Mature Nurses over 50

U.S.A. Michigan

Published

Hi,

I'm taking a poll......who is still in Nursing and 50 or over and what field are you in!!

Sue age 56 :chuckle

Specializes in Telemetry/Med Surg.
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?

Hiya--stay strong and don't listen to any flack from anyone. This is the best thing I've ever done for myself and it will be for you as well. You've got maturity and life experiences on your side as well and you are also serious about striving to meet your goal. When I wrote that original post I was a freshman--I have now finished my 2nd (junior) year and am officially a senior--scheduled to graduate May 06. Keep in touch--let me know if there's anything I (or others on the board) can do to help you.

Hi,

I'm taking a poll......who is still in Nursing and 50 or over and what field are you in!!

Sue age 56 :chuckle

hello i am in the uk 53yrs young going strong in anaesthetics/parr my husband is my boss he 52 in fact over 3/4 of our dept. is over 50!!

I am 49, been taking prereqs for a year, just now ready to apply to a BSN program. I know I'm up to it mentally, but I do worry a little about the physical part. It's just taken me this long to know what I really want, and it really feels right, so I'm going for it.

yes,

i am only 51 yrs old, and just changed work avenues from 25 yrs.in the er to being a hospice nurse, full time,on call--and loving the change! this is a definite change of pace-hard to slow down at first. wish i had done this sooner-rewarding work, and always learning. nursing does not prepare us well for end of life care/issues-alot of self-learning. i would eventually like to incorporate some travel nurse...same field, if anyone has experience here...lorraine

I'm 60 and I am in LTC. I only work 2 days a week, 12 hours. The rest of the time I do massage, energy healing and I am a poet. I am trying to break into the field of alternative healing in the hospitals. I am so thrilled to see all the 50 year old students. It really is a career that can carry you through, albeit a bit hard on the legs and feet. Maybe a career of 15 years wouldn't be so bad,though.

I am 54 (going on 18) and returning to nursing. Took my NCLEX yesterday. Hope to find a job in a ED. (former paramedic)

Chet

thanks, sue, for starting this thread. i just turned 50 a couple of months ago and was feeling a little the worse for wear. i started wanting to tell people i was forty-ten. just as i was finally getting a grip, i started a new job and walked into a huge classroom full of new grad chickie poohs who are, oh so fresh-faced and adorable, but who are mostly young enough to be my kids.

what a joy to hear from all of you.

i'm in the orientation phase of post-partum at a hospital that delivers nearly 5000 babies a year. i didn't realize, when i went for the interview, that this place does not do ldrp. it's so big that they can have completely different units and staffing for ldr and pp. initially, i was disappointed but now i think god was looking out for me. pp is a place where both my rn experience and my mothering experience can be of use. i have six kids and nine g-kids. [ my two oldest girls, 31 and 30,each have four children and daughter number three, 29, has one and is trying again. son #1 (26), daughter #4 (23), and son #2 (19) haven't even started yet.] i've been there for most of the g-kids births and have gotten many a frantic phone call asking for information and reassurance. i want to help new moms learn to trust their instincts and see themselves as capable and strong builders of life. yeah, i know there will be some who shouldn't be having kids but we used to have unwed mothers and their babies as foster kids and some of them did really well.

i'm working a .6 fte noc shift. i love nights. my husband of 32 years also works nights and, while our schedule isn't for everyone, it's great for us.

the nice thing that i've started to realize--and this thread certainly confirmed my thoughts--is that i feel much more relaxed at this stage of my life. money's not as tight as when the kids were growing up and we have a bit of freedom that still seems naughty at times. i've learned that very few things deserve worry or panic or regret. someone else said you learn to work smarter, not harder. i have the perspective to feel truly grateful for what has brought me here and i have slowed down just enough to let moments of utter joy creep up on me.

i like the saying, "age is a state of mind over matter. if you don't mind, it doesn''t matter.

miranda f.

I just joined this site today and was thrilled to see lots of oldtimers as well as new grads.

I'm 56 and have been in management for 10 years. We moved to Maryland last year so I thought it might be a good idea to return to the bedside. Got a part time job on a busy medical floor but the pace is brutal! Guess I've been out of the loop too long. Anyway, I'm pretty unhappy and I know I'll be moving on soon but having worked in hospitals for my whole career, I'm having a hard time deciding what direction to take. :o

HB

I'm looking for a new direction. Perhaps hospice is an answer. Very interesting, oncalllorraine. I'd love to hear more.

HB

yes,

i am only 51 yrs old, and just changed work avenues from 25 yrs.in the er to being a hospice nurse, full time,on call--and loving the change! this is a definite change of pace-hard to slow down at first. wish i had done this sooner-rewarding work, and always learning. nursing does not prepare us well for end of life care/issues-alot of self-learning. i would eventually like to incorporate some travel nurse...same field, if anyone has experience here...lorraine

Specializes in Ortho-Trauma 1 year, MOHs surgery 4 year.

I will be 50 in January and will be graduating nursing school in May. I am not the oldest in my class; in fact, we have a guy in his 60s who's just starting out. For anyone thinking they're too old, I say that's bologna, go ahead and DO IT! I haven't been this happy in years and I'm loving every minute. I have wisdom and life experience on my side and I think the patients can appreciate that.

Specializes in oncology, surgical stepdown, ACLS & OCN.
I will be 50 in January and will be graduating nursing school in May. I am not the oldest in my class; in fact, we have a guy in his 60s who's just starting out. For anyone thinking they're too old, I say that's bologna, go ahead and DO IT! I haven't been this happy in years and I'm loving every minute. I have wisdom and life experience on my side and I think the patients can appreciate that.

I will be 56 in feb. 2006 and I am still working in a hospital on a stepdown, surgical oncology unit that specializes in head, neck and thorasic surgery.

I work 7pm til 7am and I am thinking about going ona shift where I can be home in my bed sleeping at night.

Hi! I'm 56 and have been an LPN since '70. Worked 19 yrs in a hospital, worked LTC for almost 10 yrs. as charge nurse and 2 yrs. as night supervisor at an ALF for dementia pts. Moved from CT. to FL. I've worked hospice for almost 2 yrs and have loved it. It's been like a ministry. Unfortunately, Dec 14 I had a seizure at Universal Orlando as we headed to the exit. I'm feeling pretty good but as my job entails driving and FL says no driving for 6 mos. post seizure, I am now on a medical LOA/disability. But I'm still nurse to the bone, even if it's getting to be a "lazy bone".

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