Sure didn't expect this!

Nurses Retired

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Been an R.N. for 22+ years, am 56 yrs old. In June 2014, had a motorcycle accident with a pretty severe tri-malleolar fx w/syndesmotic injury. It put me down, NWB for 12 weeks. When released by the surgeon to RTW, (after begging her) my employer did not restore me to my position. Two months later, in November, I returned to work in the full time capacity as a School Nurse without restrictions. I was placed on regular seasonal holiday lay-off for the Christmas holiday in December and by April I was no longer employed.

Subsequently, I applied to every open RN position imaginable, seeking work in my field 8 hrs a day, everyday for 4 complete weeks to no avail. No interviews, no calls!

Couldn't help but wonder, "am I being age discriminated?"

I now work full time in an unrelated field, sales, making 1/3 the wage I did as a professional R.N. I must say, I am relieved of all the stress associated with the profession and demand, but so sad and grief stricken by the professional loss. Comments??

Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

im 65, two years ago I was working LTC, that preferred their DONs new grads., no experience, in that they could mold into their pattern, they got in trouble, and was tickled to have this ole fossil pull thru good DADs survey......

Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

age discrimination does exist, but I have not personally experienced I get one to two offers a week to come back to former local (rural) hospital, I get calls from three area LTCS anything from DON! RN medicare coordinator, and weekend RN Supv.......but I am in rural SE Texas

Less money? Really? Why sell yourself short. If you dont place a value on your education, experience and hold yourself to be paid what you are worth, the prospective employer will sense desperation on your part and not hire anyway. There is usually a salary eange based on experience, offering to work for less is not a good idea.

You can appear younger by college graduation dates (second career RN), look 10 years younger (good genes), but you will be expected to move physically and have the energy of someone much younger ... Your body will betray you and you may decide that floor nursing is no longer worth the physical and mental effort. At 64 decided the craziness of the emergency department in a high volume hospital was no longer worth the physical aches and pains let alone the risk of injury doing heavy tasks without assistance. My co-workers were amazed when they learned my age when i resigned and told them i was just "too old to work that hard". My nuse manager was also surprised and said she got out of the bedside 10 years ago and could not see herself staffing even then (she is probably 5-6 years younger). It is pure luxury to be able to walk away when you know you have had enough.

The precedent being set? The one that says it is not desirable to be unemployed. Each and every employer that bothered to talk about available work recently, offered me CNA wages and told me to my face that they weren't going to pay me for my qualifications. In one instance, the person told me they would be interviewing a new grad half an hour after my appointment. She was smiling as she said this. This is not handwriting on the wall, it is the unemployment compensation ending for many. Nobody likes to be unemployed.

My employer, close to you, doesn't age discriminate and would offer you good wages if you showed up with relevant experience and a positive energy that would enrich our patient oriented climate.

Burned out disgruntled nurses need not apply, we've been down that road before, once bitten..

Specializes in Critical Care,Recovery, ED.

Haven't seen this mentioned yet, what about travel nursing. Our facility has used them in the past and a lot of the RNs were in your age bracket.

Specializes in Mental Health/School Nursing/Corrections.

Who's your employer Libby?

Specializes in Mental Health/School Nursing/Corrections.

OC_An Khe, thanks for caring. I've been a travel nurse. I don't meet requirements any longer. You must have experience in the field in the past 2 yrs that you apply to or TN recruiters don't even consider you. I've been a School Nurse for the past 4 yrs so that puts me out of the playing field, but, honestly I'm not interested in travel anymore, don't want to uproot myself every 12 weeks.

I am feeling the same way right now! I am 57, have been a nurse for only 6 years. I left my job in December to take care of some family issues. I have begun applying for positions again and feel as though I'm invisible! I have an Associate Degree and friends have told me that employers consider Bachelor Degrees first. I can't see pursuing a Bachelor Degree at my age. Not sure what the future holds but I really would like to get back to taking care of patients.

Very well stated, Esme. I agree with everything you said.

Who's your employer Libby?

I can't post my employer..

Our friendly competitor (crossover of staff so there are work aquaintenances who work there) doesn't offer CNA wages to RNs either.

ETA My employer is in the same region as Caliotter, not OP.

Esme12

You Nailed it!

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