Older Nursing Students

KL2010 · Apr 12, 2009

I am an older returning second career nursing student. One thing that I've noticed and it does get under my skin a little is that many younger students lack the compassion needed for nursing. Perhaps they will acquire this as they go along but sometimes I notice that older students are more likely to have found their "calling" where as some of the younger folks as interested in nursing just for the money. I would be horrified to have a few of my fellow students as my nurse, because they lack compassion and are doing it for the "money". Would you want a nurse on your rotation, if you were ill, being there solely for the money. Giving you an enema or any other care in sensitive ways that were not up to their maturity level?

Now don't get me wrong there are many compassionate younger students that I see are mature enough to show compassion for an elderly ill patient that won't take her meds despite having a severe illness but many are not. Some are downright not suited well for nursing but take up the slots because they are good at the pre-requisites and are aces at testing.

Sometimes the older students have chips on their shoulders so big they are out as well but, majority of the older students with the compassion are very well suited. I am biased against older or younger students out for the money.

story:

A military veteran that was so obnoxious and clearly problematic, uncaring, narcissitic and just plain annoying was being rehabilitated for nursing. He was middle aged but not mature enough to have the sense to shut up during Anthropology and stop heckling the teacher. I thought mentally he was not with clarity ( mildly put) but he was headstrong about being a nurse and we hated him. I thought if this loud obnoxious sob came into my room or a relatives as a nurse I would be terrified for the patient. He was smart but man a s.o.b. with a chip on his shoulder. To me he was no different than the young guy with no compassion in our A & P. But they all wanted the money..

I like nice caring people with maturity no matter what age. :icon_roll

oldfashionedlove · Apr 12, 2009

Hi, I am 41, single with no kids but I have some other issues that could be as much as having kids. I would not work. I am not even sure if I can handle an accelerated program. So much stress!

oldfashionedlove · Apr 12, 2009

Hi, I live in NJ and I am 41. What school are you going too?

Catedi · Apr 12, 2009

kl2010, stated...

i am an older returning second career nursing student. one thing that i've noticed and it does get under my skin a little is that many younger students lack the compassion needed for nursing. perhaps they will acquire this as they go along but sometimes i notice that older students are more likely to have found their "calling" where as some of the younger folks as interested in nursing just for the money. i would be horrified to have a few of my fellow students as my nurse, because they lack compassion and are doing it for the "money". would you want a nurse on your rotation, if you were ill, being there solely for the money. giving you an enema
or any other care in sensitive ways that were not up to their maturity level?

hmmm, i've noticed that too. although, i can't care what their motive is for going into nursing. i've got my own stuff i need to focus on. i look at the first two semesters as the "weeding of the weasels", semesters. i don't have much faith that the truly uncaring students will be here, come third semester. if a few do get through the cracks, there are stop gaps to poor performance that isn't actually caused by poor employment conditions.

i can't say my reasons for attending nursing school are entirely altruistic. lets face it, i'm 40-something with no retirement savings, so i'm playing catch-up. i highly doubt, kl2010, you'd have chosen this field if the paycheck was $30k, instead of $60k per year. i consider myself very compassionate, but i surely wouldn't be dealing with the responsibilities of an rn degree for anything less. so, realistically, you could say i'm in it for the money.

now don't get me wrong there are many compassionate younger students that i see are mature enough to show compassion for an elderly ill patient
that won't take her meds despite having a severe illness but many are not. some are downright not suited well for nursing but take up the slots because they are good at the pre-requisites and are aces at testing.
sometimes the older students have chips on their shoulders so big they are out as well but, majority of the older students with the compassion are very well suited. i am biased against older or younger students out for the money.

surly, you're not suggesting there be some sort of personality 'weeding' process prior to actually getting into the nursing program, are you? yes, that waiting list is grueling, and at my age, i can honestly say, i probably have more at stake for having to wait than the traditional student, but that's really my fault for not making the decision to begin the process sooner. everyone has the right to be 'clueless' as to whether the career they've decided to pursue is right for them, until they're actually experiencing what it entails. it would be fascist to remove that right. the real problem lies with the fact that nurses are in a shortage, making the wage so much more attractive. again, one of the very reasons i'm here, in line. also, the reason the wait for a slot was tolerable.

story:
a military veteran that was so obnoxious and clearly problematic, uncaring, narcissitic and just plain annoying was being rehabilitated for nursing. he was middle aged but not mature enough to have the sense to shut up during anthropology and stop heckling the teacher. i thought mentally he was not with clarity ( mildly put) but he was headstrong about being a nurse and we hated him. i thought if this loud obnoxious sob came into my room or a relatives as a nurse i would be terrified for the patient. he was smart but man a s.o.b. with a chip on his shoulder. to me he was no different than the young guy with no compassion in our a & p. but they all wanted the money..
i like nice caring people with maturity no matter what age.

most likely, if he's that obnoxious, it's doubtful he'd be able to contain it beyond the interview process, much less, the 90 day trial period. so, may i suggest you quit focusing on 'the weasels', as it's a negative force sucking precious energy from your journey.

