Too Old to Enter Critical Care Nursing?

[Fiddlesticks27]

Hi All,

I'm 35 and have been an RN for 10 years. I've done a few years of med-surg and some outpatient nursing/ care management. I've always had an interest in critical care, but admittedly, have felt slightly intimidated by it at times, thus have not yet entered this specialty. I know 35 is not old, but I wonder if it's a bit old to just be starting in critical care. I recall working with ICU nurses in their 40s and 50s, but I wonder whether they started younger than I would be. I'd appreciate any feedback about average age to start in ICU and whether there's a point at which you'd say 'find a different specialty.' Thanks so much!

[Fiddlesticks27]

I hear ya : /

Acute care nursing is no joke, in general. Funny thing is, I currently work in a case management role, sitting at a desk for 8 hours straight and that's hurting my back too! I can feel my skeleton rusting over! Damned if you do, damned if you don't! Thanks for the feedback, tho!

[Cowboyardee]

I don't mean to generalize based on age - I've seen both very young nurses just out of nursing school and near-retirement age nurses at the end of their careers (as well as older nurses just out of nursing school) move to an ICU and do just fine. And I've seen some of all the same groups that had a lot of trouble in an ICU setting. It depends a lot more on the individual than their age.

With that said, if I were to make a gross over-generalization, I'd say you were pretty much in an ideal place to try ICU work if it interests you. Still young enough to have stamina, but old enough to have built up experience, judgement, and maturity that help your transition into that setting.

[Fiddlesticks27]

Awesome!! Thank you Cowboyardee for your encouraging insight!

[theRPN2b]

If it's where you want to work then apply! You have a lot to offer in the ICU with your work experience. Besides, I'm sure that there are nurses that obtained their first critical care position when they were much older than 35

[Sydryth, ASN, RN]

The amount of experience you have behind you gives you a tremendous amount of background to fail back on. It will help the transition that much more. As a ICU nurse, I would much rather have someone with your experience coming in and training them, than someone that recently graduated. Keep in mind though you need to come in with an open mind and listen to the ones that has been there, and not come in as one with a know it all attitude. As long as you do that you should flourish in there. Good luck and go for it!

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

While I'm no ICU nurse (I'm an ED nurse), my perspective is very simple. You're younger than dead and you have an interest in learning more. You have a good background and experience generally as a nurse, so if you're inclined to give ICU a go, do it! Just don't start by putting your toes in water...

[Fiddlesticks27]

Thanks RPN2b!!

[Fiddlesticks27]

Thank you, Sydryth. And I most assuredly would not have a 'know it all' attitude- if anything, I'd need to work on not feeling overly intimidated!

[anon456, BSN, RN]

I was 37 when, as a new grad, I was hired into peds ICU. Go for your dream.

[nurseinthezoo]

With your prior experience you would probably do well.

[thmpr]

B'Gok

It's not about age. STUDY. Focus. Take your CCRN. Go hang out with the CCU/ICU nurses. You'll be awesome. Don't quit.

[djh123]

If you think you can do it, you can do it. I went to nursing school with someone who was probably about your age, and she started working in the ICU after that.