Starting Nursing at 52 and Nervous

brtholomew · Aug 25, 2010

I just graduated in May and turned 54 in March. I work on a telemetry and oncology floor and love it. I am almost off orientation (10 weeks). Age has nothing to do with it. I do twelve hour shifts twice a week. They wipe me out. I come home and basically go right to bed.

Survival:

1. I listen to what everyone has to say and then I decide how "I" want to do it. You CANNOT be someone else. You have to do what works for you.

2. When in doubt about what someone has told or taught you, defer to your agency's policy and procedures.

3. Make sure you have good shoes. I have Skechers Shape Ups and my feet never hurt.

4. Don't be afraid to ask. How are you going to learn?

5. Sometimes people think because you are "old" you have been a nurse for years. They might need reminding. I was a teacher for 18 years before I quit to do this.

6. Some days will go well and other days you will wonder why they ever hired you. It gets better. I am doing things now that I never thought I would ever get the hang of 2 months ago.

Good luck... Sherry

Diploma81 · Aug 25, 2010

Congratulations on entering the profession at 52 and finding a job as a new grad. I am 53 and have been an RN for 30 years. I have seen many changes over the years. For example, HIV had not been identified when I graduated, we did not have pulse oximeters or computers, we hardly ever wore golves, IV's were still mostly glass bottles, and we mixed all of our IV meds ourselves.

My advice to you is listen and absorb as much as you can from experienced nurses and especially the doctors. A nurse with a few years experience may feel like they know it all but are technically not experts yet. The problem with some very experienced nurses is that they may be experiencing burn-out. Avoid picking up their bad habits. Latch on to a ten year veteran who still thrives on giving good care.

One of the main things that I believe is important is to start planning on leaving at least an hour before the end of your shift, or you will never get out on time. My hospital loves people staying late because they don't pay overtime and get free labor. Other burned out nurse will not help you. Avoid becoming the martr who stays late or falling into the martr's trap. Leaving on time is one of the most important things that you can do to keep you sane. It also shows management that you are organized and they are less likely to take advantage of you.

As an IV nurse, I go from floor to floor in the hospital. I see new grads running around in a state of panic. Sometimes they are crying. I see older, burned-out nurses, watching the inexperienced ones get into trouble and do nothing to help them. I feel bad for everyone. I also see the pro's who love their jobs and hold things together. It can be a grueling profession with few pats on the back or thank you's.

One last bit of advice is to stay in shape and lift correctly. Even the strongest will hurt themselves. I was very strong and athletic when younger and still ended up with 2 neck surgeries. You also can't use your age or other reasons not to lift or help out physically. Otherwise someone else will be doing your part. You are on the team and have to pull your weight.

lateinlifelpn · Aug 25, 2010

Hello eyeball! I am 51 years old and just graduated from an LPN program in April. I am licensed in Florida and in New York State. I have tried two jobs so far...I spent two weeks at a doctor's office and realized that it was mostly clerical (not for me), then 3 weeks at a skilled nursing facility with 26 low functioning residents to care for, and I realized that wasn't for me either. Other nurses do take short cuts, and if I heard it once I heard it a thousand times, "do it this way, but don't do it if the state comes in for an audit." I was not comfortable with that. People do think you are an experienced nurse when they see you are older, and I had to clarify that many times! I am not willing to risk my license or take any unsafe short cuts, so I moved on and I hope to find my niche soon. I don't think age is a factor in your success...I think you have to find the right environment in which to practice and feel good. Good luck to all of us newbies!

laughing weasel · Aug 25, 2010

After many years in army, factory and as a nurse. Take care of you feet. Spend what you need to you will save in the long run on shoes. It is YOUR LICENSE take care of it. Try to remember that just because your preceptor does not say something the way that you would like them to say it that they are wrong. They may be right and just exasperated undiplomatic or having a bad day. Take a small 15-30 minute break at the end of the day as relaxing time (enforce it however you have to. I suggest irrational anger and grief at interruptions). Congrats on jumping in to nursing.

mardel9113 · Aug 25, 2010

Everybody is right. If you have a good preceptor that wants to teach and knows how to teach you will do fine. The problem is that, the experience nurses that you find in the floor are competitive , they are not teachers , most of them they don't choose to be preceptors so they give you a hard time. I graduate a 45 and after 6 month in ortho nuero med surg. floor I, and be treated really bad , with not respect, I have to go. Now I am looking for out patient facility that give you more understanding , more dedication with patients and seams better quality personality's nurses. good luck, sometimes you will have to let the step or be codependent, I can't!

NikkiH · Aug 25, 2010

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!

I'm 52, graduated in May and have been working 12 hr shifts since mid June, full time. It is what you think it will be! If you expect it to be awful & hard it will be, if you expect it to be an amazing fulfillment of your hearts desire and the days fly by so fast you don't notice your feet, it will! Go save some lives and enjoy what you've accomplished!!! :-)

JWenke · Aug 25, 2010

Hey 52 and Nervous,

Speaking to another job career change person. I 've been working as an RN for past five years. What I have found.....

