New nurse-too old for bedside?

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Hello, I am a recent ASN grad and recently passed  NCLEX. I  have started applying for jobs, and have my first interview for ICU/stepdown next  week. I eventually see myself  in a outpatient clinic or even a school (I used to work in a school clinic as an assistant), but my thought as a new grad is to get a year or two of bedside experience and then decide from there. This is a second career for me, my previous degree and career was in community health education.

But I am starting to have second thoughts about my plan, and would value any input from others. I am 46, and am wondering if I can really handle even a couple of years of bedside nursing? I just keep hearing how grueling and exhausting it is. I would consider myself adequately healthy for my age, but am still 46! My plan to do bedside for a couple of years is mainly to get that clinical experience and I also like the idea of working 3 days a week vs. full time days. But if I am too tired to enjoy the days off, does it even matter??

Any opinions are welcomed!! Thank you!

Specializes in Orthopedic/ Med Srg.

You are not too old. Nursing is my second degree, had degree in BS Biology, decided to take Nursing and finished when was 52. I enjoyed bedside nursing for 20 years until I retired at 71. I was energetic and no health problem that kept me working. 
As long as you are keeping up with technology ( Nursing uses lots of data recordings in computer ), and eager to learn more , you’ll be a good nurse. The younger nurses are very respectful to older nurse , I know it by experience.

Specializes in Med-Surg.

Never too old. I'm graduating from nursing school at 45 and starting on a Med/Surg floor soon. Honestly, there were clinical rotations where I had more energy and was outlasting nursing students half my age. You bring a maturity and focus that many younger new nurses may not bring. Your unit will appreciate that. I just take care of my back and ensure I'm using proper body mechanics whenever I move a patient. Younger nurses, from what I've seen, try to muscle everything and not use good ergonomics. That's why their bodies break down quickly after several years. Take care of your body, mind, and spirit, and you'll be fine!

Specializes in Hospice.

At 46, you're still a Spring chicken!!  Without knowing your general health or activity level, I would recommend that you go for where your heart and instincts are leading you.  I'm 54 and diving back into my career after taking five years away from a high-intensity level pulmonology clinic job.  Do your job hours coincide with your household vibe?  If you are looking at working 12 hour nights, but your spouse works days, that will put more stress on your life than other options.  If you have young children or other daytime obligations at home,  how will it all mesh together?  That would/should be one of your guideposts.  Never take a job just because it may sound more prestigious to you and/or others.  Do it because you sincerely Want to work with this/that population; you feel you have something to offer and the desire to do such.  A few dollars more or less in pay, and a stranger's approval or disapproval of your career path should Not be your guiding light. Perhaps to a stranger, working at XYZ hospital sounds more impressive than working in a clinic or nursing home...but at the end of the day, You will need to put in the hours, the heart, and compassion.  

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