Nurses in their 60's or 70's

Published

Not that you ask your co-workers their ages but......

Do you work with many nurses in this age group? If so, where do they work??????

I work with a 69 year-old RN at a university where we do research. She was a psych nurse for 35 years and recently left bedside nursing for this university job because she couldn't stand the hospital politics anymore. She's beyond happy to be in a research position.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Two of my coworkers in LTC are in their 60s; one has decades of experience, while the other is a newer nurse who graduated from nursing school a couple of years ago. They both work the med cart (plus the desk, treatments, admissions, etc.), and are totally awesome.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Is there a way you could have made your point without using pejoratives to refer to your older colleagues?

Nothing grinds my gears more than reading posts that refer to older nurses as "old-timers," "warhorses," "battle-axes"...you name it, it's been said. We talk about "eating our young" but we gnaw away on the old as well. Sure, there are some older nurses who should retire. There are some young nurses who have no business being nurses, too. Ageist attitudes don't serve the profession well at all. Just because someone qualifies for a pension doesn't mean they have to retire. If they can keep up and do their job well, then more power to them if they want to keep working.

No one is obligated to retire just to give another person a job.

These are same women who call us "girlie" when giving us instruction, so the name calling goes both ways. They haven't adapted well to change. They still think of LPNs as "aides" and tell the patients to ask the "aide" to help them, yet, they will ask us "aides" to mix the IV meds. They are "anti" BScNs and make it clear at every opportunity to the two degree holders on the unit.

And frankly, these women are making $43/hour before shift premiums and benefits are calculated. Their pensions are some of the best in the country. They do not hesitate to discuss the "double dipping" at coffee. Their biggest problem is the taxes they have to pay on their pension due to working. One is worried because she has to cash out her RRSP in the next year and the tax bill is going to be huge. It's a constant discussion of how to best avoid paying taxes.

So, yes, I object to having someone being paid and receiving a pension, that I am funding. My generation (and I'm only a decade behind some of them) will never have the financial security that these women have. They bought their houses in the 1970s when in this area they were $25K, the same area now costs $300K for a condo, even allowing for inflation and price indexing my age group and the younger ones will never achieve this.

I'm entitled to an opinion just as you are.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

I'm sorry you have a problem with older nurses. Reflect that one day, you will be an older nurse too.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in mental health, aged care/disability care.
If they can keep up and do their job well, then more power to them if they want to keep working.

No one is obligated to retire just to give another person a job.

I fully agree. If they can do the job, good on them. If they are beginning to slip and can't quite make the grade, then and only then, should they be looking at retiring.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I'm sorry you have a problem with older nurses. Reflect that one day, you will be an older nurse too.

I'm 52. Hardly a spring chicken. I'll be out the door in the next ten years. Hell, I even get attitude from those in their 20s and 30s about "old" nurses.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I was just thinking that it would be nice to have a forum for "older nurses." I am 58 and without a job presently. I still have 2 teenagers at home (single mom) and really need to find a job. I have applied at too many places to count, even non-nursing jobs. I live in a small town, so opportunities are limited. I have done private duty in the past, but the jobs are not consistent. I have gone to the Workforce several times and the last time I met another nurse there who is also out of a job and trying everything. It feels very much to me like a strong factor is the recession. The nursing homes aren't even hiring. I really want to be self employed. I'm researching and praying about this. I'm thinking maybe I'm burned out on nursing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC Family Practice.

I turn 60 tomorrow:rckn: and I'll be working until they haul me out feet first:grn: unless I win the lottery or meet another Mr. Wrong with lots of money :rolleyes: who'd like to support me in a manner I'd like to become acustom to:lol2:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I've worked with quite a few in their 60's and several in their 70's. They work just as hard as the younger nurses. I never hear them complain. They continue to work because they want to. I admire them.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I've married 3, and almost 4 Mr. Wrongs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

They work in the ER. Some are nursing faculty. None are double dipping, and none are obligated to get out of anyone else's way.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in pediatrics, public health.

At the peds hospital where I worked, there was a night nurse in her 70s who who was still going strong and seemed to have enough energy to run circles around colleagues less than half her age. I heard she had tried to retire a couple of times but would come back because she was bored sitting at home. There was also a day shift nurse who must have been somewhere in her 60s or so who was also still going strong.

I hope to be a working nurse when I'm in my 60s, but hope to be a retired one well before I hit 70!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion