wouldn't face that problem.

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I'm so sick of women hating themselves, regardless of the generation. I'm not referring to you just the spirit of this question. I have question for all: When is the last time you heard a doctor ask this question? EXACTLY.:sarcastic:

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Specializes in FNP.

This is an interesting thread. I'll lighten it up just a little. When your mmse clock test turns digital, it's time.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
I'm so sick of women hating themselves, regardless of the generation. I'm not referring to you just the spirit of this question. I have question for all: When is the last time you heard a doctor ask this question? EXACTLY.:sarcastic:

While I totally agree that women need to support each other and I live by that mantra I don't really think it has much to do with this discussion. There has been plenty of mention of physician's competence in this thread and I've personally had it with a few physicians also.

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" While I totally agree that women need to support each other and I live by that mantra I don't really think it has much to do with this discussion. There has been plenty of mention of physician's competence in this thread and I've personally had it with a few physicians also. "

With great respect, I have never heard of rampant blog threads about a Physician being competent based on his age, like "How old is too old to safely practice" I do however see it quite a lot among the Nursing Profession.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
" While I totally agree that women need to support each other and I live by that mantra I don't really think it has much to do with this discussion. There has been plenty of mention of physician's competence in this thread and I've personally had it with a few physicians also. "

With great respect, I have never heard of rampant blog threads about a Physician being competent based on his age, like "How old is too old to safely practice" I do however see it quite a lot among the Nursing Profession.

Do you read a lot of physician blogs? I can only speak based on real life interactions with my physician colleagues but they absolutely do talk about it and the ones I have discussed it with are in support of retiring before they are like the few we know who were great once but are now well past their prime.

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" While I totally agree that women need to support each other and I live by that mantra I don't really think it has much to do with this discussion. There has been plenty of mention of physician's competence in this thread and I've personally had it with a few physicians also. "

With great respect, I have never heard of rampant blog threads about a Physician being competent based on his age, like "How old is too old to safely practice" I do however see it quite a lot among the Nursing Profession.

. . . IN my real life experiences with physicians (and I deal with many), some of whom are in their 80s and still practicing and get high rating from multiple pts, I would have to agree with you on that!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

What my point was in the beginning is: should there be competency testing for older providers meaning APRNs, MDs?

Hopefully that helps to sort this discussion out....

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Specializes in Transitional Nursing.
There are lots of jobs besides pilots who must be mentally and physically able.

Even sedentary work or work where the worker doesn't hold others' lives in his or her hands requires ability.

If a job is important enough to pay someone to do it, the worker has to be able to do the job.

I wasn't referring to abilities, but to age.

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