Chronicallychanging

Hi, I found this when I was a student nurse at 54. I graduated nursing school in 2018 passed my NCLEX in July in 75 questions. Didn't feel as if I would fit in to the hospital setting, worked for a LTC for my first year out never fit in, no orientation, just expected to figure it out I guess. Prayed for a better job , got hired as a disabilities and special needs nurse. Again no orientation, trying to figure everything out alone, feel like an outsider. Is it me? Is it cliques that don't want invaders ? I just don't get it ...... why can't everyone work as a team? Enjoy new personalities and enjoy teaching others what the end goal is a diverse and happy organization that everyone wants to be a part of. Because when it comes down to it , it not about the authority, control or position you have but about the people that you serve. I'm rambling I know, but both of these jobs I really enjoyed the people I cared for. I just wish I could find a position that I could feel a comraderie with my coworkers nurses or not. Maybe its me........

Thank you so much for this list Karen!

Well, ladies and gents, I'm pretty much hired at a LTC. I have my orientation on ------- with HR. I went there without dyeing my hair, they didn't bat a eye at my DOB. I imagine that they are in need of nurses (any nurse). I was interviewed by a much younger nurse however I felt comfortable with her. She informed me that I would learn alot if I came to work there. She stated that hospital nurses have everything handed to them (labs, continuous vital signs,computer data etc ) and they don't develop critical thinking skills or their own sixth sense. I was told that I would be swapping back and forth between unstable long term and rehabilitation units. I have a interview at the hospital the day after the orientation at the LTC. Recently I happened to be in this hospitals ER and the nurse there told me that I shouldn't go to a LTC because my skills would be suppressed and I'm setting myself up for a career as a LTC nurse. I am unsure as what to do....should I go to the interview and see if they call me with a job and then make a decision? I just hate to waste their time at the hospital, I am sure they are super busy. Is this the norm to always work on a med-surg floor upon graduating?

Thank you for these amazing threads! It seems that almost 10 years later things have'nt changed. This is so sad, especially for an industry that is supposed to be caring, accepting and nurturing to all facets of humanity.

Eight years later and this still is a hot topic and one that continues to place doubt of their future in the older nursing graduate. In an industry that stands for the caring of all persons rich,poor,all cultures, ethnicity, genders, and the very youngest to the oldest of old why is ageism the one that prevails? Stumped...

Hello fellow nurses, I have recently graduated nursing school and passed the NCLEX 7/2018. I have started my job search and have a few upcoming interviews. I am 56 years old with little previous work experience since I was surprised at 40 with twins. Additionally I had a 5 year old as well at that time so I was a stay at home mom for a period of about 12 years. I did have some experience as a CNA for about 2 years and also did some volunteer work. Though this experience was early in my journey because my husband had liver cancer and had to have a transplant. Due to these events I had to stop working in order to focus on school and his health and helping him through this. Although we are not to discriminate against age , I have no doubt that ageism is alive and well. I was hoping someone might give me some advice on how I can increase my odds of getting a position over my younger peers. What are the opinions on trying to look younger? Should I dye my hair? (Although I hate The thought of it)? Does anyone know of networking, communication, tutorials & skills that I might benefit from? Any help or comments would be wonderful!

Hello KBabiesRN, I am in the same boat, however my situation is that I am 56 and have been a stay at home mom for the most part since the birth of my twins when I was 40! Unexpected to say the least and I had a 5 year old at the time as well. I did have a little Cna experience and brief volunteer at a local clinic but thats about it. I have 3 interviews next week and am getting nervous. I really need a job and I am wondering how I can stand out from the rest? I did put all my clinical rotations down but this experience was obtained within a 4 year time span. Good luck!

