Step away from the old nurse!

Great post! I guess I am an old nurse too! I graduated in 1973 and still run around a busy ER like an idiot most days! I prefer the term "seasoned" to old Yes, we have come a long way since the days of the "Clinic" clod hopper shoes, the starched white dresses and cap. I for one was more than happy to get rid of the cap! I don't have gray hair (thanks to Miss Clarol), but I can certainly identify with your post.I loved the answer to the young police officer....that was perfect.I assume I will be doing this until I'm in my 70's so I continue to take classes to stay current, and am even thinking seriously about getting a Masters in Nursing Education. I know I will have to slow down a step at some point and won't be able to continue 12 hours in a busy ER, but if I can keep my mind sharp and my skills good, there are still a few things I can teach these young whipper snappers.

Thanks for this post, Lindsey. After hurling all of the disrespectful comments, lack of respect, and general condescending attitudes toward seasoned nurses, guess who the "kids" make a beeline for when they get their tails in a crack???

And yet a lot of people think we should raise the retirement age, due to the shortages in social security and medicare.

I realized that I had become one of the senior staff on night in the ED when a particularly good looking Trooper was investing an accident. He "Yes Mam, No Mam, Thank you Mam"d" me until I told him that if he Mam'd me one more time I would start calling him son! That's when he told me I reminded him of his Grandmother and he was taught to respect his elders. I swear It wasn't that long ago that he'd be asking for my number.....I was heartbroken.On second thought....... I wish more of the younguns had respect for their elders.

What really infuriates me is when the younguns call me "Mama"!!!!! The last one to call me that was told calmly but firmly, "I'm not your mother but if you ever choose to call me that again, I WILL get my switch." Word spread. Most of us can still work circles around these disrespectful snot noses.

Although I found all of the post here very funny, I have noticed a complete lack of respect for people in general over the past several years. I don't always enjoy being called "Mam" , however, I do prefer it to the many other things that I've been called.It seems that the younger generation have little to no respect for themselves, much less for anyone else. It's really a shame too. I worked in a LTC facility in the south where manners used to be something they were very proud of. Now they are pretty much non-existent. Years ago, when my supervisor "requested" I do something for her I would practically run down anybody who got in my way. The last time I asked over the intercom for my CNA's to report to the nurses station I ended up having to go look for them because they never showed up. This was common practice at many of the facilities I've worked at over the years. I'd like to say that at least amongst the nurses there was still a level of respect being showed, but I would be lying. As an LPN who just got a new grad, two year RN as her D.O.N. I can only say that I hope with age and experience things will improve. The general attitude seems to be that they think they know it all, when they don't. But it has been my experience that it won't take alot of time before they come to me asking for help with something. I will help of course because in doing so I hope to teach them that you are never too old to ask questions. If at least one of them actually listens to me, I will feel I've done my job. I am 55 yrs. old and I certainly don't know everything there is to know about being a good nurse. The difference between them and I is that I am still willing to listen.

We live in a youth-obsessed, youth-worshiping society. Our society looks down on older people and can be particularly cruel to women as they age (just look at the misogynist way some "older" women in politics are treated by the mainstream media). The only consolation is that the Boomer generation - of which I am part - is the largest demographic group in US history, nearly 80 million strong. We are fast entering our senior years and comprise one-quarter of the US population. With so many of us, it will be difficult for society to continue to disrespect and disregard older persons. We will end up redefining what it means to grow old and forge new positive attitudes towards aging (particularly towards aging women) in our society. In a decade or two, it will no longer seem strange to see seventy-year-olds and even eighty-year-olds still active in the work force.

Thank you for all your years of service. I'm my opinion, veteran nurses should be treated somewhat like army veterans. You have to deal with a lot of changes in the profession and policies while not losing sight of the big picture. When I graduated and started working in the ICU, I always sought out and befriended the older nurses because they were a wealth of information. They always knew little tricks to help me drop a dobhoff tube exactly right or how to quickly vagal down someone in SVT. I wonder if this treatment has to do with young nurses resenting being eaten? Maybe they put the older nurses out to pasture with a bit more vehemence because in their minds it's revenge?

Quote from Esme12I realized that I had become one of the senior staff on night in the ED when a particularly good looking Trooper was investing an accident. He "Yes Mam, No Mam, Thank you Mam"d" me until I told him that if he Mam'd me one more time I would start calling him son! That's when he told me I reminded him of his Grandmother and he was taught to respect his elders. I swear It wasn't that long ago that he'd be asking for my number.....I was heartbroken.On second thought....... I wish more of the younguns had respect for their elders.

I can't say I know what you guys are talking about, but as a new grad always needing help and eager to learn, I appreciate your experience and helpful attitudes =)

I really appreciate this article: such blatant disrespect for older nurses is common in our society, and as a group we need to address this issue. Let us also bear in mind that some of our nurses graduated from nursing schools while they were in their forties;so the term old nurse has no place here,and who said that old dogs cannot learn new tricks?How did they made it through nursing school in the first place? With the help of continuing education, and hands on practice they are just as effective, as young nurses. Let us also continue to nurture, and embrace our nursing staff so that they will maintain professionalism....remember that age is a number!

Going on 20+ years in nursing and while on some days I hate where medical care is headed, I still love nursing. No more requests for phone numbers....now I am a colleague. I will gladly trade the dates (happily married) for the respect I get from the surgeons and my peers. When I reached 30 I felt like I finally knew something. At 40 others realized I did know what I was doing, and now it all seems to fall together more than it falls apart! Here's a toast to all the nurses! Young and experienced. It is a damned fine profession made all the better by having us in it.