Older Nursing Students

notthereyet0 · Nov 7, 2008

There sure are a lot of us older students. I will be 47 when I get my degree. I noticed some posters say that they thought their older age made it harder to get an entry level job in the health field. Has anyone else noticed this? I have a teaching degree but have applied for patient tech part time jobs. It is not essential, thank God, but it becomes discouraging when you don't get any callbacks. Have to admit, I am not hounding them either. Anyone else notice that hirers tend to think you're overqualified?

Pauligirl · Nov 8, 2008

There sure are a lot of us older students. I will be 47 when I get my degree. I noticed some posters say that they thought their older age made it harder to get an entry level job in the health field. Has anyone else noticed this? I have a teaching degree but have applied for patient tech part time jobs. It is not essential, thank God, but it becomes discouraging when you don't get any callbacks. Have to admit, I am not hounding them either. Anyone else notice that hirers tend to think you're overqualified?

I was a few classes away from my first bachelor's degree when I was hired as a patient care tech. And that was two years ago!:)

From my experience hiring manager's don't seem to think I'm overqualified (with a B.A. degree). The manager that hired me seemed excited about bringing me on board since I'm planning a career in nursing. And I did have prior nurse aide experience from many, many years ago.

I can't imagine anyone with a college degree doing this kind of work for the fun of it. Most of my co-workers in my job category are studying for nursing or other allied health careers. And a few of them are like me and already have BA/BS degrees. One of them is studying for her master's degree. :bugeyes:

I recently applied at two different hospitals for patient tech and clerk positions. I got a call back for the tech and a call back for the clerk position. Amazingly the interview scheduler for the clerk position tried to get me to consider a patient care tech position! And my prior work experience (before tech) and college degree would be more useful in a clerk position. :rolleyes:

Well I decided to just stay with my current employer. It would seem that I've pidgeon holed myself into the tech/aide career category, UGH!

Anyway, I'd have to say that hiring manager's wouldn't think that you're overqualified. Especially if you've indicated that you're planning a career change to nursing.

If you're not getting any call backs it could be due to a few things. If you don't have prior experience or certification that could be an issue. But from what I've seen if you know someone (hiring manager or someone that know's him/her) you can get a job w/o any experience.:angryfire I've also noticed that some job positions are just merely advertised and a job candidate has already been "chosen". At my facility when a new tech is hired on our unit the first thing we think is who does he/she know or who are they related to.:icon_roll Without prior experience that's the only way to get hired. Or so it would seem. :down:

PEBBLES1 · Nov 9, 2008

I am 40 years old. I work full time. The way I study is by the nclex books. I always do nclex questions based on the content that I am studying in class. If we are doing cardiac, then I do all cardiac nclex questions and I read the nclex books. Also, we get powerpoints, if you work shrink your notes down and cut the excess paper off and study that. I was always reading my notes and on my lunch our I read the books, but I only read the keypoints. But the key that helped me pass was doing nclex questions. Even if you u do 10 to 20 questions a day and make sure you read ALL rationales. Even if you get the question

PEBBLES1 · Nov 9, 2008

I am 40 years old. I work full time. The way I study is by the nclex books. I always do nclex questions based on the content that I am studying in class. If we are doing cardiac, then I do all cardiac nclex questions and I read the nclex books. Also, we get powerpoints, if you work shrink your notes down and cut the excess paper off and study that. I was always reading my notes and on my lunch our I read the books, but I only read the keypoints. But the key that helped me pass was doing nclex questions. Even if you u do 10 to 20 questions a day and make sure you read ALL rationales. Even if you get the question right right, make sure you understand why. Good luck, hope this help u

dst4ever · Nov 9, 2008

Does using the NCLEX to study help? I have never thought about doing that. I am taking my first nursing class (Health Assessment) and it has been a struggle. Trying to switch from gen. ed. thinking to critical thinking has been hard. I am going into finals with a low B and I would like to keep it I am also taking Microbiology. It is tough taking gen. eds. along with nursing courses. After this semester I have only two gen. eds. left. Unfortunately, I have to take them along with NSG courses, as I am scheduled to start clinicals in January. I appreciate any study tips that I can get.

