Age Discrimination in Nursing

[MNRN22, BSN]

I would like to share my story on age discrimination. Please read my story and offer advice and feedback on how I can deal with a situation where I was told, "this is not a job for someone approaching retirement age who is looking to take it easier". 

I have been a nurse for 14 years and I am 65 years of age. For 8 years I've worked at one of the top hospitals in the United States, voted year after year as one of America's Best Hospitals. I have eight years of both positive employee reviews and 360 comments, and I have been told I am well liked by everyone. I know, talk is cheap!

I applied for an internal job posting, a case management fellowship position. After submitting my resume and internal reviews, I was scheduled for an interview over Zoom. The interview concluded with a question and answer period. At the end of this period the person in charge of the fellowship program made the following comment to me. "This is a very difficult and demanding job. Our case managers have 18 patients, and you as a nurse only have 2. That's a big difference and many nurses don't realize how difficult the position is. It is not a good fit for someone approaching retirement age and looking to take it easier."

I was shocked and I was so dumfounded that this would be said to me during an interview that I did not even respond. During the following two weeks I related this story to all of my friends, "Do you think they were talking about me, or am I over reacting". So stupid was I until it finally dawned on me, "They were not talking about you, they were talking directly to you!" I was told that HR would let me know, and I never heard back from anyone, period. Finally two weeks after the start of the fellowship program, I stumbled online to my "career" page and I saw that I was no longer being considered for the position.

I pride myself on great patient care and I love the hospital that I work for, in fact for many years I worshiped it and felt honored and privileged to work there. Now I feel hurt, angry, unappreciated and I feel as though nothing I have done for the organization really mattered. But after that disappointment came anger, that I could be treated this way.  I am feeling I want to fight back. 

I am considering calling the compliance hot line but I fear retaliation. I have a pension and great benefits and do not want to loose my job. I feel that HR represents the company, not me. I am considering reaching out to the EEOC and filing a formal complaint. 

I am unsure what to do but in my heart I realize that not speaking out and doing nothing is allowing this kind of behavior to continue. I would now like to call the company out on their behavior.

Any advice anyone can share would be appeciated.

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

I don't know what good filing a complaint with the EEOC would do.  Truth is at 65 most women, especially nurses, are already retired or at least part-time or in a non bedside position.  I think at your age they don't want to spend the time training you on the job when they figure you will just retire in the next couple years.  It will probably be harder to find another job at your age because you are literally retirement age, already starting medicare.  You might have more luck looking outside the corporation.  Your best bet is if you have a friend that can get you into a place or job at this point.

If you file with the EEOC and they take your case or tell you that you can get an attorney, the best you might get out of it is a settlement for the pay you would have received, but since you already work for the company in another job, not sure if that is an option.  But yes if you file complaints with the compliance line or EEOC it will not be taken well, and it's pretty hard to remain anonymous with the compliance line.

I filed a safety complaint with my hospital's compliance line supposedly anonymously, but they knew who I was and even called looking for me, but I was on vacation when they received notice.  It was a waste of time anyway.  They just blamed covid for staffing issues and equipment and supplies "missing".  Also I had mentioned illegal age discrimination as my manager had blatantly told all six new grads her plan to get rid of the older nurses and then started writing us up on bogus complaints.  One by one the new grads said yes she told us that too.  But the response were those were just unfounded rumors.  Only thing it did was put her on the hot seat with the Director, and she left soon after I did.

Personally if you want to continue working for this hospital organization I wouldn't file a complaint, but it's up to you.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

The company is going to provide you with a nice retirement. Be happy with that. You cannot expect them to train you for a new position, when you are set up to leave at anytime. 

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

AZRNMSN said:

I feel that HR represents the company, not me. I am considering reaching out to the EEOC and filing a formal complaint. 

I'm sorry you learned this the hard way but it is true. The HR does not care about the employee and filing a complaint with them will place a huge target on your back. Best to retire gracefully and take the pension. So few companies offer them any more. 

Hppy

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

The OP said "I pride myself on great patient care and I love the hospital that I work for, in fact for many years I worshiped it and felt honored and privileged to work there. Now I feel hurt, angry, unappreciated and I feel as though nothing I have done for the organization really mattered. But after that disappointment came anger, that I could be treated this way.  I am feeling I want to fight back. "

 

You should never worship any place or person; they are not God.  When you put someone or something like a hospital on a pedestal, you will eventually be let down.  It is a business.  If the good reputation is truly deserved, ie fair, safe staffing, adequate supplies,  I would just be thankful to work there for that reason and that it has a pension.  But I have not seen any hospital even that good!