1. Pick the area that you really want to work in out of nursing school. Reasoning-Once your in an area such as Med/Surg and few years later want to go into Oncology...If you don't have at least a year of experience, you'll have trouble getting into any other specialized area. I worked med/sug tele and really wanted to go into surgery...Can't get a job in the area because I didnt start in it.

2. It doesn't matter how much experience a person has in the specialized area....if you do not know someone in that specialized area your out of luck. Remember...real world it does not matter what you know, it's who you know.

3. The younger nurses seemed to be self-centered in their lives(meaning they have no other responsibilities except to go out and socialize). Older RN's have families and additional responsibilities like elderly parents. We are focused for the most part. Use your previous experiences to help with uprising situations.

4. Bedside care in large hospitals are about getting into the room, performing the task, recording the task, and leaving to go onto the next patient. They say that they want you to "CARE" for the patient in holistic manner, but when they assign 6+ patients per RN and more at night, you can't. You will go into survival mood, and feel guilty because you don't have time to get to know your patients. (Forifice: Patients DO NOT sleep at night, but night RN's get more patient assignments 10+ patients).

5. Get your Masters in Nursing right away.....if not, you will find others with numerous years of experience will be compliance in their jobs and not open to new ideas or ways of doing things...you want to be able to advance past these people with experience and education. :nurse: :redpinkhe

nana52 · Aug 25, 2010

I , TOO, POSTPONED ENTERING THIS PROFESSION UNTIL OUR 4 SONS WERE THROUGH W/SCHOOL;THEREFORE I STARTED MY FIRST JOB IN THE MEDICAL FIELD @51YRS.YOUNG :). I KNEW THAT WHAT WE LEARNED "IN THE BOOKS" WAS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG AND THE REAL LEARNING WOULD BE IN THE DOING! THEREFORE, I DETERMINED IMMEDIATELY TO BECOME A SPONGE-SOAKING UP EVERYTHING I SAW BEING DONE TO CARE FOER PTS., NO MATTER WHO WAS DOING IT. 6 YEARS LATER I STILL DO THAT WHEN PLACED IN A NEW SITUATION. I AM NEVER HESITANT TO ASK QUESTIONS, ASK FOR HELP. ALWAYS OFFERING YOUR HELP WHEN NEEDED GOES A LONG WAY IN GETTING HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT. SURE, YOU'LL SEE LP DOING THINGS BY CUTTING CORNERS-WHEN THOSE CORNERS BEING CUTTING ALSO CUT THE CORNERS OF ETHICS, YOU HAVE WISDOM ON YOUR SIDE TO KNOW WHAT TO DO. THIS IS MY PRACTICE, BUILT BY ME, ENFORCED BY MY SET OF ETHICS. HARMFUL SHORTCUTS HAVE NO PLACE HERE.

GOOD LUCK, GOD BLESS,KEEP ON KEEPING ON-THERE ARE REWARDS EVEY DAY!:redbeathe

DanceswithWolves · Aug 25, 2010

I became a nurse at age 53 and started by jumping into the fire at a level I ER. Even though working in the ER as a student nurse helped to prepare me for the transition, I had a lot thrown at me in a very brief amount of time. My preceptor was good and made a huge difference. She told me that working in the ER was like "Dancing with Wolves" and gave me very good advice along the way. There were many good nurses but certainly were the handful that eat their young. It only creates additional stress in what was already the most demanding environment.

As commented before, make sure that your fellow nurses and doctors know that you are new. Don't be rushed or pressured by others. If your antennae are triggered then listen to it. If you feel uneasy their may be a very good reason. Also as stated before, you have to take charge of yourself and are the only one who is truly looking out for the nursing license you worked so hard for. Protect it. I'd rather be embarrassed by saying I don't know or asking for help before jeopardizing my patients or practice. There will be pressure to do more than you are capable of by those who don't appreciate or understand your comfort level. Stand your ground and utter the magic words "patient safety". Document!

I found most nurses receptive and helpful, especially when I showed insight and desire to increase my knowledge. I am always studying. The more I understand about the "whole patient", their symptoms, my assessment, doctor's diagnosis and treatment strategy, test results, medication, and patient response the more I expand my knowledge base and nursing skills. Of course everyone loves to be asked if they need help. Be a team player. When you have some free time, don't play freecell and do ask others if they need any assistance. You will always appreciate this from your fellow nurses and CNAs. Sometimes having someone grab a fresh set of vitals for me when I am rushed really helps.

Be prepared to work a little harder and enjoy your work. Smile and have fun.

Bionic Woman · Aug 25, 2010

I am a 40 year old new nurse who has been working on a med-surge floor for three months. It has been very humbling! This board has provided a lot of help. A few things I've learned...

- At first the pain med people really got to me. These were the pain med people who were strolling in the hallway, sitting in their rooms smiling and laughing... I've learned to just give the pain medicines as ordered and go about my day. Many times these patients know their pain med schedule and will be calling out accordingly, so I just plan on giving the medicine...

