How old is too old to safely practice?

[traumaRUs]

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?

[Buyer beware, BSN]

There is no official age at which one "should" retire; it's a v. individual matter. My father was a physician who continued to give anesthesia into his mid-70s and was entirely competent (he finally retired because my mother was bugging him to quit so they could travel a lot, not because he was having any problems at work). I work with a psychiatrist who is probably (I don't know his exact age) close to 80. He is slower than the younger psychiatrists on our service, but I don't observe him appearing any less competent or safe.

I have found, at least in the old days before digital thermometers, that the best indicator of needing to retire was when an old-timer nurse would use the rectal thermometer to take oral readings without realizing it; but upon reorientation say "I'm sorrry" but in reality not giving a hoot. Luckily today we know that the new eighty is actually only fourty-five, at least in South Florida thanks to our dedicated geriatricians and plastics surgeons.

[VioletKaliLPN, LPN]

I think that once someone hits 150, they should consider hanging up the lab coat.. In all seriousness though, I believe that age does not matter. What matters is health, ability, cognitive ability, and desire.

For the record, the surgeon whom performed my bilateral mastectomy was 70. He was so experienced that he was able to perform a procedure that spared my natural nipples, something that VERY few surgeons will even attempt. My plastic/reconstructive surgeon was also older, I picked him because his experience level made me feel at ease. I like age. These physicians were willing to try something fairly new 2 years ago, nipple sparing mastectomies with uniquely placed scars. It had been done before, but usually much older women do not have the needed blood flow to reattach and save the nipples.

Maybe I am alone, but send me someone experienced!

[syrlisa]

Well the other side of it. I once had a co-worker in LTC that was 70 passing meds as a med tech. She attempted to give the wafer that you remove from the top of an OTC med bottle to a resident, because her vision was so poor. Very very sad.

[Conqueror+, BSN, RN]

All of the 60 is the new 40 rhetoric has been propagated to encourage people to work up until the day they die. I work with a nurse in her 70's and I feel sad for her and her patients. She cannot afford to retire but needs to.

[Cdnbscn]

Deleted because I didn't see which forum this was in

[ComeTogether, LPN]

Ok, so unless you're an airline pilot, age shouldn't be an issue, ever. Biological age differs from chronological age, and there are many 30-somethings who aren't as healthy as 60-somethings, making the point moot.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Great insight.

Personally, I plan to work till I'm 70 as long as I remain cognitively and physically intact and I hope someone will tell me if my cognition starts to get sketchy.

Its a personal decision - until it becomes a matter of pt safety.

[Mhsrnbsn]

I say as long as your hearing, and eyesight don't fail you, you can practice as long as you're mentally competent! You worked hard for your degree and if you still find your job and what you do rewarding and your mental faculties and senses are not questionable I don't see how your ability to safely practice is even a question here!

[Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP]

I sure hope it doesn't matter because I won't even graduate as an NP until I'm 51! We have a cardiac surgeon who's still operating in his mid 70s, and my mother-in-law is a practicing nurse at 83! The reason I actually went to grad school was because I figured I'd have to work until at least 665/70 anyway and I might as well spend the next 15/20 years doing something that uses my brain rather than slaving away on a floor. I do believe it's worthwhile taking care of ourselves physically as that can also help us mentally. Working out, and going to the gym can keep us active and fit at work and help us think clearer too.

[Jules A, MSN]

Ok, so unless you're an airline pilot, age shouldn't be an issue, ever.

Just guessing as I have no first hand experience with either one but I'd think it would be easier to safely fly an airplane on auto pilot than put someone to sleep and do surgery??

[Jules A, MSN]

I hope someone will tell me if my cognition starts to get sketchy.

Its a personal decision - until it becomes a matter of pt safety.

While I agree there are definitely a few 70yos who are still capable the problem is things have to get rather dangerous before someone will actually have the nerve to tell an old timer they need to retire. My guess is at some point all ageism aside the medical profession will enact requirements like airlines.

[crazydoglady89]

I think it depends on YOU. I personally have seen many "older" providers for all sorts of things and they have all been pretty fine as far as I can tell. I think it's hard for a lot of people to be honest with themselves.

I think with something like family practice it would be especially fine. My PCP growing up was in his early 70's (maybe even older?) and was an excellent doctor. From what I remember he kept shorter hours than a lot of places, but it was fine.

My husband has told me he has operated with a few people that should probably retire (get tired, shaky hands etc) because he fears they aren't physically up to par anymore for the OR.