Much Older People Going Into Nursing

missninaRN · Dec 27, 2009

I started nursing school when I was 43 years old. I excelled in my nursing clinicals and ranked at the top of my class on every exam. By my second year, I was being paid by the school to tutor underclassmen and assist the faculty during clinicals checkoffs.

I finished school with the highest scores in my class and was selected by the faculty for an excellence in nursing award at graduation. I passed the NCLEX on my first attempt with 75 questions and began my nursing career on a busy med surg floor that specializes in neuro patients. I started on the day shift-something unheard of at my hospital-and was off of orientation and on my own taking care of up to 8 patients for 12 hour shifts. I ran with the "big dogs" and kept right up with them. Those experienced nurses, by the way, were all in their late 30's to 50's and they knew their stuff. I'd trust them with the life of any member of my family.

Very few of the "young still in their prime" students in my class even graduated. A few did, and they are great nurses, but age does lend itself well to things like time management and critical thinking.

I'm now 47 years old; I've been licensed for close to 2 years. I feel like I am in my prime. I do yoga, pilates, take walks, eat a ridiculously healthy diet, and sleep really well. My patients do not suffer due to the fact that I'm pushing 50. In fact, because I look very young for my age, some of them have expressed concern that I was too young to care for them until they learned my actual age.

I did leave the floor behind a few months ago. I don't like being inside without a glimpse of the sky for 13 hours straight and I don't need the excitement of acute care. I'm now in hospice nursing and hope to advance in this specialty for the remainder of my career.

My personal goals include finishing my BSN, starting a Master's program by my 50th birthday, obtaining certification in pain management, holistic nursing, and researching the use of integrative medicine in palliative care. You'll notice my plans do not include retiring when I'm 50, although a ten year career in nursing is better than none at all. I expect to eventually be an educator and mentor and when I finally do retire, I will volunteer in free clinics, train as a SANE nurse, and do missions nursing.

There is a lot more to us older people than you think. I smile to think of how you will view yourself when you are older. You'll see what I mean someday. Our age does not limit or define us. Only our minds can do that.

RNShenanigator · Dec 27, 2009

I find it truly amazing that back in November you told someone that it was "Never to late" and now you have changed your tune. One has to wonder what has happened to change your mind?

https://allnurses.com/pre-nursing-student/please-help-im-440328.html#post3993554

SCSTxRN · Dec 27, 2009

I can appreciate your pov. At the same time, I come from a family full of second careers - a welder turned lawyer, an accountant turned teacher - and now I'm a teacher turning nurse - with a goal of FNP. I'm the youngest. My dad was 50 when he passed the bar, my sister was 41 when she passed the praxis. I'll be 30 when I pass the NCLEX - but I plan to work until 70 or 80 at least, at a job that I love, for as long as I am physically able to do it. I've known people (not the majority, but they do exist) in their 60's who are EASILY in as good shape as the average 40 year old... why should I feel entitled to tell them they can't do something that is their dream?

FlyingScot, RN · Dec 27, 2009

I didn't know my "twilight years" are going to start in 6 months. Wow...I have a lot of planning to do. Has anybody seen my cane?

allnurses Guide · Dec 27, 2009

I didn't know my "twilight years" are going to start in 6 months. Wow...I have a lot of planning to do. Has anybody seen my cane?

When I was in my 20's . .. . 52 years old seemed very old.

But seriously - "twilight years" would be more like 91 or so.

My inlaws are 81 and 86 and are busy as bees. Very involved in the church and community and also take care of my 8 year old son (who was born when I was 43 and my dh was 47). They've taken care of him since he was 4 months old when I went back to work part-time (my goal is stay-at-home mom so I'll never work full time again). :coollook:

Life is different nowadays - 50's is really a prime time of life . . not time for a cane or rocking chair. I'm 52 and my oldest is 26 and in a Master's Program, my 2nd son is 25 and works in the woods, my daughter is 20 and in college. No grandkids on the horizon. College costs to pay.

There is no way we can retire in our 50's. :icon_roll I became a nurse at 40 and just finished my BSN last August.

steph

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Dec 27, 2009

Oh lord!

Well they also say with age comes wisdom, I am sure you don't want people generalizing that all young people are dumb or immature because they don't have enough life experience to know things. Generalizations never get anyone anywhere. I guess I am right in the middle at 30. I know that I have had more life experience by age 20 then a lot of people I knew two to three times my age. I also know I still have a lot to learn.

