Is there nursing after 50?

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Does being 50+ mean I have to quit nursing and go into poverty for the rest of my life or am I supossed to kill myself?

Had to respond to this, please don't take offense personally cuz none is intended.

Yes there are other options than the bedside in nursing, and there probably is less opportunity for advancement as a rad tech (altho you could train to US, CT, MRI which would be interesting) Jobs away from the nursing bedside are highly competitive and the higher degrees are preferred in most cases.

If you think nursing is not a highly physical job you are mistaken.The repetitive wear and tear and stress takes its toll. I had my first serious back injury 7 yrs into nursing. I was told it had 'healed' healed, but 3 yrs later I reinjured and needed surgery. The hospital where I got hurt fought me tooth and nail and I still have PTSD from the experience.

I have known injured nurses to look for jobs in case management, for example, and not be able to get it because CM is STILL a nurses' job description... they must be able to lift 100 #. Believe me, injured nurses are NOT coddled nor are they cared for in toooo many cases...we are seen as a liability to the facility first and foremost.

Just a little insight to this profession. Forewarned is forearmed. if I had to do it over again I would do rad tech and go to MRI and US personally.... but do what you will.

I also warn young nurses to plan for their escape when we age...cuz after 20 yrs at the bedside we feel it. If things don't go perfectly we can find ourselves in Malt's position..out of work and few workable options. I can't tell you how many times I've seen a hospital fire an older single female with no thought to how she will survive. They are eliminating expensive high risk, high priced insurance users... that is how they see it. One cannot count on any caring out there for the caregivers.

To those who say I'm jaded, and disregard my words, well, I've lived too long and seen this happen to many many good coworkers... so feel free to ignore me at your own risk. ;)

Those of you who have started your career late and still feel good ..more power to you. But everyone I know at my age (50) who has done this job for 25 yrs feels it and has the battle scars to prove it (if they admit it).

So what are we to do? What are our options? So what good is the insurance if you can't use it? So, because we hit 50 and our health isn't what it used to be we are set out to pasture. After 24 years in nursing and nothing to show for it but battle wounds are we just to lay done and die. Would some one give me a clue as to what I am to do. Maybe they can start handing out a legal dose of some sort of drug with the termination papers. Because when it is all said and done you are left with nothing, no insurance, no money,nothing. and this is ok with people. The same people that are doing this to nurses are the same ones that are running all the health facilities. If they can do this to nurses what are they doing to patients? To do this you have to lack compassion and without compassion you can not see a patient as a patient, they become a $ sign and only a $ sign.
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does being 50+ mean i have to quit nursing and go into poverty for the rest of my life or am i supossed to kill myself?

i sure hope there's nursing after 50! i just finished my first semester, and i'm 57. i'm a phlebotomist right now and because of my age i'm leaning toward a career as part of an iv team. who knows - the possibilities are endless!

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i sure hope there's nursing after 50! i just finished my first semester, and i'm 57. i'm a phlebotomist right now and because of my age i'm leaning toward a career as part of an iv team. who knows - the possibilities are endless!

skippydancer

i am 58 and will be 59 in may. i have wanted to be a nurse since i was 3, and am finally taking the plunge. i would love to know some others who are beginning their nursing educations and careers in their late 50's like us. i have so many questions, ideas, fears, mixed with the excitement of starting along this long wanted path ... but, of course, with the reservations that life's experience has taught me. some of these posts are so cynical that sometimes they shake my confidence that this is the right thing to do.i would like to keep in touch with you. it would be great to know someone this close to my age who is going through many of the same things. :)

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:rolleyes:

Skippydancer

I am 58 and will be 59 in May. I have wanted to be a nurse since I was 3, and am finally taking the plunge. I would love to know some others who are beginning their nursing educations and careers in their LATE 50's like us. I have so many questions, ideas, fears, mixed with the excitement of starting along this long wanted path ... but, of course, with the reservations that life's experience has taught me. Some of these posts are so cynical that sometimes they shake my confidence that this is the right thing to do.I would like to keep in touch with you. It would be great to know someone this close to my age who is going through many of the same things. :)

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Hey, allamericangirl, I'd love to trade war stories with you, if I can ever figure out how to navigate this site. I'm not computer savvy, so, I'm still learning. Are you in a program?

