New RN BSN over 50 and Can't Get a Job

Nurses General Nursing

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I am over 50 years old and STILL can't get a job in nursing here. After studying for 7 years and spending in excess of 40K needless to say I am very disappointed in myself. I may be wrong but it sure seems like my age. All of my classmate I have spoke with have great jobs and get called for interviews but not me except for 3 interviews of which I got nary a one. When I went to school there was talk of sign on bonus and the great need and now after all the study and expense I am beginning to worry. I am really hurting financially and no job. I am told that not having worked as a student nurse hurts me but my I had to watch my kids while my wife worked and went to school so I simply was not able. I can see nothing else but my age that is the diff and do not know what to do. I had a very decent GPA and belong to Sigma Theta Tau and I guess it does not trump age. Sorry for the poor me but now my wife and kids are suffering financially and I will have to apply for food stamps soon. I simply cannot believe that after all of the study and sacrifice to achieve my goal of a BSN RN that I just got through epoxying my kids tennis shoes for school tomorrow. Some secretary at the last hospital I applied to told me I should go to a nursing home and apply as I could probably relate to the patients. I wish I had known there was such age discrimination! Any ideqas appreciated.

l would apply to the DOC of your state, BOP and the VA. Search USAJOBS for RN positions. Best of luck....

VA is on freeze. They hired everyone in my class except me that applied there. I was 20 years old than the oldest they hired and I am also a twice honorably discharged 5 point viet vet. I have one shot left on a job there I applied for exempt from freeze and am going through the Congressional Subcommittee on Veteran Affairs if that one doesn't pan but I really would rather work than beatch. I already contacted the Subcommitte rep courtesy of a Hoosier Congressman with some weight as well as my own Congressional rep but i already know if I go that route it will be a long time investment. The guy I am working with there is also an older vet and told me he would either do me some good or get me blackballed for life! LOL The craziest part is that some of the students they hired did not pass the NCLEX. I just hate doing the victim route but I guess that is reality here. DOC and VOP I will try. Thanks!

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I was hired last summer and there has since been a soft freeze. Public Health Service is another option. Indian Health Service....

http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/jobsearch.asp?re=1&pg=1&q=Registered+Nurse&sort=rv&vw=d&brd=3876&ss=0&customapplicant=15513%2C15514%2C15515%2C15669%2C15523%2C15512%2C15516%2C45575

HTH

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I was hired last summer and there has since been a soft freeze. Public Health Service is another option. Indian Health Service....

http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/jobsearch.asp?re=1&pg=1&q=Registered+Nurse&sort=rv&vw=d&brd=3876&ss=0&customapplicant=15513%2C15514%2C15515%2C15669%2C15523%2C15512%2C15516%2C45575

HTH

Nothing in Indianapolis area at all. I have elderly relatives, working wife with seniority and enrolled school age children in sports so work geographically locate central indiana a must. The students I was talikng about were hired in December and January incidentally even though I was told there was a freeze. What is a soft freeze? Is that where they just tell you that?

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I heard today that hiring was being done "on the sly" with jobs posted internally only and specifically not on that website to get only referals and students converting. Pretty widely known within the hospital and was confirmed to me by nurse recruitment in January.

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I'm a bit older than you, and graduated w/BSN in Aug, 07. I had two offers prior to graduating.

I left the job I took, and am now employed in a hospice agency. Took me a couple months to get hired, but I wanted to work in hospice and was willing to wait a reasonable period to get there.

One thing you didn't say in your post was whether you were/are willing to start w/nights. Easier to get hired if you will work nights.

Make sure you have strong references, both from nursing school and previous employment in whatever career you had before.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

sorry you having trouble landing that first position...

you can join the company of state of nj graduates, boston, la, philadelphia and phoenix with tight job markets for new graduates ---see the laments in those state forums.

tell us what have you done for followup after the interviews? send any thank you for interview notes? followup phone call? have you asked for feedback from interview so can improve next time..

see our revamped thread wondering why you can't get hired or promoted: resume + interview hints! for ideas.

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Yes I always send a thank you to the interviewer and the recruiter. There is no shortage of nursing jobs for new BSN grads here, just new nursing grads over 50. Any advice is always appreciated and welcome!

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Specializes in tele, stepdown/PCU, med/surg.

HoosierMale,

It is the economy. I am a travel nurse and have had a hard time trying to find contracts. Hospitals are just not coming through with a lot of jobs for people right now.

I am sure there is age discrimination too and if you could prove it, you could sue all those folks but how do you prove it?

I know you will find a great job, but it may take a while. Were you an RN before you got your BSN? If so, you could work per diem or something at hospitals. If not, then I feel for you. I don't know if I would take a nursing home job at this point, if you feel you want to work in the hospital. I guess it depends on how long you can wait.

Hopefully you live in a city where there are a few hospitals to choose from. Maybe you could ask a professor or teacher for advice on the issue? In any case, keep us posted! :)

Zman

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That is really discouraging. I wish I could offer advice. I really hope it's just been coincidental and not true age discrimination. If you are in good health, I would think that age might actually make you a BETTER nurse - more life experience to relate to people.

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That is really discouraging. I wish I could offer advice. I really hope it's just been coincidental and not true age discrimination. If you are in good health, I would think that age might actually make you a BETTER nurse - more life experience to relate to people.

There is no doubt in my mind that I am a better nurse! Thank you all so much for your advice! As I stated, if you are a young nurse here in my area according to peers I have spoken with, they were all expressive of how many and and how fast they got job offers. I love nursing and I love caregiving so I am sure that if I look harder and prey harder I will be successful. God has a plan but I just do not know what it is yet!

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I was a non-traditional student as well. It might have been the timing of when you applied for jobs. I graduated last may, and did not want to pursue any jobs until I actually had my license. When I had my license, I then looked for work for months in my remote location, but they would not hire me for "lack of experience". I then got hired at a job that was not being a nurse just to have a job. They fired me when they found out I was a nurse and told me to find a job at the hospital. I eventually moved a great distance after the only job I found was at a nursing home, but it was something! I worked there for just a few months until I found a job in a hospital which I love. Keep positive! You have a lot to offer. Let them know that. Oh, I found my job at a Career Day at a local college. :)

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Recently I've seen ads for nurses to work in Corrections - would that area

be of interest to you?

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