Do you in nursing land find that old time nurses, those with many years in the career, dont want to learn new things?- like learning to care for a new kind of patient than they are used to, for instance going from LTC to a more acute setting or rotating from a geriatric unit to a unit with younger, more alert residents, which would require learning new skills?
Ive spoken to a few old timers, and they seem only to want to coast until retirement.
They dont seem to feel obligated to stretch themselves, to maintain and update there skills- wouldnt they feel better about themselves as nurses if they did take on new responsibilities?
Is this the normal course of evolution in the career of nurses?
i've seen the very same trend in a couple of different hospitals in the past few years. the younger, less experienced nurses band together and pack the selection committees for promotions, and pass over the more qualified, experienced nurses for their buddies, sometimes with barely a year of icu experience. after being denied a promotion or two, the experienced nurses move on, and new nurses are hired. the whole selection process for charge, assist nurse manager, special skills, etc. seems to be a popularity contest. the younger, single nurses and those without families band together and socialize frequently. older nurses are deliberately excluded from that, too. it all seems so mean-spirited to me!
what happens to the nurses that are older, but only have a few years under their belt as an rn?
I come from the day when there were no monitors, all postops came back at the same time(during report that was not taped and at shift change) all needed prn pain meds..had to sign out narcotics..caried 3 wings no lpn and 1 aide per wing...assessments were without monitors, pulse ox monitors, no hospitalists, no er doctors. we looked at our patients. I feel @ 64 i have made those changes gracefully....was in the ANC started my first IV in viet nam I can add without a calculator....I did not walk 5 miles to school. I have slowed my physical pace down and am semi retired...i consider myself and those women from from my day, the 60's ,Pioneers not old dawgs!!!!!!! quote " NOT ALL WOMEN FROM THE 60'S WORE LOVE BEADS "
Do you in nursing land find that old time nurses, those with many years in the career, dont want to learn new things?- like learning to care for a new kind of patient than they are used to, for instance going from LTC to a more acute setting or rotating from a geriatric unit to a unit with younger, more alert residents, which would require learning new skills?
Ive spoken to a few old timers, and they seem only to want to coast until retirement.
They dont seem to feel obligated to stretch themselves, to maintain and update there skills- wouldnt they feel better about themselves as nurses if they did take on new responsibilities?
Is this the normal course of evolution in the career of nurses?
I love the "old time nurses." They know what they are doing and don't freak out everytime something goes wrong, and they don't spend half the shift talking about their burgeoning bellies and showing ultrasound pics. Just my 2 cents. They also have enough experience and are secure in being a good nurse, so they are not afraid to laugh at things that are funny--- they are not as P.C.
I'm a new nurse in an old body. If we all treated each other with respect and dignity, we'd all realize that everybody can learn new things from everybody. We all have unique experiences. Isn't having the attitude of being a know-it-all a bad idea for everyone, new or experienced? Old timers: You deserve respect for your well-earned battle scars and we new timers can learn from you. New timers: You are eager and ready to serve, but don't forget to honor those who have gone before you and won many battles from which we can all benefit. All: Treat each other like you would want to be treated and nobody will be eating anybody. Dignity is an intrinsic right; respect is earned anew with each person you encounter. But above all: PLAY NICE!
I come from the day when there were no monitors pulse ox monitors, no hospitalists.
I'm with you Jane, and remember no IV pumps just roller clamps to adjust the flow and what fun when your confused COPD'ers and CHF's played with their tubing and got a full liter in 30 minutes. Remember having to insert the entire needle when starting an IV and the needle stayed in place because we didn't have the plastic cannula's (they weren't invented yet).The hubs were metal also!
I did not walk 5 miles to school.
Actually during 6th,7th,8th grade I walked 3 miles home from school each day. I realize now that my parents actually did me a favor because I was a very fit teenager with alot of time to think and daydream on the way home. My Mom said had it been today she would never have allowed it but back in the dark ages it was safe. I carried my club with me and had a dinosaur watching my back! And I did wear "love beads", I wasn't a hippie per say but did enjoy making strings of beads and wearing them along with my white go-go boots, fish-net stockings, mini-skirts, scooter skirts and long braids or pig-tails. Thanks for the stroll down memory lane!
Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.
I love the older nurses because they know their stuff and can really do it to it. The ones that share their knowledge are awesome. I love the younger nurses because many are so NOT politically correct and i get a kick out of watching them say and do things I would never dream of doing.
I'm a new nurse in an old body. If we all treated each other with respect and dignity, we'd all realize that everybody can learn new things from everybody. We all have unique experiences. Isn't having the attitude of being a know-it-all a bad idea for everyone, new or experienced? Old timers: You deserve respect for your well-earned battle scars and we new timers can learn from you. New timers: You are eager and ready to serve, but don't forget to honor those who have gone before you and won many battles from which we can all benefit. All: Treat each other like you would want to be treated and nobody will be eating anybody. Dignity is an intrinsic right; respect is earned anew with each person you encounter. But above all: PLAY NICE!
This "old dog = old nurse" and dismissive metaphors for young nurses are another way to continue and maintain splitting and division within the profession. Dissipating and wasting our awesome energy that could transform our workplace and the profession. Another way we are not uniting in a single voice to advance the profession, the status of working nurses. We are playing into the hands of administration by continuing to do this. Do physicans do this? Maybe, but behind the scenes, not in public view ....
Specializes in home & public health, med-surg, hospice.
This "old dog = old nurse" and dismissive metaphors for young nurses are another way to continue and maintain splitting and division within the profession. Dissipating and wasting our awesome energy that could transform our workplace and the profession. Another way we are not uniting in a single voice to advance the profession, the status of working nurses. We are playing into the hands of administration by continuing to do this. Do physicans do this? Maybe, but behind the scenes, not in public view ....
I soooo, agree, Anon. This is a "Conquer & Divide" tactic.
To all the nurses out there.We are all angels, our aim is to give the best for the patients.Any thing towards that will do.New or old is not there matter what matter is team work towards ONE common goal.Be happy.:balloons: :wink2:
Nothing more fun then being an old nurse (27 yrs experience 12 in ED's) yet because I married a military guy I have to change jobs every couple of years. I am greeted with RN's with less then 2 years experience all of which is from the ED telling me how to start an IV or insert a foley or NG tube,or that I am wrong in my interpretation of rhythms. Yet I am the one who got 100% on the arrythmia exam and they failed and had to retake it elsewhere. I watch them hang 1.5 gms dilantin without a pump in the hand of a pt to run in less then 10 minutes or I watch them prepare to cardiovert a 79 yr old with nausea and vommitting for 2 days with a low BP and afib because an intern told her to without checking to see if the afib was old or new (it was old and all the patient needed was fluid). Or give phenergan IVP undiluted. And these are the people who are evaluating me. I may be new to the hospital but ED nursing is ED nursing no matter what hospital you go to.
Cute_CNA, CNA
475 Posts
what happens to the nurses that are older, but only have a few years under their belt as an rn?