Older workers that are new grad nurses, please explain.

[wish_me_luck]

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.

[wish_me_luck, BSN, RN]

The first one is actually exactly what I am saying--his first career was not healthcare, but yet thought since he was older (and maturer, I guess) he deserved a nursing job right out of the gate.

I want to know why just because someone has more work experience/a first career, they deserve the job over a 20 something new grad. The 20 something person is not old enough to have a former career--has nothing to do with laziness or entitlement.

Perhaps, you all can explain what that quote means then, because apparently, I didn't understand it right.

The other post also proves my point. I do not know if the second poster had a former career, maybe if she sees this, she can tell us. Why would you include your age and a remark about younger people (both new or experienced) unless that's what you are insinuating?

Lady also brought another thread up about it. I know I saw quite a few. Finding them all can be daunting.

Not everything is jealousy or age discrimination and not all older workers are better than younger ones. Maybe someone younger is more qualified or gave better answers to interview questions...

No one ever did explain who they would pick for my scenario. But, oh, well. The other point of the thread is I wonder why an older worker who has a previous career not in healthcare deserves a job over a young new grad that has less experience in the work force.

[wish_me_luck, BSN, RN]

swan, the thing is, while some skills are transferable, for the most part, nursing (esp floor nursing) is a horse of a different color. You have to realize also that someone who has decades of work experience has a higher salary (sometimes with benefits) and starting over in nursing is going to yield a lower salary because they do not have nursing experience. An older worker is more likely to try and negotiate a higher salary than a younger worker. The ol' low ball the new grad.

Maybe a better way of saying starting at ground zero is this--whatever field you go into, you will be at the bottom of the experience totem pole. Even though you are older than the younger counterparts, the amount of nursing experience is the same...zero. An employer is not going to give an older person more money or a nursing job based on an unrelated job field as it typically is no use in nursing.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

I think that with this poor economy everyone is struggling and scrambling. Everyone ran to nursing as the path to riches and it just isn't true.

I have seen just as many posts from younger graduates that thinks the experienced old bats need to retire and let the young ones have a change.....we are clearly too old to keep up.

Everyone is hurting and needs that job.

I think the word deserves is a strong word. It is that, sometimes, the more experienced worker, regardless of the profession, brings a certain maturity and stability to the work force. They are less likely to leave and move on.....they are more stable in regards to staying with the facility because of family obligations.

It boils down to.....if you don't have a job you feel you deserve it. Tough times.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

wish_me_luck, In your scenario where you would chose Jill the younger new grad because she has relevant work expereince over Sue who has an extensive non-related work history. My choice would depend on what the average age of the staff is on the hiring unit. If 90% of the staff are in Sue's age group and will be ready to retire in 15 years, then I will choose Jill because I want to build capacity so that I have enough experienced staff to take care of the patients when the boomers retire.

[swansonplace]

Good Luck wish_me_luck.

[wish_me_luck, BSN, RN]

I don't know, Esme. I personally only apply to jobs I really want, not any job (maybe that is why I am still unemployed). I don't think I deserve the job just because I do not have one. If there's another candidate more qualified, please hire them. It's not being picky; I am thinking of the employer and possible longevity.

I do not think age equals maturity. I have seen in both ways.

So, what skills do people in non healthcare fields bring to the table? I mean, what is transferable? Also, just because someone had a former career as say an engineer doesn't mean they were not a job hopper. Maybe they job hopped from Company X as an engineer to Company Y as an engineer to Company Z as an engineer. Their former career? An engineer. Did they have longevity with it? Depends. Yes, they were always an engineer. No, in that they worked for 3 different companies. How do you know they will stay with one company as a nurse?

How does having a former career bring maturity??

[swansonplace]

It is whatever the market will bear. It is skill based for the most part. So if I can bring something to the table that my employer wants and it is an additional skillset, then yes it may demand more money or a better chance of getting hired.

It should not be based on age. But in reality, sometimes it is. Those coming out to work for the first time do have skills to offer also that older workers do not have.

It's more of what you bring to the table, and what your employer is looking for. Capitalism.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

It is whatever the market will bear and the nursing market will not bear an influx of new grad nurses who are over 50 years of age. Nursing already has more than enough boomers. The nursing schools' plans in the early 2000's were to build capacity in nursing by marketing to attract younger people and open up more seats. It was a good plan but unfortunately the recession hit and many boomers in non-nursing fields lost their jobs, so they turned to nursing as a second career.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

I've been working since I was 13. I'm now 58. I think having a work history of any kind gives one an advantage in getting another job.

These days finding a job in any field is tough. People use whatever advantage they can.....experience or the energy of youth.

[LoriRNCM, ADN, ASN, RN]

Is "maturer" a word? mmmm......... don't think so.----- Signed, an older, "more mature" soon to be nurse

[wish_me_luck, BSN, RN]

wow, lori, real mature.--Signed, a younger, not so snide RN.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

wow, lori, real mature.--Signed, a younger, not so snide RN.

Not helping your cause.....