5 ms·

I'm switching careers from tech to nursing. Being older--mid-thirties--hasn't been an issue. It helps that healthcare has less of an age bias than computing.

rwbt 8y ago
Interesting. Do you mind telling us what made you choose nursing over tech?
- theparanoid 8y ago
  Everybody at my old company was laid after 50, flexible hours: full-time, part-time, on-call, and working 40 hours a week in a cubicle gets really old.
  - fma 8y ago
    I'm 35...I've too considered nursing or PA for the same reason. I know I'm "young" but the writing is on the wall for the age bias. Nursing/PA is decent pay, always work opportunities, can't get outsourced (easily). You also don't have BS job interviews. If you have updated certifications and aren't an ass... Hired! You also get continuation education too! I also like that it's hourly. The hospital needs you for OT? More money. As you get older and have more money, less expenses you can choose to work less and enjoy free time. Unless you are freelance or consulting, software doesn't have that flexibility. Maybe in a few years...
  - BeetleB 8y ago
    >flexible hours: full-time, part-time, on-call, and working 40 hours a week in a cubicle gets really old. Counterpoints (if in the US): Capitalism is a real thing. If you work in a hospital you will be pushed to the point where things are unsafe for the patient, and if something goes wrong, you will be blamed and lose your license. A culture exists where everyone tries to cover their ass. If you work as a contractor (i.e. you work for a firm that sends you to different hospitals based on shortages), you will be the first person to be blamed. Unlike in tech, seniority is the main way to get better salaries and benefits. You won't get too far by performing really well. The attitudes and behavior of fellow coworkers (nurses and nurse assistants) would be considered quite unprofessional in a typical engineering workplace. Depending on which unit you work, patients can be horrible. You'll get all kinds of attitudes. Psychopaths, etc. If you stick to it, expect long term injuries: https://www.npr.org/series/385540559/injured-nurses https://www.npr.org/series/385540559/injured-nurses "James Collins, a research manager in the NIOSH Division of Safety Research, says before studying back injuries among nursing employees, he focused on auto factory workers. His subjects were "93 percent men, heavily tattooed, macho workforce, Harley-Davidson rider type guys," he says. "And they were prohibited from lifting over 35 pounds through the course of their work." Nursing employees in a typical hospital lift far heavier patients a dozen or more times every day. "That was my biggest shock and surprise," Collins says. "And the big deal is, the injuries are so severe that for many people, they're career-ending."" (Experience will vary with what type of nursing you work - some nursing is a lot milder - but pays less).
nostromo 8y ago
My significant other just got a job as a captain at a major airline. At 30 he was one of the youngest people hired in his cohort. In aviation experienced captains with lots of fly time and safe and timely arrivals are seen as assets. It's quite a contrast to what we hear about in tech.
- reificator 8y ago
  I'm still young but this has always been my question as well. When is tech going to grow up and recognize experience as an asset? Beyond of course putting "10 years of Julia 1.0 experience" as a requirement to be hired in a junior level position.
  - chooseaname 8y ago
    As soon as older people and younger people learn to have respect for one another. I mean, what other answer is there? If tech doesn't want older people then they don't have respect for what older people bring to the table. Why is that? Could be older people are less flexible? Less willing to change? I don't know. Specifics probably aren't important. It comes down to respect.
    - bregma 8y ago
      Could be that older people are less flexible. I mean, I've been a professional software developer on the forefront of new tech development for about 40 years. I can't seem to do anything else but learn new tech as it comes along and churn out successful products, so I guess I'm rigidly set in my ways. It helps that I work remotely. Very few see my grey beard and get the chance to see how inflexible I am because of my age, so I get the respect due a younger person.
irrational 8y ago
I know a guy in his seventies who recently finished nursing school. He is working as a nurse with elderly patients who are younger than him. Mid-thirties definitely is not old ;-)
btach 8y ago
Interesting. I've been looking at doing the opposite. I've been a RN (mostly ED) for several years. I mostly enjoy it, but it can be pretty stressful sometimes. I started going back to school at a local CC taking math and EE classes last summer when feeling pretty depressed and burned out (getting out and using a different part of my brain, throwing myself at something challenging that's not work has helped tremendously in that part). As far as any age bias, I definitely have not noticed any where I work - I have several co-workers in their 60's and there is no typical age of new hires.

