Older nurses

Purple_roses said:

I don't know the answer to this question, but I DO know that you just opened a can of giant mutant worms the moment you defined "old" as over 35.

I was thinking this too.

NurseSpeedy said:

Are you sure they are really that age? I'm not not meaning anything bad when I ask it's just that a lot of people do not look their age. In order to keep up with the pace of a busy floor, one must take care of themselves or they won't last.

I've been a nurse for 16 years. Now, anyone can do the math and realize that I have to at least be a minimum age. A common question patients will ask me is "How long have you been a nurse?". After I respond the most common question to follow is, "What? HOW OLD ARE YOU?". When I tell them and the math does in fact add up they state that I don't look a day over 25...When I first began my nursing career (and for the next five or so years after) the question wasn't how long I had been a nurse but rather the statement, "You don't look old enough to be a nurse".

I'm just saying, things aren't always what they appear. Oh, and PLEASE don't think of 35 as old! Looking at the way things are going I'll be dragging my walker to work when I'm 70+, totally pimping out my scrubs with a yellow fall risk bracelet and awesome yellow socks. Just assign me to strictly video monitored rooms and I am all set to go! (I will refuse the chair alarm to let the younger nurses know to check on me because I got up from my sear after charting).

Same. In my region it is also quite common to be asked about my kids and husband. People are usually surprised to know I have two teenagers about to finish high school next year or that I've been married going on 22 years.

While I married very early, kids came several years later at an "appropriate" age.

To be honest, I don't feel "old" and forget I'm in my 4th decade unless I see it in print.

I remember when I thought 35 was old too.

Bahawawawawawa!!!

And I think your experience is isolated.

It seems to me that many come here (this site) waiting lists/difficult job markets/tough to get hired at hospitals and you name it. So while you may only see the under 35 set, I assure you the "bigger" clinical picture in nursing much "grayer". Lol. And that benefits everyone.

Heck, I didn't know I didn't know stuff till I had been in clinical practice for a bit. Thankfully, I had lots of folks that were over 35 that keep my patients from paying my tuition.

YMMV

The bureau of labor statistics recently put the median age of a RN (clinical) at 44 tho I cannot post the link. While the 25-34 edges the 35-44 age group by 766k vs. 711k nationally, the 55-64 year olds are still using that experience to keep patients alive — at least 621,000 of them are!! And God Bless the 65+ Club that keeps us all in line — a solid 150,000 of them are grabbing a stethoscope and heading in to work!!!

Perception has always been based on where you stand when you look at something.

Ummm talk to HR and administration, those "older" nurses are often the ones let go in a "job restructuring" aka layoff. Kick out the old expensive nurses and bring in the newbies.

I work on a medical/surgical telemetry floor and we have many "older nurses". We have a few about to retire on day shift and a few on the night shift. For the most part, 3-11 has many young new nurses, which is my shift. I think when you look at other specialties you will see many older nurses. Med/surg can be hectic and draining, most nurses don't want to stay in that type of environment forever!

MassNurse24 said:

I work on a medical/surgical telemetry floor and we have many "older nurses". We have a few about to retire on day shift and a few on the night shift. For the most part, 3-11 has many young new nurses, which is my shift. I think when you look at other specialties you will see many older nurses. Med/surg can be hectic and draining, most nurses don't want to stay in that type of environment forever!

There are actually more nurses in their 30s and 40s with years of experience on my tele floor as well...which I am forever grateful for as a new grad.

As I creep up in age, people look younger and younger!

I've read that the average age of bedside nurses these days is forty-something. I'm in my sixties. I'm not sure where the OP is working that all the older nurses are invisible -- perhaps they're all at their patients' bedside and not easily visible?

Hospitals with high retention rates and low turnover rates may have an older work force.

I'm sure once you have the experience and choice clinic nursing is SUPER appealing. There may be a pay cut and not opportunity for overtime but many find overtime not worth the money. If you could work 4 10s or 5 8s in a week why not? Not have to lift, not get slammed with the first admission plus 2 of your 5 are still in procedure, not have to do all of your own work plus the CNA because the CNA called out, chart standing up like a madman in the corner so you won't be interrupted, redo the dressing again because the MD came by and cut it open (AGAIN), central line dressing change in the iso room, do all your glucometers, track down the bag that went to security...