Where are all the "older" nurses?

Kooky Korky, BSN, RN · Dec 19, 2016

I was a 27-year-old nurse in 2008. My former manager, who had been 43 years old back then, privately told me, "We prefer younger, newer nurses. They're just easier to deal with."
She also added, "Older nurses are more argumentative and set in their ways."
In addition, there's the perception that nurses of a certain age are less proficient with technology, although this perception is patently false in many instances.
Also, 'older' employees are assumed to drive up a company's healthcare costs. If a hiring manager wants to save money, a 22-year-old outdoorsy type will be hired over a 52-year-old who might have an unhealthy spouse and three teenage kids to place on the employer-sponsored health insurance plan.

Children can also be costly. It isn't just spouses who might run up costs. Babies born with birth defects, cerebral palsy, kids with asthma, autism, and so on. One place I worked wanted to help single parents by giving very cheap coverage for their kids. A friend who wanted to add her spouse had to pay an extra $600, yes six hundred every month for the spouse. Just sayin'.

MrChicagoRN, RN · Dec 19, 2016

One trend is a lot of 20 something early 30 something nurses. Both male and female. Primarily female.
All very professional and knowledgeable.
What happens to the 40 to 70 year olds?

Literally another case of NETO* or NECOB*

:cheeky: :***:

*Nurses eating their old

*Nurses eating crusty old bats :blink:

sevensonnets · Dec 20, 2016

Where are all the older nurses? I'm right here in CVICU where I have been for 37 years. Not a job hopper either. I've worked in exactly 2 hospitals in all these years, 22 in my current position. I do just fine, thank you very much.

tjcnurse2b · Dec 20, 2016

Awesome I wanna work for you!

allnurses Guide · Dec 20, 2016

Behavioral health can be a little less demanding, physically ...especially in a charge nurse position. That's where I'm planning to "retire" to.

While I love behavioral health it's no walk in the park. The charge nurse role is very physical where I work. Not so much heavy lifting but tons of stress and lot's of interaction with very disturbed people. Maybe I'm just not the type to just sit in the nurses station and bark orders.

Hppy

Sour Lemon · Dec 20, 2016

While I love behavioral health it's no walk in the park. The charge nurse role is very physical where I work. Not so much heavy lifting but tons of stress and lot's of interaction with very disturbed people. Maybe I'm just not the type to just sit in the nurses station and bark orders.
Hppy

It definitely depends on the unit. I've only been on two and they were very different from each other.

Kitiger, RN · Dec 20, 2016

A lot of us are in private duty pediatrics. I find myself picking up hours for my peers who have broken arms, or who need knee replacements, etc., or who just want to slow down.

For the record, I've done private duty since around 1986. Yes, it's less stress on the body, but it's also so much fun! I love my job!

allnurses Guide · Dec 20, 2016

It definitely depends on the unit. I've only been on two and they were very different from each other.

We are an acute stabilization hospital I have been here over 10 years and we all participate in active treatment which includes take-downs. The RN's here don't stand back a let the floor staff get hurt - we jump in and help.

Hppy

NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Dec 20, 2016

I still work adult Med-surg. I'm in my fifties, but my colleagues don't know that. I'm sure some of them suspect that I'm older once I start talking and my sentences don't begin with the word 'So'.

I'm not present on the job as often because, to put it bluntly, I don't have to be. :smokin: Given the choice of going to work or staying home, Judy Garland (aka Dorothy) said it best: "There's no place like home".

tjcnurse2b · Dec 20, 2016

Take-downs? What's a take-down? Just like it sounds? Like MMA style? They teach that in school?

allnurses Guide · Dec 20, 2016

Take-downs? What's a take-down? Just like it sounds? Like MMA style? They teach that in school?

They don't teach it in nursing school you learn it when you come to work in psych - Look up MAB Training also known as Management of Assaultive Behavior. I may be old but I can put most people on the ground when necessary. Just step away from the charge nurse and no one will get hurt. Seriously though it usually takes two to 4 people to get an average assaultive person under control without anyone including the patient getting hurt.

Hppy

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Dec 20, 2016

Well...that is a multifaceted question. First...there is a delay of I believe 90 seconds to try to stop rapid fire scamming (but they still get through...sigh).

Second....ageism is alive and well in nursing. If you run through the forums you will see plenty of posts about older nurses. The truth of the matter is that hospitals try to get rid of older "seasoned" nurses. We are usually the highest paid with the most accrued time...that makes us expensive. We historically are very verbal and we don't put up with any crap which hospitals are spoon feeding the new to the profession. We are also older and use insurance more than our younger counterparts

They get rid of us by attrition. They have recently resorted to mandating the RN go back to school for the BSN of lose our jobs. Many of us are at a time in our lives that incurring long term debt isn't fiscally prudent. Those of us who have been "downsized" have found it almost impossible to obtain another position. We hear things like..."you are over qualified". "We are pursuing another candidate that is a better fit". We run the "BSN" or "Masters" required even though we have been employed in that position for the last 30 years.

It sucks.

I don't think being male will make any real difference because it is all cash driven. Mnay of us thought we would be retired by now but lost our butts in 2008.