Is age a factor for travel?

nightingale, RN · May 23, 2006

Many of the Nurses, in the minority, are in their fifties. I have also seen and worked with those in their 60's. I worked with a Dr. who was 75! So, being 53 myself, I agree with your statement, "as long as you can do your work, get along, and stay out of trouble", you were fine.

For posterity, and in case it does not get said by somone else, " with age comes grace, better judgement, more patience, and a great humility for mankind. These years are, for me, the best of times.

I hope we get to hear of your Travels!

Puff RN · May 23, 2006

Thanks for the encouragement. I intend to make myself proud. I am new to this website but intend to keep up and participate. I have learned a lot from reading postings already placed by your members.

nightingale, RN · May 23, 2006

Thanks for the encouragement. I intend to make myself proud. I am new to this website but intend to keep up and participate. I have learned a lot from reading postings already placed by your members.

I am glad you checked in. I hope you can keep in touch!` :welcome:

beautifulb · May 23, 2006

No, age isn't an issue. I have worked with quite a few travel RN's that decided to travel towards the end of their career. No matter what age you are travel nursing is fun!

Good luck! There is a lot of great advice about travel nursing under this forum. :)

Bruce RN · May 24, 2006

Plenty of fellow travel nurses are well over your age and doing great.

I'm 36 and some nurses my age or even younger are so out of shape they can't walk up one end of the hall without getting out of breath let alone be able to do the normal daily physical patient care in an ICU.

Meanwhile some of their age 60+ co-workers are running circles around them.

Now who's too old to travel and who needs to be put out to pasture?

Get out there and do it. There are plenty of assignments out there, plenty of places to go.

Some days are hard but overall I'd never trade my experiences for anything.

You'll probably say the same thing one day.

You'll miss out if you listen to those kinds of comments and let others determine your career choices.

Ruby Vee, BSN · May 24, 2006

i am going on my first travel assignment soon. i am 55 years old. i never thought about my age until someone at work said "aren't you a little old to be going traveling?" do you know, can you tell me is age really an issue - i thought if you do your work, help others and stay out of trouble - you would be welcome.

i'm 50 -- i was 48 when i took my travel assignment and my husband was 51. age wasn't a factor -- we took the travel assigment because we were moving cross country and our house sold faster than anticipated. we always intended to get permanent jobs once we'd moved. but our plan is to quit the permanent jobs and travel again when the child is through school. i'll be 59, he'll be 62. we have a 37 foot sailboat, and plan to start in maine, taking those travel assignments that seem interesting down the east coast. when we finish an assignment, we'll take some time off until we need money again . . . then through the panama canal and up the west coast. i figure by the time we get through with the west coast (ending up in alaska) we'll both be on social security and can leave the continent. (although travel to great britain or the netherlands would be great fun and interesting!) if we get somewhere where age is an issue, we don't need to stay past our 13 weeks!

frankly, though, i don't think age is going to be an issue -- either yours or ours.

SCGreywolf · Jun 7, 2006

There is no such thing as "too old to travel". I'm 60 now and back on the road. Maybe I take my time cleaning a patient or talking to them while I provide care...guess what, the patients all enjoy my care, want me back and write nice things about me in the discharge questionaire. My Nurse Manager loves me because I am willing to do OT on a moment's notice and she doesn't get a bunch of grousing. I travelled with my (ex)wife (also an RN) for about 10 years and watched a lot of nurses who knew it all go down in flames. Very, very seldom would I see an 'old-timer' make the same mistakes.....we've already MADE those mistakes and had the sense to learn from them. Are you too old to travel???? I happen to be one of the YOUNGER ones at my current assignment. My current Nurse Manager smiles when she looks at the crew....because she gets so few complaints from patients and doctors.

The wolf...hiding in the Sandia Mountains

Puff RN · Jun 10, 2006

Thanks to all for all the comments and encouragement. I have arrived at my destination and I am ready for my first travel assignment - have orientation on Monday. I guess I will find out for myself real quick if I can cut it or not. Glad to have the opportunity to try.

Puff RN · Jun 13, 2006

First day of orientation today. Only filled out initial paperwork, got my badge, etc., you know the drill. Anyway, I had to post and let you know that I was extremely relieved to notice that half of the staff I came in contact with today was my age or older. "Feeling better about the whole thing."

:lol2: :welcome: :lol2:

chrispicritah · Jun 13, 2006

I am going on my first travel assignment soon. I am 55 years old. I never thought about my age until someone at work said "Aren't you a little old to be going traveling?" Do you know, can you tell me is age really an issue - I thought if you do your work, help others and stay out of trouble - you would be welcome.

chile doan worry, dem just jealous!

travel and do yuh 'ting...

"why should i worry, why should i care, (s'ting, s'ting) cause i've got "street savoir faire"!

go for it!

cc

soon to be retired june 30, 2006:balloons:

Trauma Columnist · Jun 13, 2006

How's it going? Good luckl.