Starting Nursing at 52 and Nervous

[eyeball]

Hi All! I just graduated in May and turned 52 in July. I've been offered a job on a telemetry floor and am very glad about it. I am also nervous about what to expect...I know the first year can be a devil for any new nurse but I have the added worry that I am an older nurse and just beginning. I'd love to hear advice from any and all but especially nurses who entered the profession at an older age about weathering the first year. I'm in good health but the twelve hour shifts scare me a bit in terms of the physical toll. I'd love to hear advice and any management/coping skills you could share that were helpful to you in being successful. Thanks!

[Jules A, MSN]

congratulations! my experience has not been the best so take this fwiw. my biggest gripes in working with "older" new grads have been their anxiety during a crisis coupled wtih their reluctance to take feedback from experienced nurses. yes this isn't the way it was taught in nursing school but the truth is there are things that aren't practical in real life so please keep an open mind when it comes to needing to improvise. day two of orientation probably isn't a good time to make blanket statements like "the rns here give way too much medication". actually consider the pointers your peers are offering or they will stop trying to help you. i'm not sure what degree you have but if it is one of the brand new msns please be aware that most experienced nurses are not interested in being delegated to by you just yet no matter how much your school might have prepped you to do this so go gently. for all new nurses i think being up front about what you don't know how to do, willing to try anything with assistance and offering to do the grunt work that you know you are capable of doing is a good strategy in trying to become part of the team. good luck and welcome to nursing!

[itsmejuli]

I'm a new LPN and have been working 7a to 7p every Sat and Sun. The first few weekends of being on my feet were truly exhausting and my feet were burning by the last 6 hours. I could barely walk by the end of the second day. My back and shoulders get achy but not too bad. Now that I've been working for several months I'm not as exhausted at the end of my shifts.

I make it clear to everyone I work with that I am a new nurse. I never assume to know more than anyone, I don't make stupid remarks about how things are done. I don't attempt to do anything I'm not confident about and I ask lots of questions.

I start LPN-RN program next week :) I'll graduate about 2 weeks before my 50th birthday. :)

[AnneS]

eyeball, I am 50 and just started working as a new grad in med surg. Frankly, I don't feel its any different for someone older vs someone younger. Maybe remind people that you are a new grad too as some assume you aren't.

Its tough learning everything you need to know. There are some days I feel completely overwhelmed and like a failure, usually right after the day I felt like I had it all together and I can do this! I keep reading this board and talking to my fellow new grads (there are about 40 of us) and its comforting to see that what I am feeling is not unique, so I keep trying to remind myself that if I persevere, I will eventually get this.

Also, I guess some RN new grads might think they know it all, as Jules was saying, but you certainly don't sound that way. I think we older ones realize there is alot to learn, and nursing for us is totally new. I, at least, do not take anything for granted.

[lsw1956]

I also was 52 when I became RN at 52. I work in Quality Management and geriactric psych. I have to admit I would not want to do med surg at my age and I am sure telemetry floor is the same. Everyone is different..there are a lot of older RN's doing med surg and telemetry and seem to love it. I am sure you will do great. Congrats on graduating!!!!!!

[belliot2]

I am 53 and just graduated from one of those MSN programs- Still interviewing, but hoping it will be at a local hospital working FT nights.

Definitely have similar concerns- working nights will be a issue for this early riser, and my husband was just thinking that all the sacrifices he'd been making for school were over.... :-( nope...

I do not know any in my group of 17 that act like 'know-it-alls'- but I feel that when I am around nurses in a hospital setting that they always make comments about 'well you'll probably be running the place' or 'I guess I'll be working for you!" I have learned to not tell any one that I have a masters.

I am amazed- I don't think that at all- I usually say- "I doubt it will be anytime in the next 5 years- I have ALOT to learn". I have heard many state that they feel my accelerated MSN program did not prepare me adequately, (they are weary of training new RN's) and I would be first to admit that my skills need work, so I would really appreciate hearing how new RN's who do catch on quickly, how do they do it? - What do they do differently?

Thank you.

