Old timer wants to grow

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I am looking for some advice.

I have been in long term care for about 12 years as a RN, no previous nursing experience and am 53, I will be working, God willing another 12 years.

My problem is I am not growing. I would like to branch out, expand my nursing experience, perhaps go into another area of nursing, say transfer to a hospital and get into a more acute setting but I have been in this long term care type nursing for such a long time I fear change, my skills are not finely honed, no acute experience and I wonder if my age is a hinderance for being hired to another area.

If any one has any advice on what I could do to branch out or over come my personal obstacles I would much appreciate it, please Bill me later.

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Well, I'm 54, have been an LPN in LTC for one year, and just got a spot in med/surg. They know I know, well, nuthin' 'bout no hospital nursin'.

Now, I'm in a rural area so there is a real nursing (and medical care) shortage - medically underserved area - but maybe you can pick up a day a week per diem on a straight med/surg unit and get your feet wet, so to speak.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Only you can decide the right thing to do at this point, but congratulations on wanting to break out of the "comfort zone" that you are in. This takes courage and self awareness and could lead to some amazing discoveries. I think that an employer would be willing to orient you to the acute care setting.Hopefully in this day and age they wouldn't consider 53 too old.

I am 41 and I have just graduated as a Registered Practical Nurse. Going back to school at my age took a leap of faith (in myself) and I wish you the best of luck in what ever path you take.

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Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.
I am looking for some advice.

I have been in long term care for about 12 years as a RN, no previous nursing experience and am 53, I will be working, God willing another 12 years.

My problem is I am not growing. I would like to branch out, expand my nursing experience, perhaps go into another area of nursing, say transfer to a hospital and get into a more acute setting but I have been in this long term care type nursing for such a long time I fear change, my skills are not finely honed, no acute experience and I wonder if my age is a hinderance for being hired to another area.

If any one has any advice on what I could do to branch out or over come my personal obstacles I would much appreciate it, please Bill me later.

Given the shortage of nurses, I don't think you would have a problem being hired. How about asking for a short term preceptor to assist you in updating your skills? And with the way acute hospitals discharge early these days, you may have more experience then you think by taking care of the sub acutes in your LTC facilities.

Woody:balloons:

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You are never "too old" to give a new specialty a try. The only mistake would be to not try and spend the rest of your career wishing you had.

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Thank you for your support all you who have replied.

Fear is a *****.

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Specializes in LTC,MDS,med-surg, ER.

It is scary to jump head first into something new. I recently took a position at a small hospital after being in LTC for 15 years. I ask alot of questions and thank everyone for their patience with me. I feel like I am re-learning many things and I feel inadequate at times but I read and research and bring up questions that most of the other nurses are willing to answer. Some are condescending but I feel that in my years of LTC, I have gained insight and a great ability to get along with difficult people :rolleyes: I tell myself that this is a completely new challenge and that I will learn as I go. It took a great deal of prayer and soul-searching to decide that this is what I want to do with my career in the time that I have left. (I am 46 years old). It is hard to go from the one who is at the top of your field or specialty to the bottom of the learning curve without some bruising of the ego!

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Look for a hospital offering those preceptorship programs for new grads, or refresher courses. They should accept anyone switching areas of nursing. I took one after being away from my primary field (L&D) for a few years, to get re-established, and had an even better orientation than the first time around! There were actually other nurses who originally worked in LTC and rehab who switched into L&D and NICU and did just fine! Best of luck to you.

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Thanks Selke for your thoughtful suggestions. I am not aware of any preceptorship program at the only hospital in my area but I will inquire.

Peace.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Here is another way to approach the situation -- one that might work well for you.

Instead of looking to start all over again in a different field, why not look to build upon your previous experience and use all the expertise you have developed during your many years in LTC?

Rather than view yourself as someone with no experience in acute care and seek a job as a beginner-level acute care nurse .... view yourself as an expert in LTC and seek a job that utilizes that expertise.

There is a great need for people with that type of expertise in the field of elder care, elder case management, etc. Explore the opportunities within your community for someone to work with the elderly (or with the physically disabled) and to help them find and obtain the services they need. Community agencies, visiting nurses, home hospice services. eldercare services, adult day care services, etc. might be possible employers. You might have to take a course or something to become certified in something -- but you should be able to do that while you continue to work your existing job. You might find you don't need any special certification to find a job in that field in your area.

At least talk with those folks in your area and find out what the possible career paths are. You might be pleasantly surprised to find that your experience can be used as a stepping stone to something in a related field that will offer better hours and working conditions -- and be easier on your 53 year old body -- than a beginner-level adult med/surg staff nurse position.

Good luck

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Hi,

I have a similar story. I had only done office nursing for 7 years since I passed boards. I was able to get in to a hospital (My first choice of hospitals). I negotiated a "New Grad" type, longer orientation and have been working on a busy post op floor for the past 5 years now. Give it a try. What do you have to lose? Good luck with your adventure.

Sue

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Thanks Soozeeqrn for your reply.

What do I have to loose? I guess objectively nothing.

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