Deborahreeves

Dear Knute, you are not normal.

Oh, and I'm sure someone videotaping an IV start helps us as nurses do a better job! I'm sure we would just not try unless we were put under survellience. Good grief...

Just have to say about some of the "tips" for older nurses like "stay fit and healthy" Really? Some age related illnesses are beyond our control. Arthritis? One of the worst things for a nurse to have. Back issues from all the years of lifting and bending even if you use proper body mechanics? It is a fact of life that as we age we don't have the energy a younger person, who is not lazy, has. We don't bounce back from 12 hr shifts and night shifts. Give us a break. How about allowing older nurses to have less taxing postions if possible instead of saying things like "sit up straight", don't complain, don't even mention your reading glasses (not good to try to start and IV without them) You would think as nurses we would understand the aging process. And believe me I know about ageism. My last job was phased out and do you think a hospital is going to hire a 63 yr old as opposed to a younger nurse? Uh, no...

I am a 63 year old RN and I can tell you, yes, you are too old to begin a nursing career. Nursing is hard, physically and mentally. If you can't make it through the nursing program you will not stand up under the 12 hr. shifts and holidays in addition to the ungodly hours themselves and sometime with no break. Not trying to be mean. Just realistic.

Reading these posts just reinforces my opinion of a lot of nurses. High and mighty and judgemental.I am 63 and even though I am pretty energetic, I do NOT feel like the freaking new 40! This is a plot to make people work until the day they die and feel inferior if they feel their age. Give me a break. I'm tired!

Dear Oedgar, I can totally relate to your situation. I also worked in a dysfunctional physician's office (allergy and asthma, and also pediatrics.) It's amazing how the atmosphere in a doctor's office can be so oppresive, the physician controlling the climate. I am a "retired" RN now working part time for a nursing agency taking care of children in the home and at school. I feel more like a babysitter than a nurse and am bothered by how many children have nurses that don't really need one. I wish you good luck and if you come up with any good ideas, please share, as I will! Hang in there, your fellow "burned out" nurse, Deborah

Miss Piggy, what is an LPC? thanks, DeborahRN

It sounds like she doesn't have a life outside work to me...

I worked my way through nursing school working as a nursing assistant and still have my nursing assistant's certificate along with my high school diploma, nursing degree and nursing license. I never suffered from that "I am an RN, I'm superior attitude" some nurses have. This is the way to go

I agree. I have definitely experienced the attitude of new grads. I put it as they think they are "all that" just because they finished nursing school. They think they are a hot commodity. New nurses should have a long orientation and preceptor phase before being on their own. I don't have a problem with them wanting to go into a specialty. I went into nursing specifically to do pediatrics. I would have quit if I had had to endure basic med-surg. Still a pediatric nurse after 35 years