The most recent national survey( Health Resources and Services Administration, 2006) released in March 2006 indicates the estimated average of the Registered Nurse as 4.8 and the largest group of RNs was aged 45-49.
AS a Registered Nurse over the age of 50 I have found that my 30 years of experience in multiple areas of nursing has enhanced my ability to practice with confidence. I have discovered that every situation is merely a reenactment of a past situation. I have experience that helps my guide the young nurses and teach on my unit. In many ways nursing is more rewarding over 50 that when I was in a constant learning or skill building mode at age 30.
Recently I relocated from Dallas Texas to Northern California. I worked nights in ICU. After many years of night shift I developed SWSD (Shift Work Sleep Disorder). The most common symptoms are insomnia, but there are many other side effects including: difficulty concentrating, headaches, lack of energy, less efficient work, irritability, anxiety and depression, increase in heartburn and indigestion, increase in colds and flu and an increase in heart problems including high blood pressure. Consequences of shift work sleep disorder include: Increased accidents, work related-errors and sick leave. Nearly six million full-time work on the night shift and one quarter are estimated to have SWSD for which the most common symptoms are insomnia and excessive sleepiness.
My Physician recognized my symptoms and advised the hospital that I could not work the night shift and that I should transfer to days immediately.
I did transfer from ICU nights to A medical floor on days with hesitancy from the Director of Nurses.
After a few days I was notified by phone that my position at that facility was terminated. When I asked the Director of nurses what is the contingency plan for retaining the aging nurses her comment was the she is setting a precedence now by terminating my position.
I now work days 12 hour shifts on a rehabilitation unit. It is fast paced and I work at least 24 hours overtime every two weeks. I am very appreciated for my experience and have the opportunity to teach new graduate nurses and continue my career.
What is the plan for an aging nursing workforce? Over 50 nurses are healthier than in the past and retirement is in the near future. What should the medical community do to retain experienced nurses through this critical shortage of nurses?
One of the reasons I'm currently getting my BSN is so that I have options as I age in nursing and need to get away from the stress and physical demands of hospital bedside nursing. Right now I'm 48 and physically fit and can handle it. But unless I win the lottery or find out I have a rich relative, then I'm going to have to work well into my 60s. I need to have a plan, not expect my current employer to take care of things for me.
Hospitals do need to be educated on the valuable resource us "older" workers are. Sounds like the original poster's employer lost a valuable employee and it's their loss. I can relate. After 13 years of night shift, I had to go to day shift because of chronic fatigue, along with that dreaded insomnia.
The circumstances described here is one of the good reasons to obtain higher education. It is much easier to be able to get an administrative job if you have that BSN or MSN. Many state they don't want to go up the educational ladder but they don't address what will happen to them if they can't do the physical labor of staff nursing any longer. Particularly an issue for CNAs or LPNs, who can't even compete with RNs for jobs, much less non-physical jobs. Administrative jobs are hard to find and hard to land. Having the added onus of desperation does not help the situation.
I am going back to school first of the year( my degree is in Government from 1979!!) to take classes to apply for Nursing school. I am excited - I feel so called to Nursing- but a little anxious about my age(I am 51).
Tweety, BSN, RN
36,295 Posts
One of the reasons I'm currently getting my BSN is so that I have options as I age in nursing and need to get away from the stress and physical demands of hospital bedside nursing. Right now I'm 48 and physically fit and can handle it. But unless I win the lottery or find out I have a rich relative, then I'm going to have to work well into my 60s. I need to have a plan, not expect my current employer to take care of things for me.
Hospitals do need to be educated on the valuable resource us "older" workers are. Sounds like the original poster's employer lost a valuable employee and it's their loss. I can relate. After 13 years of night shift, I had to go to day shift because of chronic fatigue, along with that dreaded insomnia.