Older nurses can also find other fields of nursing that aren't so physically demanding if that becomes an issue.

Knowledge is never ending and a lot of people don't have the dream of sitting around at home all day, some people like to keep working even when they are of an age they can retire. Even if it's just part time.

My dad retired after 30 years in the Navy and he has changed a lot and it hasn't been good. He just went out to find a job after being retired for 3 years, it's good for him and good for my mom if he wants to stay married LOL

BeachCathyRN · Dec 27, 2009

My twilight years are you kidding me??? I am 51 and god willing will complete my lpn to asn by next year this time or sooner then plan to get my BSN. As for working I love it and I work circles around the 20-30 yr old nurses they ask where I get my energy, I tell them I am doing a job I love not working for the money to pay the bills. When you love what you do there is no age limit! I spend plenty of time with my grandchildren and I can plant flowers when I'm 90!!

SweetOldWorld, BSN, RN · Dec 27, 2009

iread the forums and see alot of really older people who are like 45, 50, nearly 60 talking about taking pre reqs to be a nurse. If you are that old, you only have about what 10 years left to work or less for those who are older. Why chose such a physically demanding profession when you are in your twilight years? nursing needs people who are young and still in their prime. Thats just how i feel. When I"m 50, I want to be retired, planting flowers, and relaxing looking after my grandkids. Not on the floor looking after sick people with crazy demands.

Nursing is so much more than "looking after sick people with crazy demands." Maybe nursing isn't the best choice for you. No matter what your age!

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Dec 27, 2009

My twilight years are you kidding me??? I am 51 and god willing will complete my lpn to asn by next year this time or sooner then plan to get my BSN. As for working I love it and I work circles around the 20-30 yr old nurses they ask where I get my energy, I tell them I am doing a job I love not working for the money to pay the bills. When you love what you do there is no age limit! I spend plenty of time with my grandchildren and I can plant flowers when I'm 90!!

I agree, I am not doing nursing because I need the pay or even the job. Although it will be a good fallback if my marriage were to end or something were to happen to my husband because he is the one that financially provides for us. But I didn't start school because I NEEDED to. I did it because I wanted to, I want to be a nurse, I wanted to challenge myself and go to school and I wanted to do something more with my life then being a SAHM. Don't get me wrong, I love that I was able to be there for most of my children pre school age and not have to have them in DayCare, but as my 3 oldest were all becoming pre school to elementary school age there was no reason I couldn't find something I wanted to do. The wait list for my school although long worked out great for me having my 4th and last child. She was 2.5 by the time I started nursing school.

I have had people ask me why I am going to school to be a nurse if I don't need to, how they would love not to work and be able to stay home. While it has it's perks, its not the life for me full time anyway. I could win the lottery tomorrow and I would still finish nursing school and still work at lest part time. Now if I won the lottery my nursing friends would love me more when I am paying for weekend massages and detox mud baths for us LOL. But I have more planned for mylife then spending it doing nothing. I am more then happy finding a balance.

Anoetos, BSN, RN · Dec 27, 2009

Wow, 45 is an "older person". I am pretty sure that I and any number of other "older persons" around here would run rings around many, possibly even most, of the younger folks.:angryfire

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Dec 28, 2009

iread the forums and see alot of really older people who are like 45, 50, nearly 60 talking about taking pre reqs to be a nurse. If you are that old, you only have about what 10 years left to work or less for those who are older. Why chose such a physically demanding profession when you are in your twilight years? nursing needs people who are young and still in their prime. Thats just how i feel. When I"m 50, I want to be retired, planting flowers, and relaxing looking after my grandkids. Not on the floor looking after sick people with crazy demands.

I would love to be retired at 50 but unfortunately the magic wish fairy is a bit busy, and I actually have to work to....ohhhh pay bills, buy food, buy clothes for those grandchildren that I am enjoying, and pay for heat.

And while nursing needs "young people" it also needs people dedicated and equipped to handle the job. Sometimes those people are young and sometimes they are older. Quite frankly, many of the younger ones are too busy giving birth to children, that it is often the older nurses taking the heavy weight, the family unfriendly shifts, etc.

Sign me, Carolina....single and probably working until she dies, given the state of the economy.