Input Wanted... Older Nurses Phased Out

Although I do realize it is illegal for an employer to discriminate with regard to age, I was curious as to whether any other nurses out there had faced issues with only new grads/young nurses as co-workers?

Long story short, at 60 years of age, I don't qualify for retirement benefits, and I'm not financially independent. Working is not an option for me, I HAVE to work.

My last employer (where I worked for nine months) was very "youth" oriented as far as hiring. I was the oldest employee at the facility.

Although I gave respect to the DON, ADON, and other Management, I never felt as though I was given any respect in return. New graduates on their first job trying to impress management, young enough to be my children, trying to tell me what and how to do things.

Granted, I have always tried to be gracious, wanting to learn any new or better ways of doing something, but when a new graduate LPN, walks into the room of MY assigned patient, and begins to make a decision regarding their care... 'nuff said.

It became very clear that the facility only wanted the new graduates coming to work there, even going so far as to hiring "graduating classes". They would take a job for a couple of dollars less than what I was paid, I was used to train them, then I was of no further use. The new graduates were the protege's of the DON, ADON, and I suppose "revered" the DON. Maybe this is what they wanted rather than quality and experienced nursing care.

I must also say that I was accurate, never was late, able to do my assigned tasks, worked overtime, all holidays. There was never a question as to whether I was physically able to do the job.

One young nurse, admitted to giving a patient insulin that wasn't even diabetic... didn't report the incident to management. This same nurse gave medications that were d/c'd for over a month... nothing happened to her. She had numerous occasions of temper tantrums in front of other nurses, patients, and visitors, again.. nothing happened. New orientee nurses complained about the hateful attitude she had with them... again, you guessed it. This nurse also takes prescription diet drugs that make her hyperactive, not able to concentrate (known by the DON, and ADON).

This same nurse is a beautiful, blonde with a perfect smile, the doctors loved to flirt with her, but face it.. the experience is not there, mistakes were made and noted by other nurses. She was able to interact with families, laugh.. be everywhere at once. Oh, did I mention that this nurse was and is allowed preferential treatment when it comes to overtime, etc?

Other than looking at their nurses employed there, the majority in their 20's, and 30's, how can I go about proving an age discrimination issue?

As I said, I was the oldest employee at the facility, nursing and non-nursing. It just seems that instead of managment regarding older nurses with years of experience as an asset, we're seen as a liability, when it comes to the bottom line.:sasq: