Mature Nurses over 50

scooterRN52 · Jan 9, 2005

I am a 54 year old male RN (will be 55 in July). I spent the first half of my 20 year career in med/surg & oncology and the second 10 years in LTC. To be honest, I am finally getting tired of working with women. Too old for the drama, I guess. Maybe being in management magnifies that issue. I am thinking 7 more years full time then maybe half-time after that. Depends on how the market treats my 401K. I came to this board to get some ideas for semi-retired work opportunities.

Blinks, I can't believe this, are you from Alaska? I was there in june 2004, it is a beautiful place, very clean and pristine.

I too will probably work full time until I'm 62, then go part time, like you said, it depends on the status of my 401k. I worked in LTC as a nsg. supervisor and unit manager in the mid. 90's. I am currently in an oncology

hospital on a specialty unit for head,neck and thorasic surgery and telemetry. I'm working as a staff RN there for the past 8 years and love the autonomy. I like 12 hr. shifts which give me more time off, so I can get to the gym and spend time with friends. I will probably supervise when I go part time, but I will stay at my present hospital because it is a great place to

work, nice people, good pay, and great benefits!

Good Luck to you, scooterRN52 :)

letina · Jan 9, 2005

This thread has really lifted my spirits. I just turned 50 and decided it's time for a change, so I'm hoping to relocate to the US from UK, absolutely love Florida!

I'm waiting for ATT from FL BON to take NCLEX but I'm at the mercy of CGFNS right now, waiting for my credentials to be evaluated.

At first, I doubted if I was doing the right thing, thought maybe I'd left it too late to start nursing in a new country, but after reading threads like this I feel much more reassured. Thanks everyone :wink2:

Jonty, RN · Jan 9, 2005

Hi Sue, 60 next month, working FT in a Level 1 Trauma/Neuro SICU. party on!!

Audreyfay · Jan 9, 2005

I'm 48.5. I will celebrate my 29th year in nursing this year. I work full time as a diabetes educator and telephone triage nurse. I hope to be working the day I go home. I know that if I retire, I will become a couch potato. Currently I work 52 hours/week. I am married to a wonderful guy who is a priest in the American Catholic Church of the United States. We are celebrating our 10th anniversary.

I love nursing and am so happy that all my friends were going into it back at high school graduation, which prompted me to go into the nursing program also!

scooterRN52 · Jan 11, 2005

Hi Sue, 60 next month, working FT in a Level 1 Trauma/Neuro SICU. party on!!

Good for you! you must stay in good shape, do you work out at a gym?

scooterRN52 :)

Silverhawk · Jan 31, 2005

56 in July and still cute !!! :rotfl:
New RN as of a year and a half ago.... Hemodilaysis for past seven years. :)

Thinking about doing your line of work. Is it hig , med, or low on the stress level? How many patients on at a time? Any advice? I work in LTC now for the past year, my first year as a nurse.

scooterRN52 · Feb 1, 2005

Thinking about doing your line of work. Is it hig , med, or low on the stress level? How many patients on at a time? Any advice? I work in LTC now for the past year, my first year as a nurse.

The stress level depends on the accuity level of the patient and what their hospitalization involves, many variables involved. I work on a unit w/ post/op patients (cancer) that have surgery to remove the cancerous tumors, they sometimes need telemetry while they recover. Yes it can be very sressful at times, especially if the patient has complications after surgery such as: DVT,

infection, blood loss, or a P.E. etc. I've been in oncology for about 9 years and plan to stay with it. Cancer patients are the nicest human beings, and they need caring nurses. If you love nursing, and don't mind taking care of really sick people who have to deal w/ the emotional aspect of their disease, I say go for it!!! Good Luck!!!!! :)

airforce_nursing · Feb 8, 2005

I am not yet 50, but I am just curious of how you are preparing for your retirement which will be in 15 years. What advices would you give to younger nurses?
Ethel

I would recommend joining the Air Force so you can RETIRE. I have nurses who join right out of college and will retire in their early 40's. Then if they want to they continue to work at civilian hospitals as well.

I will retire when I'm 38 years old.

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Feb 8, 2005

I'll be 50 this year. I work in Acute care med-surg. Two of the nurses I work with are older than me. One is 59 and the other won't tell her age but I think she's around 55.

HarryPotter · Feb 8, 2005

Well, I have gone through this entire thread and have found no one my age, as in older than me. I probably shouldn't still be working, but I am and am now 62 1/2. I work in out-patient psych. which I love. I'd need roller-skates if I worked on a medical floor. :)

UnewmeB4 · Apr 7, 2005

50 yrs young. Working Med/Surg/Ortho/tele, floating in two hospitals. Working 32 hours a week and babysitting a toddler and infant 30 hrs a week. As my mother say..."Use it or lose it!" We had a nurse from ICU who recently passed away on one of her nights off work. She was up in her 70's and a terrific nurse. Was a former Nursing instructor and a current member of the BON. I had a pt to transfer from a surgical floor and was on the phone at 0650 in the morning, and she was here to help transport the pt before I finished giving report! She was awesome.

LadyKLibra · May 23, 2005

Erm...do I count? 51 and almost finished w/freshman year of nursing school. :) loving every minute of it.

Good for you !!! I was so glad to find this post. I'm not in a nursing program as of yet and will be 50 this October. I get so much flack from folks (mainly from family members) :crying2: about my age and decision to go to nursing school. I definitely will keep striving and I appreciate this forum - lots of good stuff here. Where are you attending?