Nurse's getting younger

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Wow.....I just spent some time in the hospital lately and I realized that mostly all of the nurse's are younger. Not an older, seasoned nurse in the bunch ! I am an "old school" nurse, been around a while, and It made me very sad that the younger ones don't have an older co-worker to learn from.

Personally, I like having an older, more experienced nurse helping me....they know so much.

What's your take on nursing these days ?

Praiser

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
Wow.....I just spent some time in the hospital lately and I realized that mostly all of the nurse's are younger. Not an older, seasoned nurse in the bunch ! I am an "old school" nurse, been around a while, and It made me very sad that the younger ones don't have an older co-worker to learn from.

Personally, I like having an older, more experienced nurse helping me....they know so much.

What's your take on nursing these days ?

Praiser

Age doesn't always mean experienced: my last new-grad orientee was in her 50s, a couple of decades older than I. She decided to try nursing after a long military career.

We worked a lot of shifts together as the only two nurses on the unit. While most patients knew or learned that I was the charge nurse, occasionally some would often refer to ME as the student nurse (it doesn't help me that I look younger than my age). It was funny to see the puzzlement on these patients' faces when she said that she'd have to call her charge in for help/advice and I'd walk into the room :)

So don't necessarily equate "older" with "seasoned," as you may be pleasantly surprised ;)

I find that I learn something valuable from nurses of all ages as well as of all experience levels. She may have been a new grad, but my new grad orientee taught me a few things in return. It all depends on how open you are to learning.

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I'm 23 and the youngest person on my floor, whether it be the ICU or the floor across the hall. I was the third youngest in my nursing class, with almost everyone being late 20's to mid 40's. I find that I learn the most from the nurses in their 30's. They are still young enough to relate to me but have been a nurse long enough to teach me a few tricks.

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Specializes in LTC.

I became a nurse at 20 and I always valued some of the more experience nurses. However, experienced don't always equal competent. I have worked with a few nurses that were more experienced but no one I would look up to.

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Uhm maybe because the nursing program is not as popular back then.

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Maybe the nurses aren't younger, maybe you are just older. Don't mean to be snarky, but I'm sure when you started, an older nurse said the same exact thing about you. Also, you seem to equate ability with age. Not even age, but the appearance of age!

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

My floor has a nice balance. We are about half 20 to 30 year olds, and half 40-50 year olds, with just a few in between. I'm the youngest on staff, and one of the newest hires. Many of our "older" nurses have been working in PICU for years and have so much knowledge. But, as a younger nurse, I know more about the new technology, how to run the equipment, and some of the newer standards of practice. I think our patients learn very quickly that all their nurses are competant, regardless of their age.

Young people aren't the only ones returning to nursing school. In my graduating class (May 2011) of about 35, about 10 were non-traditional students in their 30's-50's. So an older nurse can actually be less experienced that a younger nurse. You can't judge a nurse by his/her age. :nurse:

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Specializes in Med-Surg; Telemetry; School Nurse pk-8.

Bedside nursing is very physically demanding/draining. After I do a complete weekend, I'm spent, and glad I have two days off before heading into the school for that job. This crusty old bat is happy to leave the bedside!

ps. Meriwhen is spot on with her comments :)

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Maybe the nurses aren't younger, maybe you are just older. Don't mean to be snarky, but I'm sure when you started, an older nurse said the same exact thing about you. Also, you seem to equate ability with age. Not even age, but the appearance of age!

Nah, there's just an age where everyone looks too young to be allowed to do what they're doing. I'm at it.

;)

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Nurses are getting younger cause you're getting older ;)

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Specializes in Intermediate care.

What makes you think that us "younger nurses" need to learn something?? I'm not saying we know EVERYTHING. but honestly, some of the younger nurses are just as good as the old seasoned nurses. And if anything....a lot of the seasoned nurses can learn a thing or two from the younger nurses (i.e. how to turn on a computer...).

Not trying to start anything here, but im just trying to make a point that "young nurses" are NOT the only ones who need to learn things.

I got hired with a nurse who is, i'd guess 36-40, somewhere in there. she has been a nurse for 6 years. i was a new grad. she had NO CLUE what she was doing, and still doesn't. i get report from her, and i cringe because i know im going to find things wrong and i always do. So age doesn't always mean experience or expertise in the field

im 23 years old, Youngest RN on my floor,and i think im a good nurse. Do i have thing to learn? Yup. But does my colleague who is in her mid 40's or 50's still have things to learn? Yup!

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Specializes in OB, NICU, Nursing Education (academic).
Nah, there's just an age where everyone looks too young to be allowed to do what they're doing. I'm at it.

;)

I'm at that age also. I really hate it when my airline pilot looks about the same age as my son.

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