rwbt 8y ago

Interesting. Do you mind telling us what made you choose nursing over tech?

theparanoid 8y ago
Everybody at my old company was laid after 50, flexible hours: full-time, part-time, on-call, and working 40 hours a week in a cubicle gets really old.
- fma 8y ago
  I'm 35...I've too considered nursing or PA for the same reason. I know I'm "young" but the writing is on the wall for the age bias. Nursing/PA is decent pay, always work opportunities, can't get outsourced (easily). You also don't have BS job interviews. If you have updated certifications and aren't an ass... Hired! You also get continuation education too! I also like that it's hourly. The hospital needs you for OT? More money. As you get older and have more money, less expenses you can choose to work less and enjoy free time. Unless you are freelance or consulting, software doesn't have that flexibility. Maybe in a few years...
- BeetleB 8y ago
  >flexible hours: full-time, part-time, on-call, and working 40 hours a week in a cubicle gets really old. Counterpoints (if in the US): Capitalism is a real thing. If you work in a hospital you will be pushed to the point where things are unsafe for the patient, and if something goes wrong, you will be blamed and lose your license. A culture exists where everyone tries to cover their ass. If you work as a contractor (i.e. you work for a firm that sends you to different hospitals based on shortages), you will be the first person to be blamed. Unlike in tech, seniority is the main way to get better salaries and benefits. You won't get too far by performing really well. The attitudes and behavior of fellow coworkers (nurses and nurse assistants) would be considered quite unprofessional in a typical engineering workplace. Depending on which unit you work, patients can be horrible. You'll get all kinds of attitudes. Psychopaths, etc. If you stick to it, expect long term injuries: https://www.npr.org/series/385540559/injured-nurses https://www.npr.org/series/385540559/injured-nurses "James Collins, a research manager in the NIOSH Division of Safety Research, says before studying back injuries among nursing employees, he focused on auto factory workers. His subjects were "93 percent men, heavily tattooed, macho workforce, Harley-Davidson rider type guys," he says. "And they were prohibited from lifting over 35 pounds through the course of their work." Nursing employees in a typical hospital lift far heavier patients a dozen or more times every day. "That was my biggest shock and surprise," Collins says. "And the big deal is, the injuries are so severe that for many people, they're career-ending."" (Experience will vary with what type of nursing you work - some nursing is a lot milder - but pays less).

nostromo 8y ago

My significant other just got a job as a captain at a major airline. At 30 he was one of the youngest people hired in his cohort. In aviation experienced captains with lots of fly time and safe and timely arrivals are seen as assets. It's quite a contrast to what we hear about in tech.

reificator 8y ago
I'm still young but this has always been my question as well. When is tech going to grow up and recognize experience as an asset? Beyond of course putting "10 years of Julia 1.0 experience" as a requirement to be hired in a junior level position.
- chooseaname 8y ago
  As soon as older people and younger people learn to have respect for one another. I mean, what other answer is there? If tech doesn't want older people then they don't have respect for what older people bring to the table. Why is that? Could be older people are less flexible? Less willing to change? I don't know. Specifics probably aren't important. It comes down to respect.
  - bregma 8y ago
    Could be that older people are less flexible. I mean, I've been a professional software developer on the forefront of new tech development for about 40 years. I can't seem to do anything else but learn new tech as it comes along and churn out successful products, so I guess I'm rigidly set in my ways. It helps that I work remotely. Very few see my grey beard and get the chance to see how inflexible I am because of my age, so I get the respect due a younger person.

irrational 8y ago

I know a guy in his seventies who recently finished nursing school. He is working as a nurse with elderly patients who are younger than him. Mid-thirties definitely is not old ;-)

btach 8y ago

Interesting. I've been looking at doing the opposite. I've been a RN (mostly ED) for several years. I mostly enjoy it, but it can be pretty stressful sometimes. I started going back to school at a local CC taking math and EE classes last summer when feeling pretty depressed and burned out (getting out and using a different part of my brain, throwing myself at something challenging that's not work has helped tremendously in that part). As far as any age bias, I definitely have not noticed any where I work - I have several co-workers in their 60's and there is no typical age of new hires.