Older workers that are new grad nurses, please explain.

Nurses Job Hunt

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Hi,

I am not going to be popular with this thread, but here goes...I have seen quite a few posts about the older workers that are new grads thinking they deserve a job more because they had a previous career. Many times, these former careers are NOT healthcare related, so it does not help with their nursing career at all. My question to the older workers who are new grads is why do you feel like you deserve jobs over the younger new grads?

I feel like if anything, the older workers seem more entitled than younger workers. When you get a second career, you are starting at ground zero. So, let the opinions fly.

Obviously 'younger does not mean lazy,' as anybody knows who's watched a bunch of 20-somethings go through SOG training or hump hills fighting wild land fires.

I know some truly excellent young folks... and am fortunate to work shoulder-to-shoulder with some of them.

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What I find most unfortunate is that there are not a sufficient number of good jobs available for all the people who could perform them well, be they in their 20's or their 60's.

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My perspective is that my previous career (10 years Accounting) did not help me land a job, HOWEVER I did mention in interviews that I had worked with previous employer for many years to point out that if they invested in training me for their hospital I would not job-hop after a year, that I would stick around. It also helped me, I think, that I had experiences working with a unique and diverse group of people and could articulate problem-solving skills to potential employers. When it came down to it, I was passed over by my 1st choice for younger new grads, and ended up getting a better job. Interview skills, personality, and life experiences should count for something!

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Okay, so here's a scenario. Sue, age 48, worked as a financial advisor for 26 years and made $70, 000 a year. She decided she wanted a career that helped people and went back to nursing school and graduated. Jill, age 23, just graduated nursing school, as well. Her work history includes 5 years babysitting and volunteering. Then, she was able to land a CNA job at her local hospital, where she worked 2 years before graduating and becoming a nurse. Both are applying for the same job--a new grad position on a Med Surg floor (the pay is roughly $38,000 a year). Who do you give the job to and why?

No, it is not a school assignment (I am a nurse already and not in school.) I just made it up for discussion purposes.

For me-- Sue: Pros are that she has extensive work history; Cons are that she did not work healthcare and that she made a salary that was much more than what a new grad makes (assuming you are not in a city). Plus, she may retire in roughly 15 years.

Jill: Pros are that she had healthcare experience and she may feel like she is getting a huge pay raise from what she makes now (she would be okay with $38,000). Cons: she only has a max 7 years working, but only 2 years "real job" experience.

I would give the job to Jill, personally, because she has relevant work experience, I could possibly get 40 years out of her, and her salary expectations may be what I have to offer.

Now, what's your opinion?

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Specializes in ED.

I agree with one of the above posts that states that the older new nurse is more likely to stay where a younger new nurse may be looking for other opportunities often. As an 'older' new nurse I know I am less marketable than the younger new nurse. I was at my last job almost 20 years (healthcare related). I think that is what gave me the edge to my interview b/c my employer saw my staying potential.

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I understand that, erin. I am actually referring to people who went into nursing as a second career and their former career was non healthcare. This thread was "inspired" by several recent posts about older new grads (as in age older) thinking they deserve a job over young new grads because of work experience and if they don't get it, they think age discrimination or jealousy...so, I am curious, what does an older new grad have to offer from a former career non healthcare over a younger person? That's all. I made a scenario that lays out my point of the thread.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
I understand that, erin. I am actually referring to people who went into nursing as a second career and their former career was non healthcare. This thread was "inspired" by several recent posts about older new grads (as in age older) thinking they deserve a job over young new grads because of work experience and if they don't get it, they think age discrimination or jealousy...so, I am curious, what does an older new grad have to offer from a former career non healthcare over a younger person? That's all. I made a scenario that lays out my point of the thread.

If you could direct us to those posts that so "inspired" you to start this thread, I for one would appreciate it. Personally, I've never seen such a post and am very curious.

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Ok. Mods, if it against TOS, please edit.

"If finances are tight, i wouldn't move until you have some sort of commitment. I'd hate to see you pay to move everything back to ME only to find you don't get hired there either...Keep plugging in both areas. I'm in a similar situation, but I can't move the family. I'm 50 with a prior career that apparently doesn't count for anything (maturity anyone?) and can't a response either." Thread: New Grad Needs Advice. Stay in FL or move home to ME to work.

"I'm a brand new nurse starting my second career at age 49. I've already encountered some jealousy and plain spitefulness from younger more experienced nurses and I'm just orienting. My friend told me that I had to realize that not everyone was happy I made it through school and passed the NCLEX. I just want to do a good job and be the best I can be. What's the best advice you would give a new nurse like me?" thread: Advice

There's two, more of them insinuate the superiority of the 40+ club (that is not an insult, if you are over 40, this is what I am referring to). I can pull those, if you would like.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

roser13, there is a post out there that has the title: "Age discrimination?...." I also know the post WML is stating where the poster states he is 50 (that post is about a OP who is moving or moved from ME to FL).