Hello all, I just wanted to share my story with those that are in the same boat as I was. Hopefully this will encourage you all to not give up and realize that YOU can make anything happen. My story begins in 2013, where my son was hospitalized for a abscess on his liver ( I was blessed with unplanned twins at age 40). An idiopathic occurrence that eventually resolved however while I was there at the hospital I realized that I wanted to get back into the medical field and become a nurse. I was a nursing assistant sometime ago in the 1980's to early 90's at a hospital on a orthopedic/surgical floor and also was a accomplished phlebotomist. I was now 52. I started the ball rolling immediately enrolling in the local community college. For the first 2 years I proceeded to knock out all of my pre req's and obtained my certification as a CNA (worked full time as a CNA)and completed every course except for my nursing classes and finally was able to apply to the nursing program. Although, I was an A-B student prior once i was a nursing student the first 2 semesters I barely made it through. By the end of the second semester onward I had changed my study habits and was getting by with a high B in some classes but, it was still tough. Also the very 1st semester my husband was diagnosed with liver cancer and we were told that he would need a transplant(which he graciously received 5/17). During nursing school I studied many, many hours and still never feeling like I had studied enough or knew the material. I would memorize the content prior to the exam and then do a "brain dump" afterwards. I never had study buddies, my social life was"0". Shed many many tears wondering why I put myself through this agony and why was this so hard for me? Feeling like my family was counting on me to get through this so we would be better off financially. I was so over all the stress of clinical, papers,labs,lectures,READING, exams,and practice questions. And then I graduated from a ADN program May 2018. I took one week off and started to study for the NCLEX, I had set my test date for 7/11. I did the live Hurst review and then received the 14 day period of lecture review and the 3 simulated exams. My highest score was a 67%. I obtained U world and did 75 questions daily,6 days a week. Read all the rationales with my scores ranging from a miserable 40% to 68%. I also reviewed Saunders and between Saunders and Hurst did 50 -75 questions daily also. With Saunders I used tutor mode with U world I always used test mode. I had an anxiety attack 2 weeks before the test. My scores were so poor how on earth was I ever going to pass? I was so sick of studying I just didn't want to do this any more. i went to the internet in search of ways to pass the NCLEX and came across this postBy nwatson83 In The SECRET to passing the NCLEX . This post literally gave me the secret of passing the test. I erased the doubt from my mind, I wrote down my name with licensed registered nurse on post it notes and placed them throughout my home. On my daily walks I would say my name out loud with licensed registered nurse with the date and time of my exam included. When I passed a mirror I would say "Hello, licensed registered nurse!" I lived and breathed positive thoughts regarding the NCLEX exam. The night before I was to test I had a dream that I was looking at a computer screen and the results said passed. I went to the exam at 8am . During my exam I remembering not feeling 100% sure of any of the questions, I felt like all the questions were very hard. I received my 1st break, went to the ladies room, and tried to regain my composure. I returned to my exam and my computer shut off at 75 questions! I was in a panic! Surely I failed! I was prepared for the computer to give me between 140 to the 265 questions, not shut off at 75 questions! I cried all the way home. Once I was home, I called my mom, another wise positive thinker and after talking with her I felt much better. I decided to not even think about it all for a week before looking at the status of my exam. Seven days later, I did rapid results and I had passed! I cried and laughed, thanked everyone and everything for giving me the opportunity and the situation and the smarts to pass this exam. Believe in yourself, you are a good smart deserving person and you will be a LICENSED REGISTERED NURSE!

Hello, I am so glad I ran across this post! I am 3 weeks from taking the exam and had my 1st anxiety attack over it today:( Once I saw and read your post I felt so much better. I do believe in the power of positive thinking, it has helped me get through some tough times. Sometimes all of this can be truly overwhelming and we tend to get caught up in feeling inadequate. Thanks for the reminder of the power of positivism! I just wrote my name and test date 5x on post its!

Thankyou so much this was very helpful!

Hi guys and gals, I am 4 weeks from my test date and have been studying daily however I feel very disorganized with it all. I feel like I am not covering enough material. Does anyone have a detailed study plan? I have Uworld, Hurst, Kaplan and Saunders and have just been doing questions from all.

Thanks for the reply! I am 4 weeks from my test date and have been studying every day, but I still feel like I am unorganized with it all. Did you have a study plan?

I just graduated nursing school. I'm feeling you....did not get super good grades in NS but I passed. Definitely on my own.....no study buddies, and when I made the attempt I felt shunned from the circle. Now I am thinking of placing a post on our classes group page to see if anyone would like to study for NCLEX-RN with me. I feel it might help me pass. I think it helps to talk these things out with someone that is in the same situation as you. Probably won't get a reply.

Thanks for the feedback! Looks like we are leading the same life. My last med surg class I got a 83 overall. Just received my ATT, kinda freakin! How did you study for the NCLEX?

Hi Guys and Gals, I just graduated this May with my RN from a ADN program. Whew it was tough, but I made it! I was not a "A" student. Most times I was a high "C" or middle "B". My question is this....how many other graduates have passed the NCLEX with similar student scores? I am awaiting my ATT, have been studying, trying to be positive but still worried! Thanks ya all!