"Mature" graduates finding employment

regularRN · Jan 10, 2011

Most of the people in my LPN class were younger, but when I took Pharmacology we were with RN students and this discussion came up. At my clinicals I asked a nurse about the topic and she stated paraphrasing: "Many hospitals do not want to hire older nurses (50's and up) because they may get 10-15 years out of them at the most. While nurses in there 20's have a longer "shelf life" if you will. Also it depends on what the duties are...if you need to pick up a fallen patient every now and then, help in transfers, or patients being combative (psych), than they want younger nurses who are fit and in good shape with alot of stamina--im not saying that "mature" grads are not fit, but I mean come on there are physical difference between someone who is 20 and someone who is 50. If this is a second career than you are at the same level as a 22 year old grad unless your first career was somehow medically based." I think all future nurses regardless of age should be given equal opurtunity choices....however at my pinning ceremony my mom stated: "why is everyone so old?" I said alot of them, changed thier careers and got into nursing...she replied: "well that's not fair...shouldnt the younger generation who just graduated high school and want to go to college so they can have thier FIRST career be given first choice" I said : "mom it doesnt really work that way thats not a factor into getting into nursing school" she said: "well I think those who had a career for 10,15, 20 years and now they are competting with the younger generation is not fair, the young people who are just starting out should be given first accomadations" I never thought of it that way....and I wouldnt have put it in those words, but my mom does have a point...and it does makes sense, she is wiser than me and that for sure comes with age. :-)

Ha! Ha! I just read this post - very bad spelling (even with a spell checker)!

Anyway, I am almost 50 and whilst I was young when I graduated as an RN (21), I would like to defend all older nurses because I am just as fit, or even fitter than a lot of newly graduated younger nurses, as are many of my peers (in fact some of the young new grads are remarkably out of shape considering...).

I would also like to question your mother's wisdom.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 10, 2011

Age discrimination does happen, but not out in the open. My former nurse manager made a statement to me nearly three years ago. Keep in mind that she was in her forties when she spoke these words.

I asked, "Why don't you guys like to hire older nurses?"

She responded, "Older nurses can be argumentative, set in their ways, and unreceptive to feedback. We love younger nurses because they're more receptive, open to change, and follow directives better."

This particular workplace did hire older nurses, but they were usually paid a dollar less per hour than their younger counterparts with less experience. The rationale for the lower pay was, "They'll accept the pay because they have more difficulty finding work."

netglow, ASN, RN · Jan 10, 2011

An observation I've made with people I am aquainted with, is that some women who have been stay at home moms for many years and have chosen NOT to pursue a career once the kids are in school, or even once they are away at college, go through a period where they feel pressure from those who have gone on with their lives. Sometimes there is a lot of animosity when they see others having pushed through and found employment again, or those who have gained a second degree.

GM2RN · Jan 10, 2011

Age discrimination does happen, but not out in the open. My former nurse manager made a statement to me nearly three years ago. Keep in mind that she was in her forties when she spoke these words.
I asked, "Why don't you guys like to hire older nurses?"
She responded, "Older nurses can be argumentative, set in their ways, and unreceptive to feedback. We love younger nurses because they're more receptive, open to change, and follow directives better."
This particular workplace did hire older nurses, but they were usually paid a dollar less per hour than their younger counterparts with less experience. The rationale for the lower pay was, "They'll accept the pay because they have more difficulty finding work."

I wonder what planet she lives on!

Motivated grandma · Jan 10, 2011

Age discrimination does happen, but not out in the open. My former nurse manager made a statement to me nearly three years ago. Keep in mind that she was in her forties when she spoke these words.
I asked, "Why don't you guys like to hire older nurses?"
She responded, "Older nurses can be argumentative, set in their ways, and unreceptive to feedback. We love younger nurses because they're more receptive, open to change, and follow directives better."
This particular workplace did hire older nurses, but they were usually paid a dollar less per hour than their younger counterparts with less experience. The rationale for the lower pay was, "They'll accept the pay because they have more difficulty finding work."

If that's the case, a "new" older nurse should be the best of both worlds. They'll work for cheaper having no experience just like the new younger nurse, have no "set ways" in nursing, and come with a plethora of life experience and maturity. :cheers:

RNStudent/Mom · Jan 10, 2011

I have to agree with Bill. It is very difficult to go back to school. When I was younger, I didn't have the responsibility of a husband and children to go along with the work load of nursing school. Now, I have all of that. I am glad that I was able to stay home with my children before they started school, but I will say that I am sacraficing for that now. Completely worth it.