Neats, BSN · Apr 12, 2009

You all make me smile as I read the continuing Older Nurses Threads. I recently graduated from an Accelerated BSN program and am 45 years plus.

I was the oldest person in most classes and did not have any issues with any of the students. I think it is how you handle yourself. There is diversity out there in our nursing profession, this is a plus to me. I have worked along side quite nurses, nurses who thought I should not be here and everything in between. I started out thinking nurses should be nuturing, caring and give of themselves although these are all great attritubutes all I want is a nurse who is clinically compentant. I really do not care if the nurse provides the warm fuzzies to a patient or not... what is more important is does this nurse provide quality, established and timely nurse services. After the nurses leave the room my family will be there to give me the warm fuzzies if I am a patient.

It is hard to get into nursing schools, you work hard for your nursing license and I would not want to lose mine. I can be bossy, I can be nice, I can take charge of a situation to gain control back and I can listen to what my patients communicate and allow them the patient rights they have. I also remind my patients that I am not there to wait on them hand and foot and if they wanted a servant they need to look else where. I provide nursing services with my scope of practice for the state in which I reside.

I have so much student debt I am not in nursing to make money I can work as a Health Care Administrator and make triple what I am making now. What I do like is the ability to make a difference in someones life. To me it does not matter why you got into nursing for after you become a nurse you will make a difference in someones life and if your smart enough to understand this concept, the money is just a nice way to make a living.

KL2010 · Apr 14, 2009

The one thing I will say is that sometimes the "weasels" bring a little humor into our class but it's usually dragged out for too long.

Since I am a career change from an Interior Design profession at 41, in school its been very interesting. I was a pre-nursing student 11 years ago but switched to go to law school but kept having babies in between. So here I am with old A & P courses and redoing them. In my neck of the woods program competition is fierce. Nln scores are low end 130- 152. GPA is about a 3.8 into program , it's tough but worth it. 200 applicants for 40 spaces. Unfortunately, they do no interviews and its all based on numbers. Everyone just prays that their group applying is reasonable.

In case anyone wonders, as much as I love design work it was not satisfying a part of me that helping on a more direct contact way would.

I am taking the nln in two weeks and praying that I am in the range despite my being away from school for a while. Good news is my high school daughter is helping me with any math I've forgotten. Glad I paid for that uppity prep school, she's a great tutor.

:icon_roll

momerz · Jul 9, 2009

All you guys who have posted have helped me tremendously!! I am 52 and have been accepted into NS for fall. This acceptance is my 5th into NS - I have declined the others soon after receiving the acceptance letter. (waiting list students probably love me)This acceptance is the longest I have gone without backing out. I am hopeful!! This is my second degree and my first acceptance was at 48. I thought then that I was too old to start nursing. Here I am at 52 and still at it. Something keeps bringing me back each time, but the age issue still surfaces. It's not that I think I am incapable of physically doing the work (I retired as a tennis instructor), I believe it's the preception of my age and ability, and someone getting "stuck" being pared with the old person as a lab partner. My dream is to work ICU and ultimately home Hospice care. Prior to finding this thread I was on the thread for my particular school. It seemed like everyone was commenting on their young children, babysitting needs, and the high school they went to - after reading some of those postings, I REALLY felt old!! I didn't dare post about my 3 grown children or 3 grandsons!! Thanks for letting me express my fears. You guys are amazing for sticking with nursing and good luck to all of you - and those of you still in school. Mahage, you are an true inspiration continuing on with FNP!!

lovinsickfolks · Jul 9, 2009

I'm 54 and just graduated from nursing school.

Upside, I know many of the meds & procedures because I've had them. Never blinked an eye in OR rotation, just glad I wasn't the one on the table this time. Also, older students usually do better in psyche nursing classes just because we have a better understanding of human behavior R/T length of exposure!

