You are going to turn 54, 55, 56 and so on anyway, why not turn it doing something fun and challenging? I have to say that the best job in your life is raising your children and being there for them, so already you are a greatly accomplished woman.
Now, take a new direction and spend the classroom hours and clinical hours for you. You will still be a Mom! And look at all the wonderful opportunities that seem to be busting down your door. Wow, very exciting. You are a rich, rich woman.
There is another thread going on now called MS Psychiatric Nursing No Experience. It is in the Psychiatric Nursing site. Even if you are not interested in being a psych nurse, there are students in their 50's saying some very encouraging things that you may want to read. Both threads have helped me a lot. thanks everyone.
You always say the sweetest and wisest things. God bless you. I think you will make an incredible nurse. Keep postimg. I just love what you have to say to all of us.
I just turned 47 and am in the second semester of 2 yr program. I want to go on to MSN, will see if I have the strength! Go for it! Lots of people our age going back. Good Luck!
I started taking pre-req's at 35 thinking that I was too old and would have a hard time getting hired. I have since found that my age makes me more mature and a better candidate for hiring as I have more experience in management and also in just life! HR won't pay me any more when I am a new graduate, but they won't discriminate either. YOU GO GIRL! I have several in my class in their late 30's and one in late 50's! A couple in 40's. Many are going into nursing as a 2nd career.
"If you think you are beaten you are, if you think you dare not..you don't. For Life's battles don't always go to the stronger or faster (or younger) man, but sooner or later the one who wins is the one who thinks HE CAN!"
I read your first post and then the later one about your success. So I am happy for you that your persistence paid off. I am over 60 and entered an excellent refresher program the 1st of Sept. 2 months classroom, 2 months clinical. My problem, the instructor that I am taking clinicals with is discouraging me about my age. She is younger than I am but looks much older. But she is very loved, has been around for many, many years and is very loved. I am very healthy, workout and energetic and did very well in the classroom. The instructor in the classroom asked me what my age was right in class, she knew I didn't mind. And she was so encouraging. She said "YOU will get a job." However, my clinical instructor does everything she can to discourage me. I really believe she is looking at me,looking at herself through her eyes. She has told me that I would face age discrimination, (she said she has been feeling it herself), and she tells me "don't set yourself up for failure," and always tells me how hard it is for an older nurse to work in an "acute care hospital," etc. And she does this in front of the other refresher nurses at our post clinicals. When I mentioned today that I worked in a small hospital that is now owned by a corporation and that I worked in the ICU (for agency), she said "pffffff," it was a 2-bed unit. I said, no, 4 bed-unit and I had 2 patients and blew me off. She constantly tells me that clinicals are not the real world. Of course not. But even though I have been out for 10 years, I am a very experienced med/surg nurse. What is a refresher course for?
But I don't feel discrimination when I am working alone or with preceptors in other units. They take their time to teach me. And as you know, nurses are never long on time. I have held my held up and tried to ignore her, but she is always coming up with something. For instance today, in front of my fellow nurses, she said "oh, I know a hospital you can work at." I was really embarassed. I said, that sounds like a LTC. I don't want LTC. I almost asked her if she has made these suggestions to the younger nurses, some of whom are young and in their 40's.
I feel like if you can suceed, you will, but this woman is getting me down. I really am trying to succeed, but this is like getting to be subliminal and I don't want to let that happen.
On the other hand, I wonder if she is getting negative feedback from the staff because of my age or she is looking at me through her age issues.
It is a very large corporate hospital, profit driven, so that is something else to consider. I have just worked very hard at this and have found renewed interest in the field. However, I am aware of the land mines lying around in the nursing field no matter what your age.
I know I can succeed even at my age the same as the other refreshers, and I am not looking for a full-time job with benefits. But if her discouragement is to do me a favor, why do the other nurses spend so much of their time orienting me?
There is really no one I can talk to at this point in time. The person that heads the program is incapacited right now and I wouldn't want to impose on her. So you are all I have to talk with this about. Any encouragement?
I am appalled that this woman is singling you out in this manner. Discrimination takes many forms, even through a smile or a joke.
She is demonstrating clearly that it is she who is out of the loop.
Anyone at any level who dared to do any of this with so many witnesses
is breaking the law. I dont care how loved or sweet she is; she is breaking the law. I would not tolerate it, try to understand it or make excuses for it. I think you need to pay a little hardball next time she makes any reference to your age. If this were happening in a workplace and was reported, she could and most likely would be fired and you could easily sue for damages. sorry to take a hard road here, but what Im saying is absolutely the truth. Anyone who has been in a formal management role will concur.
Tweety, BSN, RN
36,318 Posts
Good luck to you in all that you do.
If you have no physical issues Go For It!