Orange Tree · Jan 10, 2011

Age discrimination does happen, but not out in the open. My former nurse manager made a statement to me nearly three years ago. Keep in mind that she was in her forties when she spoke these words.
I asked, "Why don't you guys like to hire older nurses?"
She responded, "Older nurses can be argumentative, set in their ways, and unreceptive to feedback. We love younger nurses because they're more receptive, open to change, and follow directives better."
This particular workplace did hire older nurses, but they were usually paid a dollar less per hour than their younger counterparts with less experience. The rationale for the lower pay was, "They'll accept the pay because they have more difficulty finding work."

No one has ever said this to me, but I "see" it all around me. Maturity can be positive if you focus on how your past experiences have prepared you to adapt and grow even more. It can be negative when you give the impression that you've got it all figured out and expect others to adapt to your ways.

Scarlette Wings · Jan 10, 2011

personally if reviewing employees for hire i do look favorably on the more mature candidate. the mature employee to me imho is less likely to want to job hop and is more likely to work through issues. the more mature employees are less likely to be starting a new family or heavily dating so would need less time off for dating, pregnancy, childbirth, or sick little ones. i view the more mature candidate as one who is more favorable choice. the most ideal situation is to have a good mix of ages and experiences that they all bring to the table.

sadly wherever i have worked (it has been my experience anyway) that if a hospital hires 20 new employees and invests in their orientation, preceptorships, and additonal training needed for any area specific units, only about a handful will still be working at the 1 year mark. i am not sure why that is but it has pretty much been a consistent thing regardless of what facility i have been at or in what type of unit. although i do notice everyone tries to leave the med/surg floors as soon as they possibly can, lol and that is where i loved it the most, even once they go to their area-of-choice many times there are only a few that stay after another year.

imintrouble, BSN, RN · Jan 10, 2011

Age discrimination does happen, but not out in the open. My former nurse manager made a statement to me nearly three years ago. Keep in mind that she was in her forties when she spoke these words.
I asked, "Why don't you guys like to hire older nurses?"
She responded, "Older nurses can be argumentative, set in their ways, and unreceptive to feedback. We love younger nurses because they're more receptive, open to change, and follow directives better."
This particular workplace did hire older nurses, but they were usually paid a dollar less per hour than their younger counterparts with less experience. The rationale for the lower pay was, "They'll accept the pay because they have more difficulty finding work."

Without exception, as a nurse and as a pt, I want that battle scarred, set in her ways, tough old nurse in my corner when it comes to a colleague, or an advocate.

Start2 · Jan 11, 2011

In these times it is very hard for newly graduated LPNs or RNs to find work whether they are younger than 40 or older than 40. It is also hard for older nurses returning to active nursing after more than three years away from active nursing to find a paying postion. I belong to the latter group and have a lot of work experience but, unfortunately, it is not recent experience. That means I will volunteer and also will find whatever job I can to get that year of experience... I intend to work for a very long time and one of the things my maturity has taught me is to go with the flow and adapt to the circumstances...

BabyLady, BSN, RN · Jan 11, 2011

Of all the nursing graduates you know who have found employment as nurses in hospitals the last few years, how many of them have been "mature" students? There are so many second career students in Nursing programs these days, but what are their chances of finding jobs after graduation compared to the younger set? Of each one who found employment within a reasonable amount of time (within a few months), what was their approx. age?
Is being more "mature" an advantage to finding employment? Or a disadvantage? Are hospitals hiring new nurses who are over 40? Thanks

Because of age discrimination, they are not going to advertise that they are hiring older new graduates.

I was over 35 when I graduated from nursing school and my class was across the age spectrum and I by far, was not the oldest student, some where 10 years plus my senior!

However...I was hired in a group of all-younger new grads and my boss told me the reason I was hired was because of my previous management experience and she didn't have to worry about teaching someone how to "work" and be responsible and take the job seriously.

I work for one of those bosses that many of the staff members claim they don't like, but for some reason, I have always got along with her great...I am not a suck-up...no opportunity to because I work nights. However, I have always been honest with her about everything and took responsibilty anytime I ever made a mistake. To me, she is a breeze to get along with...she demands alot, but I have never found her to be unreasonable.

sunnycalifRN · Jan 11, 2011

I was 54 when I got my graduated and got my job in ICU. The second oldest person in my class was in her 50's also, not sure the exact age and I didn't ask; but, she landed a job right away also. BTW, this was 5 years ago and everyone in my class got a job, if they wanted one.