I responded to the OP who had twenty years in healthcare, worked in a SNF, and wanted to do a new grad residency, and the OP stated that they were being discriminated against being in a new grad residency. I pointed out she has 8 months experience, so the OP may not be eligible. The OP stated that their cohorts were able to get jobs in residencies, and went on to explain that the peer for their shadow interview "rolled her eyes" and "sighed" in response to OP's questions, and called it "age discrimination", and made the assumption that the peer was younger. I say assumption because one may not know how "old" a person is. I know I look like a teen and I'm pretty much 20 years removed; and the peer's behavior could be the culture, not necessarily "discrimination".

The point WML I think is trying to make is there is a faulty assumption on a certain percentage of career changers that have skin in the game making a faulty assumption that they should be picked over someone who did not have a previous career, where the candidates are seen as equals to a large amount if hiring managers in a ****-poor economy, and they are sadly mistaken.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
Ok. Mods, if it against TOS, please edit.

"If finances are tight, i wouldn't move until you have some sort of commitment. I'd hate to see you pay to move everything back to ME only to find you don't get hired there either...Keep plugging in both areas. I'm in a similar situation, but I can't move the family. I'm 50 with a prior career that apparently doesn't count for anything (maturity anyone?) and can't a response either." Thread: New Grad Needs Advice. Stay in FL or move home to ME to work.

"I'm a brand new nurse starting my second career at age 49. I've already encountered some jealousy and plain spitefulness from younger more experienced nurses and I'm just orienting. My friend told me that I had to realize that not everyone was happy I made it through school and passed the NCLEX. I just want to do a good job and be the best I can be. What's the best advice you would give a new nurse like me?" thread: Advice

There's two, more of them insinuate the superiority of the 40+ club (that is not an insult, if you are over 40, this is what I am referring to). I can pull those, if you would like.

Guess I'm just not getting the "hire me first" vibe that you are. I can vaguely see it in the first quote who expects maturity to count.

The second quote just doesn't fit what you're alleging. The OP is simply struggling with younger peers, not asking to be given favor due to a previous career.

I think the point that you're trying to make is a no-go.

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Ok. Mods, if it against TOS, please edit.

"If finances are tight, i wouldn't move until you have some sort of commitment. I'd hate to see you pay to move everything back to ME only to find you don't get hired there either...Keep plugging in both areas. I'm in a similar situation, but I can't move the family. I'm 50 with a prior career that apparently doesn't count for anything (maturity anyone?) and can't a response either." Thread: New Grad Needs Advice. Stay in FL or move home to ME to work.

"I'm a brand new nurse starting my second career at age 49. I've already encountered some jealousy and plain spitefulness from younger more experienced nurses and I'm just orienting. My friend told me that I had to realize that not everyone was happy I made it through school and passed the NCLEX. I just want to do a good job and be the best I can be. What's the best advice you would give a new nurse like me?" thread: Advice

There's two, more of them insinuate the superiority of the 40+ club (that is not an insult, if you are over 40, this is what I am referring to). I can pull those, if you would like.

In the first example the poster expresses concern that his/her prior career/maturity apparently doesn't count for anything, and in the second example the poster expresses that while orienting he/she has already encountered some jealousy and plain spitefulness from younger more experienced nurses.

Neither of the words in either example indicate that these older new grads think they deserve a job over young new grads because of work experience and that if they didn't get it they think age discrimination or jealousy. You are inferring this. It's possible you are correct, but the words of their posts don't tell us that this is what they think.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Hospice.

I have seen this "sense of entitlement" from second career new grads also and I feel that regardless of how many years of work experience you have prior to becoming a nurse, If you were not a nurse or in a similar healthcare related field then yes, DO have to start from ground zero. At the ethnd of the day, the person who is able to perform the job better and is able to articulate that in the interview should be the one who gets hired. And as far as older new grads having a "track record" of reliability, that is all subjective because I have seen a 40 something second career nurse quit the floor with no notice after working only 4 months.

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Getting a first job in a field is always challenging whether first or second career.

The concept of "entitlement" of older or second career individuals may be a communication misunderstanding.

When in comes to finding jobs, I should hope that skill set really matters in an ideal world. But in reality, other things come into play. Personality, skills, communication skills, management skills, previous successes, etc.

No matter what people always have differences of opinion based on age, religion, politics, etc. These are items that can be much heated.

But with anything, an individual that is accomplished in one area brings these skills to the table in another area.

In the end, each individual must be responsible for his/her ability to earn a living not based on entitlement or whatever, just plain old hard work.

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