A.B.123

Thank you for the great advice. I am also a 4th semester student about to graduate in May. It feels good to know that there are other nursing students who feel the same way as I do. The thing I get worried about is the unknown. Not knowing who my nurse will be, how many patients I will have, what their diagnoses will be, what to do if one of them codes while Im in the room,ect. Im like you in the way that I learn by doing (a kinetic learner). I jump at the opportunity to do IV starts, Foleys, wound dressing change, ect. I use to hate not knowing the answer to any questions the nurse or instructor would ask me, but now, I learn from it. Getting my stuff together the night before helps me calm down. I also learned my lesson the hard way to make sure I eat a full breakfast (protein) before my 12 hour clinical shift. Both of your posts have inspired me in that we are all in the same boat, take each day as a learning day and never take things personally. At the end of every clinical day Ive had so far, I always leave feeling very fulfilled and inspired, so I know Im going into the right field. Every nurse has gone through what we are going through right now- Im going to keep that in mind as well :)

As nursing students, we all get nervous for our first clinical day. I have had many clinical, and it never fails, I always get nervous/excited/stressed before I start my shift. How do you deal with your stress on your clinical day? Have you ever had a clinical day that made you question wether Nursing is the right field for you?

Brit, I think that is an awesome idea. I know a lot of older nurses and many of them still practice nursing because they LOVE it so much. They live for it. Having an alternative job for them will still provide them with that needed security and love for nursing. Thanks so much for your input.

This was an assignment for one of my nursing classes. The topic was hypothetical. I wanted to choose a subject that was unique to all the other ones my classmates chose. Thank you for all your input and opinions. I got way more feedback than I thought I would, I really appreciate it. Hypothetically if the nurse (no matter what the age) is performing up to standards than there is no issue. I was aiming more for nurses who struggle with the AGING aspect effecting their job and their co workers. Maybe there will never be a mandatory retirement age for nurses, but what then, should happen? I have MUCH respect for any nurse, young or old- so this isn't about a war between older vs younger nurses. But where do we draw the line between putting patients and co workers at risk and allowing people to live out their lives and work for as long as they choose?

There is an issue going on at health care facilities about nurses who are still working as nurses well into their 60's and 70's. Assuming everyone ages differently, consider the effects of aging (such as decrease in vision, hearing, unsteady gait, ect.) do you think they put their patients and themselves at risk for injury? If so do you think there should be a mandatory retirement age for nurses?