- To focus on the patients and not on negativity. On the flip side, to focus on the positive. Just like there are some very difficult patients and families, there are a lot of patients and families who are a pleasure to take care of.

- To not procrastinate. Everyone is different, but I find that it works best for me to chart as things happen and not try to catch up later. If skin or wound care is ordered, I try to get it done early and not put it off.

- To be patient with myself. I remind myself a lot that I am a new graduate nurse and that I am constantly experiencing things for the first time. A lot of the stuff is simple stuff that I feel should have been addressed more in nursing school. Not knowing something because I have not done it a lot or experienced it does not make me a bad nurse.

- Someone on here wrote about reminding ourselves about the reason why we got into nursing. I do that a lot whenever I am having a bad day.

Boston7 · Aug 25, 2010

Dear Eyeball ~ Congratulations~! I completed an LPN program in 2008, I was 54 at graduation. Ok, so I should have invested an extra year and done the RN route, but hindsight is always 20-20~!

Being an older nurse affords much in terms of patient care. An older nurse who projects his/her self as professional will gain much trust from the older generation patient. Life experience goes a long way as well in terms of overall assessment. If I could give you advice, I would tell you the following:

1. Be confident in what you know - what you don't know - watch, listen & ask.

2. Don't get caught up in the gossip. Keep personal info to a minimum, the less they know, the better when it comes to one's personal life. Just sit back, watch, listen, observe - you'll find out soon enough who's who, in whom you can trust, etc. Think before speaking goes a long way as well.

3. Be a team player, do your best to work in concert with fellow nurses.

4. Develop/possess time management routines - be organized - stay focused - anticipate - cross t's & dot i's. Every nurse develops his/her own routine & style that works, identify yours & stick with it.

5. Know facility P&P. Follow chain-of-command protocols.

6. Carry a small notebook in your pocket to jot important things into - I have met many RNs who, when unable to remember something, reach into their pocket and pull out little composition books - filled with quick reference notations.

7. Choose a mentor and touch base often; use this individual to vent frustration, seek alternative approaches, etc.

8. Recognize that there's always going to be someone who won't react favorably toward you, do your best, move on. One may not always know what's going on with an individual in terms of the outside, or even in the workplace.

9. Know when to delegate & know your staff - when one is frazzled - offer positive solutions. Active listening hits home here.

10. Know UAP scope of practice and LPN scope of practice.

11. Know your own self - your strengths - your weaknesses - continually educate yourself - when in doubt, check it out :)

12. Have fun - humour goes a long way - particularly in high-stress environments.

13. When stressed - take a step back for a minute or two - clear your thoughts, remove emotion - refocus & get back to task at hand.

14. Take care of you~! Make sure you've a healthy balance in the day-to-day - eat well, wear comfy & supportive shoes, drink plenty of fluids - get plenty of rest - don't sign up for extra unless you're absolutely up to the task. Too much OT drains one over time. Be "gentle to you" at all times~!

While I'm sure you've incorporated all the above in one form or another, I hope this helps you. I've been in LTC environments for the past 20 months and it's been an 'eye-opener' for sure. Don't be intimidated. Younger nurses are a different breed in some respects (I mean no offense here). At one time or another, you may pose a threat to fellow nurses simply by being you. Nurses eat their young, mostly when given the opportunity - why....

well....because they can (if one lets them)....because they've forgotten when they were new to nursing....because there's a sick humoured-side to getting a nibble perhaps...this should not be and as a new nurse you will learn when to stand up for you & pick your battles wisely.

I was a paralegal for 23 years, well regarded, well respected - I worked with the toughest of the tough. I do have to admit, however, that in nursing, working with predominantly women, it's a very competitive and catty environment at times. Competition is healthy when constructive and well-balanced.

Lastly, always remember your 1st responsibility is to YOU - protect that which you've worked so hard to attain - your LICENSE~! If a mistake has been made, admit to it, correct it and move on, afterall, no one of us is perfect and we are always subject to human error. Right? :)

I wish you the absolute best - you haven't made it this far afterall - and you've much to contribute~!

Blessings,

Nurse Nansea

a6fan1127 · Aug 25, 2010

Congrats! Welcome to the club of 'old' newbies! I turned 52 in February and got my license in April. I work Med/Surg and must say that my preceptor made the transition a success. My preceptor opened doors for me that on my own I would not have figured out how to open quickly enough. She kept me pointed in the right direction and asked my thoughts on patient-care issues. Not once did I feel minimized or like I was out-of-place. Use your age to your advantage! You've seen and done more than most of these 'kids' ever will (until they make it to 52!) I relate better to the geriatric pt and know what its like to have: a cardiac cath, arthritis, sciatica, sore everything, a colonoscopy, a stress test, rehab, torn rotator cuff, ect.:) You know what the patient is feeling not just what the book said they should be feeling!

Every 12 hour day on the unit I am reminded how close I am to being in my patients position and I think age makes me a better pt advocate in most cases.

My final thought tho'-Find a preceptor who wants to precept and has a good reputation for doing it.