[bamamamacat]

You'll do fine. If you were determined enough to start and finish nursing school, that same determination will help you through that critical first year, and beyond. I have been an LPN for 16 years and am just now finishing up pre-reqs to start the LPN to RN transition program this coming January, 2011. I just turned 55. I agree with the post about "real world" vs nursing school, but only to a point. Yes, you will have to be flexible and, most importantly, able to think fast on your feet (something that gets easier with day to day experience), and you may have to devise creative approaches to patient care; HOWEVER, always keep your nursing school ethics firmly intact, and be careful not to get into bad habits. You'll quickly recognize the nurses who take risky shortcuts. Do not allow yourself to be influenced by anyone with lax nursing skills; simply say, "I've more or less developed my own approach to (name process)" and then do it the way you were taught. No one is looking out for your nursing license but you - protect it. And now, welcome to the truly rewarding world of nursing!

[Old and New]

I graduated RN school this past December at age 55. My first job was on a busy ortho floor, 12 hour shifts. Physically I had no problem, but the orientation was not long or thorough enough for me to feel able to take on a 7 patient load safely after six weeks. I got a lot of "don't they teach you anything in nursing school?" when I asked for help. I decided to go elsewhere and get some hands on experience, so I worked in a long term care facility for several months, and now I'm trying to get a position on a behavioral/psych unit at the hospital. It's different for everyone, I'm sure, and maybe I'm slow, but I feel that it's important to have a dedicated preceptor on your first job, if possible. It takes a while (at least for me) to learn to prioritize all the tasks a nurse has to perform. I think the only disadvantage of age is that people assume you've been at it for a while, so they aren't quite as quick to jump in and help you. As the others have said, let people know you're a new nurse. Good luck!

[Genie1]

Congratulations on your new degree and licensure. It is a very big deal at any age! Thankfully,most of the comments are positive, and your life experience surely puts you at an advantage with your patients. I work in a university hospital in case managment as a licensed clinical medical social worker (formerly an RN BSN for 15 years in ICU/ER,etc) and gave it up to be a career changer,although not such a leap coming back into a hospital setting. Thankfully, the social work profession is much more attuned to the gifts and "older" employee can contribute, but still, the age tension is felt. Just ignore all the talk about age, bc I do find some "professionals" are emotionally immature, and this comes at every age and every professional level. Ageism is a form of discrimination--ask HR about those consequences if you feel this in the workplace. Be true to your patients and your ethical code, foremost, and keep your skills fine tuned. Great things will continue to come your way. Good luck!

[robi-d]

Congrat's eyeballs! I am 50, a new grad - and a whole month into a med/surg internship. I only agree with a piece of Jules response and that is anxiety at work. I believe because we are older that we have more life skills and recognize the repercussions of our actions more than a 22 year old fresh out of nursing school. My experience is that I take feedback very well and appreciate constructive criticism. I too feel no differences in age between myself and my colleagues, we are all RNs. Advice: Don't let the patient see your nervous! Its hard sometimes... also, don't hesitate to state your lack of knowledge or comfort in doing a task to your preceptor or charge nurse - don't do anything your not comfortable with. Lastly, I've only had one charge who "tried to eat their young," and it was ugly. Mostly my experiences have been positive and wonderful and I believe you will find nursing very fulfilling as I have. Good Luck to you! Jobs are hard to get for new nurses and we have to get experience somewhere, even if its not in our chosen area, so go with it, keep a positive attitude, and smile :-)

[babiebird]

Congratulations on your succesful completion of your degree and passing the boards.

I started as a RN at 42 and like AnneS I also would have to remind my fellow nurses that I was new. I have worked in bone marrow transplant unit and cardiovascular nursing for the last 5 years. Many of the patients appreciate older nurses, because even though younger nurses are taught older generation considerations when they teach older patients, it is just not the same as having a nurse closer to your generation teach you.

Always know there is more to learn ALWAYS! Your peers will always appreciate you wanting to do things per protocal and should be more than happy to help you in this regard.

Find yourself a mentor who knows the ropes and is a good teacher and make him/her your best friend. Even after your done with your preceptor stay communicating with them if at all possible. Try to schedule yourself on the days they work. Eat lunch with them and listen to every tid bit of information they have for you. My mentor was not was not the same nurse who was my preceptor on my current floor, but she has become my best friend. We jog together after work, she vents about the shift I vent about the shift and we both grow and learn in the process. She has been nursing for over 20 years and has much helpful insight for me.

Many blessings for your career.

bird

[rayniegirl2]

Hello, I too am 52 and graduated last year. I am doing in home health care for pediatrics, it is great. I think the advantage we have is that we at our age have more patients and empathy than a younger nurse may have. And I wouldn't worry about the long shifts to much if you are in good health, you will get used to it. Good luck to you and congratulations!!!