lcamp99 · Nov 10, 2008

Thought I would chime in and say hello. 54, retired teacher trying to get pre-req. courses taken. Chemistry, Biology and Algebra this quarter and the covalent compounds and ion recognition is getting to me so I thought I would check my e-mail and say hello. After teaching primary grades for many years, my brain is in shock with what I have going on. I realize that I have a powerful God that is leading me through this journey and have to stop and take a breath now and then to realzie that it is "do-able". Seems to take me a bit longer to grasp a concept from some of the others in my class.....although they don't ever say much about what they do and don't understand. :-) Love this forum. thanks all for writing.....sure makes me feel better and that I am not the only one going through this challenge. Keep it up!!!!! Lisa:typing

powers2004 · Nov 11, 2008

Hi everyone I am so glad I found this site I will be turning 41 in Dec. and will be starting my pre-req in Jan. I am so scared but excited at the same time , The thing that scares me the more right now is the ACT test ,we have to get a 19 on it before starting nursing school has anyone had to do that and what did you do to study and what did you make:bow:

Mahage, LPN · Nov 12, 2008

Thought I would chime in and say hello. 54, retired teacher trying to get pre-req. courses taken. Chemistry, Biology and Algebra this quarter and the covalent compounds and ion recognition is getting to me so I thought I would check my e-mail and say hello. After teaching primary grades for many years, my brain is in shock with what I have going on. I realize that I have a powerful God that is leading me through this journey and have to stop and take a breath now and then to realzie that it is "do-able". Seems to take me a bit longer to grasp a concept from some of the others in my class.....although they don't ever say much about what they do and don't understand. :-) Love this forum. thanks all for writing.....sure makes me feel better and that I am not the only one going through this challenge. Keep it up!!!!! Lisa:typing

Hi there Lisa! I just wanted to let you know that I became an RN at 55. I have a MSW and have worked as a Social Worker for many years. I literally got bored and wanted to pursue medicine, but I knew I couldn't hold out to do the long residents hours. Besides I didn't want to go through med school, residency and then hit retirement age! I have worked as a nurse for a year now. I don't regret it at all. I still do a bit of Social Work on the side, but don't anticipate ever getting back into it. I planned to go directly to NP school but decided to take some time off. Nursing school was much harder than getting my MSW. The technical concepts were a lot to grasp. It was all so very intense. I graduated from an accelerated 12 month RN program with a nursing GPA of 3.67. :bugeyes: I am now looking at starting NP school either January or next August depending on where I am accepted.

I say go for it, pursue your goals. Age is just a number. I will be honest, there is some "age-ism" out there among the 20 and 30 somethings who are in the position of precepting and mentoring an older NEW nurse. Some of them are just outright blatant about it. Others are just fantastic. I have found also that lots of the ones who are so "ageist" are the ones who really don't like nursing and wonder "why in the H$LL did she do this at her age?" There are also a couple of old gals who have been nurses for many years who seem to enjoy putting a new nurse in a one down position and seem very offended when I don't intimidate so easily. I think they are tired and feel trapped, maybe looking forward to retirement and they too wonder "why in the world.....?"

You know we have all got to be doing something. I don't see having to spend the rest of my work life going into a job that I have to make myself go to. I like the money and the excitement. I love learning new things. I love the little victories. I have been working full time for a year now and had my first experience putting a catheter in an elderly female. I DID IT ! All by my self. Same night I put in a Dobhoff tube in a patient who pulled his out. This was a wild night. I had a great charge nurse who had my back all the way. I also had a tech who gave me the rolling eyes, wouldn't look at me and told me she couldn't help me change our patient because she was in the lounge! A coworker and the charge helped me out on this one. It was the night from hell, but I am really glad I do this job.