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Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).
Hey, allamericangirl, I'd love to trade war stories with you, if I can ever figure out how to navigate this site. I'm not computer savvy, so, I'm still learning. Are you in a program?

If you click on the user's name on the post, a box will come up to let you send a private message or e-mail.

I'm a bachelor, myself, but I'm told grandchildren can be very handy for figuring out these new-fangled contraptions.

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Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).

http://www.nursingworld.org/ancc/magnet/facilities.html

I hope this links. Anyway, it's a list of magnet hospitals around the country. I would think that might be one solution to a variety of crappy job situations--go where they aren't so crappy.

My hospital, WVUH/Ruby Memorial isn't a magnet hospital, but wants to be. They did get rated by AARP as one of the top places for workers over 50, and that's pretty consistent with my experience.

I don't know that moving to WV would be a practical solution for everybody, but it's nice, here, and I'm sure there are many other places that are good.

The thing is, much of what seems to have you locked into a bad situation is just an illusion. Don't let yourself be a boiled frog--jump!

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if you were told you were too old, you have a case of discrimination. I would report it.

Ugh......Thats terrible...I agree you definitely should fight for your rights. Some of the best and wisest people I know are over 50......

Kim

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Had to respond to this, please don't take offense personally cuz none is intended.

Yes there are other options than the bedside in nursing, and there probably is less opportunity for advancement as a rad tech (altho you could train to US, CT, MRI which would be interesting) Jobs away from the nursing bedside are highly competitive and the higher degrees are preferred in most cases.

If you think nursing is not a highly physical job you are mistaken.The repetitive wear and tear and stress takes its toll. I had my first serious back injury 7 yrs into nursing. I was told it had 'healed' healed, but 3 yrs later I reinjured and needed surgery. The hospital where I got hurt fought me tooth and nail and I still have PTSD from the experience.

I have known injured nurses to look for jobs in case management, for example, and not be able to get it because CM is STILL a nurses' job description... they must be able to lift 100 #. Believe me, injured nurses are NOT coddled nor are they cared for in toooo many cases...we are seen as a liability to the facility first and foremost.

Just a little insight to this profession. Forewarned is forearmed. if I had to do it over again I would do rad tech and go to MRI and US personally.... but do what you will.

I also warn young nurses to plan for their escape when we age...cuz after 20 yrs at the bedside we feel it. If things don't go perfectly we can find ourselves in Malt's position..out of work and few workable options. I can't tell you how many times I've seen a hospital fire an older single female with no thought to how she will survive. They are eliminating expensive high risk, high priced insurance users... that is how they see it. One cannot count on any caring out there for the caregivers.

To those who say I'm jaded, and disregard my words, well, I've lived too long and seen this happen to many many good coworkers... so feel free to ignore me at your own risk. ;)

Those of you who have started your career late and still feel good ..more power to you. But everyone I know at my age (50) who has done this job for 25 yrs feels it and has the battle scars to prove it (if they admit it).

I'm 54 (second career nurse) and have been in the job almost 20 years. I wouldn't trade it for anything. We all make choices. I would be a nurse all over again: injuries or not!

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I'm a bachelor, myself, but I'm told grandchildren can be very handy for figuring out these new-fangled contraptions.

Funny!!:rotfl:

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I'm 54 (second career nurse) and have been in the job almost 20 years. I wouldn't trade it for anything. We all make choices. I would be a nurse all over again: injuries or not!

Well good for you and glad you're happy. I hope you stay healthy; hope you notice many, many others are not so lucky after 25 plus yrs in the field.

I also won't argue with rose colored glasses as it does no good.

One thing I'm sure of: there are more good nurses than good places for them to work..that's why there's a 'shortage'. :rolleyes:

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Specializes in ED.

i have a friend that is 54, will be 55 in august 05. :o hopefully we both will be graduating rn school in may 05 (i am 34) she is a cardiac tech now and hopes to work in the tcv as a rn. i certainly dont' think 50 is too old -unless you have problems that prevent you from working, but hell that could happen to a 20 year old!! you have to realize you have experience :balloons: !!!!

i think you should focus on if you want to stay in nursing and if you can (physically)..... other than than forget your age! :) and don"t let anyone tell you anything different than what you feel. undefined

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