Downside, neurons are menopausal. I recorded lectures, read every chapter and used flashcards. The other big challenge was my energy level on clinical days. Yea, after staying up half the night writing my Care Plan. I spent my free time learning how to do CP's faster because I needed sleep, not a Redbull before report at 0630.

My advice, ask other students for help/advice. You will level yourself to your classmates and not be viewed as their mother or teacher. My dearest friends are nurses the age of my grown children. Its about common interest and age doesn't change that in a person.

Nursing school was the hardest yet best thing I ever did for myself. Go for it!!!

momerz · Jul 9, 2009

Thanks lovinsickfolks! Your sentence about commom interest as opposed to age is so true. Well said and thanks again for the encouragement! Congrats to you too!!

Mahage, LPN · Jul 9, 2009

All you guys who have posted have helped me tremendously!! I am 52 and have been accepted into NS for fall. This acceptance is my 5th into NS - I have declined the others soon after receiving the acceptance letter. (waiting list students probably love me)This acceptance is the longest I have gone without backing out. I am hopeful!! This is my second degree and my first acceptance was at 48. I thought then that I was too old to start nursing. Here I am at 52 and still at it. Something keeps bringing me back each time, but the age issue still surfaces. It's not that I think I am incapable of physically doing the work (I retired as a tennis instructor), I believe it's the preception of my age and ability, and someone getting "stuck" being pared with the old person as a lab partner. My dream is to work ICU and ultimately home Hospice care. Prior to finding this thread I was on the thread for my particular school. It seemed like everyone was commenting on their young children, babysitting needs, and the high school they went to - after reading some of those postings, I REALLY felt old!! I didn't dare post about my 3 grown children or 3 grandsons!! Thanks for letting me express my fears. You guys are amazing for sticking with nursing and good luck to all of you - and those of you still in school. Mahage, you are an true inspiration continuing on with FNP!!

Hey, don't worried about being the old lab partner! If it was like it was for me, they all love being the one paired with you because you will be the one who is always prepared and much of the lab equipment is a lot like kitchen equipment and you will be the one who has a clue how to set it up and use it. So take it from one who has been there, no problem! :coollook: I reached a time where I realized that if I did not go on to school I would not go, so I went. I think that since you are in good physical condition that you will have no problems. The physical has been the biggest challenge for me and I am in much better shape than even a lot of my young co workers. Those 12-13 hour shifts back to back can get pretty tiring. I am trying right now to take a bit of wt. off. I was working out with wts at the gym regular and developed myself some problems with carpal tunnel so that has set me back some.

Well I am backing down about FNP for right now. I had some surgery recently and am feeling a bit overwhelmed. I am thinking that I might just take this fall off and review whether or not to go back after Christmas. If I don;t go back after Christmas, my last ditch chance will be to transfer to the Vandy program the following fall or return to my current school. If I go to Vandy it would only take one year to grad from that point. So I still have a couple of chances left, but i really want this degree before I am 60. If not then I will look at case management or travel nursing when my S.O. retires. Anyhow thanks for your kind words!

Mahage

momerz · Jul 9, 2009

Be careful with the carpal tunnel. Any problems with the wrist seem like a BIG headache. I partially tore a right wrist ligament playing tennis and it has never been the same. Surgery is out bc there's only 25% success rate in repairing it. It's another ache that we grow to love and learn to live with as we get older. Good luck with the FNP. You seem like the kind of person that if it's doable, you'll get it done. Take care of yourself first, the rest will follow. Vandy is a great school. My son went there for 3 yrs before leaving to play professional sports...mom and dad are still hoping he returns for his last year!!

dancinglamb · Jul 10, 2009

I'm 39 with two kids (6 and 4yo) and will be starting NS in September (orientation is next week). As if that's not enough, I'm having knee surgery (lateral patella release, tibial microfracture and possible patellofemoral cartilage transplant) the day after orientation that will require 6w partial weight bearing and immobilization. I'm worried about how this will impact my ability to do labs/clinicals once school starts -- not to mention dragging around the gianormous books.

I had surgery on my *other* knee about 20 years ago, but they tell me that it's 'improved dramatically' and I can't compare experiences. Heh. Well, I guess I'm about to find out!

I'm planning on picking up the books for the first semester while I'm on campus next week so I can at least get a head start while I'm home with the knee on ice. I also already have the Saunders NCLEX review. I read here in one of the forums that it's a good place to just poke around and read.