Mahage

Mahage, LPN · Nov 12, 2008

("From my experience hiring manager's don't seem to think I'm overqualified (with a B.A. degree). The manager that hired me seemed excited about bringing me on board since I'm planning a career in nursing. And I did have prior nurse aide experience from many, many years ago.

I can't imagine anyone with a college degree doing this kind of work for the fun of it. Most of my co-workers in my job category are studying for nursing or other allied health careers. And a few of them are like me and already have BA/BS degrees.")

Hi there, Most people wonder "WHY" I wanted to do this at my age, but I have had no problem getting a job. I did have to wait a few weeks to get a job as I insisted on going into a unit as a new grad. That wasn't a smart thing to do, but it all worked out. I initially went to work on MICU and found that I was in over my head. I went to the manager and she allowed me to transfer out to the Intemediate Care Unit where I have been since January. I have been working as a nurse since Nov. 5, 2007 but have had to be off with some health problems totalling about 2 months so I have 10 months experience now. I feel pretty good about my skills. I will hopefully start FNP program this Winter or coming Aug.

I love nursing, but I look at some of the gals who are just 4 or 5 years older than me and they seem to have a hard time making it through their shifts. Physically it is a very hard job. I am not in the best of health but am in much better shape than many. I just don't know that I could hold out physically to do this another 10 years if I deteriorate. I am thinking that I would be able to handle the responsibilities of an NP at 67 than those of an Intermediate Care Unit Staff nurse.

Mahage

lcamp99 · Nov 13, 2008

Thank you so for your encouragement. I get myself overwhelmed sometimes by trying to get XYZ and ABC completed, understood and remembered. I believe that maybe the best things on some of my content is memorize and the concepts will fall into place later. The primary thing I am rambling on about is chemistry. I have "zip" background in CHEM and trying to envision what is taking place with charges and bonds is a bit beyond me but I am going to keep plugging on regardless. I have been very encouraged by family and friends concerning my pursuit but feel pretty certain that nursing is just like teaching and every things else. There are some people on a power surge who don't have quite the same perspective....they are tired and as you said....wondering why in the world some of us gals/guys are going into something new at our ages. :-) Well, I am planning on working til I drop and can't think of anything more worthy than nursing. Your goals are what I have in mind. I do have to remind myself not to jump years ahead, that I have to get through CHEM 1 first. I know I can do it....cause I have a wonderful Lord who is guiding me through this and support of many. Again, thanks for your kind and encouraging words. Better run and get back to algebra.....a lot of homework before calling it a night. Lisa

Mahage, LPN · Nov 13, 2008

Your goals are what I have in mind. I do have to remind myself not to jump years ahead, that I have to get through CHEM 1 first. I know I can do it....cause I have a wonderful Lord who is guiding me through this and support of many. Again, thanks for your kind and encouraging words. Better run and get back to algebra.....a lot of homework before calling it a night. Lisa

HEY Lisa,

Re. chemistry

It was my hardest prereq. For the first semester I actually sat through the lecture for which I was registered and another chem class taught by a different instructor. I just asked his permission and he was very gracious. I didn't test with him or anything, but his lecture followed the same syllabus as my registered class and it definately helped to have the repetition. I also took advantage of the free tutoring that was available. I got my prereqs at our community college and they were really good about tutoring. I took the second semester on line and it was a breeze, though the final was not. I had a high A average but then made bad on the final, but averaged out to the B that I needed.

Don't let it get you down about chem. It is generally hard for everybody. We who were out of college/HS forever and had no chem background are definately at a disadvantage. I think you will find that over all you will end up in the high end of your nursing class grade wise.

Mahage

oldiebutgoodie, RN · Nov 13, 2008

Hey, maybe we should start an "over 50" club! I'll be 51 when I start nursing school next May.

I'll join! Graduated with BSN as a 52 year old, now 55 and am a certified wound/ostomy nurse.

I really doubted my choice at first, but now I have found my niche.

Go, oldies!

Oldiebutgoodie