The experience of being an older staff nurse

The nursing workforce is aging at an unprecedented rate, yet we know very little about the experiences of older staff nurses. A qualitative design with purposeful sampling was used to describe the experience of being an older staff nurse. Data were obtained through in-depth interviews with 11 staff nurses over the age of 55 who were employed at least part-time in six hospitals located in the southeastern United States. Data analysis was guided by a feminist perspective utilizing the voice-centered relational method developed by Brown and Gilligan. Study findings demonstrate that older nurses are working because they continue to care, despite the stressors of intergenerational conflict with younger nurses, less respect from patients and families, and inequity in pay. Older nurses are confident in their abilities and are capable of meeting the demands of hospital nursing.