Too old for ICU?

[eyeball]

1 year telemetry/med surg experience (still there) and am 53. I've been reasonably successful at my job and am ready to move on. I have an interview for ICU at another hospital. Am I too old for them to even consider me? I am healthy, in good physical shape, but suddenly worried that they'll laugh at me as soon as I walk into the interview. Am I being paranoid or should I steel myself for likely being turned down?

[Bruce_Wayne, ASN, RN]

I often work as an aide in ICU and I the "older" (hey you're not that old) nurses are by far my favorite to work with. So much more calm, rational, and patient oriented.

Us younger people sometimes are too busy looking at our iphones and forget why we're there.

Also I think older nurses are better at answering family questions and inspiring confidence.

Just my two cents.

[eyeball]

Well, I didn't get the job but in an interesting way....I interviewed today and the interview went well. It was the most thorough and thoughtful interview I've ever had. I got a tour of the unit and fell in love with it. The hospital is new, and the unit was really well organized, supplies at one's fingertips, quiet friendly vibe. I was told I'd hear within the week about the job. I came home excited and thought "I can really see myself there and loving it." I got a call a few hours after I arrived home from the clinical supervisor who interviewed me. She began with "I've been thinking...." which led to a very reasonable explananation that while I had interviewed very well, she had a multitude of candidates more experienced than me. When push came to shove, she admitted that my experience was limited and it held her back from choosing me over more experienced candidates. It would take more time and money to get me trained in. She then added that she thought it would be good for me to work in their intermediate care unit to get more experience with drips and vents and then I would be a stronger candidate and said she would be forwarding my application to the intermediate care manager.

I feel kind of strange about it all. Truthfully, I think her position is more than fair but I can't say I didn't start bawling shortly after hanging up the phone. It's not so much that I didn't get the job but that I hate my current job (medsurg/tele) and I felt sentenced to another year of it. I can't see that intermediate care is going to be all that different from what I am doing and gritting my teeth through. It's enough to deepen my already deep despair about my nursing journey.

[Guest717236]

So sorry. If you interviewed well, are their other hospitals in your

area that may have an ICU position open. Seems to me the hiring

process can be tricky. Even if you had the background, they call

and say, we really love you --you are a perfect fit for the job,

but.....................with all your experience we could not give you

the salary we feel you should have. Happened to me years ago in

another specialty (outpatient not hospital).

Keep going, there must be a good match out there for you.

Good luck!