My coworker continued with the rose colored glasses about our hospital to the end saying it was a family. But to do that had to overlook all the many issues in general and things that had happened to her from denying her a raise one year for poor performance at the complaints of a few CNA's while she was battling a cancer diagnosis to being demoted her last year to a Level II RN with a 4% pay cut because she hadn't jumped thru the hoops to stay Level III.  This even though they knew she was retiring later that year! 

Also she forgot how the manager had refused to let her go back to day shift years ago as he felt she couldn't keep up so ended up on night shift which was detrimental to her health.  She was a day person, but took night shift years back to get a bonus of several thousand. 

She retired in 2016, a couple months before her 66th birthday, when she could no longer walk without pain after getting knee tendonitis from taking levaquin for pneumonia.  Her Dr didn't know there was a black box warning of tendinitis for levaquin when she called about the knee pain, but she hadn't read the insert either.  If she had told me then I would have told her to stop the med, but she only told me after it was all over. 

There were times coworkers would take her in a wheel chair down to her car at the end of a 12 hour shift!  She would get angry when people suggested she retire all because she hadn't planned for it so didn't think she could afford to retire.  Once she finally listened to me and met with social security, she realized she could afford to retire and quit ASAP! 

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Oh my goodness!  65 is NOT retirement age. I'm 65 and going strong. I've interviewed and been offered positions as recently as two years ago. Few of us can retire at 65 anymore.  

I'm personally disappointed in the above responses - ageism exists I guess....

To the OP (original poster) I do advise you to tread lightly as you now know the culture of the hospital. I would wait till I was retired to bring it up.  Best wishes

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

traumaRUs said:

Oh my goodness!  65 is NOT retirement age. I'm 65 and going strong. I've interviewed and been offered positions as recently as two years ago. Few of us can retire at 65 anymore.  

I will be 65 in 4.5 years and fully intend to retire. I have worked my butt off and planned well.  No member of my primary family has made it past 75 in spite of decent health habits. I can't think of anything worse than working until I am too decrepit or dead. 

As far as ageism existing in nursing there's no doubt in my mind. The march of time catches up with us all. If you can do the job and love doing it more power to you. But no one should have to work into their senior years due to inability to survive on a fixed income. 

Hppy

[MNRN22, BSN]

Thank you everyone for your comments. I agree it is probably not the best to complain in order to educate the hospital. I'd rather get even on my own terms. 

[Peachpit]

I'm sorry this happened to you and yes, it certainly sounds like ageism. HR can never be trusted in my opinion. They are corporate ALL the way - no matter how they spin it and their lack of professionalism in contacting you to let you know you were not longer being considered is also not surprising unfortunately.

I too am surprised by most of the comments. I know people in their 70's who are can run circles (some literally) around people half their age. Not every can or wants to retire at 65. I understand health may force that but for some people but companies basing hiring/promoting someone on age alone is, not only illegal, but also short sighted. They are passing up on much maturity, and experience and loyalty. The argument that time/money will be wasted on training someone who they "think" will retire in a few years is laughable..do they not recognize the new hires who come on board for a year or two, get a hefty bonus (or some specialized training) then leave for another facility, travel position or get out of nursing altogether? Is that not a waste of time/money?

The nursing profession is it's own worst enemy in so many ways.

[AlpacaTraveLlamaDNP]

traumaRUs said:

Oh my goodness!  65 is NOT retirement age. I'm 65 and going strong. I've interviewed and been offered positions as recently as two years ago. Few of us can retire at 65 anymore.  

I'm personally disappointed in the above responses - ageism exists I guess....

To the OP (original poster) I do advise you to tread lightly as you now know the culture of the hospital. I would wait till I was retired to bring it up.  Best wishes

This made my day, as am "aware of my age" now more than ever.  It used to be something to be proud of.  I would NOT trade my later years for anything of my youth, Hahahaha!

Confidence, Understanding, and Acceptance were hard fought.  Learning to love someone with all my heart, and be in total disagreement with their perspectives, politics, and outlook(my marriage), and this is a trait I see absent in the younger generation.  They don't even have the skills to disagree- or is it the communication skills?  I don't know.

But honestly- it's not a "some 65 year olds work circles around me, thing.”  But they do, and they exist.  It just that honestly 65 doesn't seem "old" to me.

I mean, we had Student Nurses in their mid and late 50's many many years ago.

Now, back on topic- I would add this perspective, being in that age bracket, you are better suited now than ever if you want this fight.  I'd use my mirror quote, and say, just make sure with that person, "The Juice is Worth the Squeeze.”  Imagine doing it, type it up and send it to yourself.  See if you feel any regret.  Just typing it up alone will be somewhat therapeutic.   Then and only then can you make the decision to let them off the hook, yourself off the hook(acceptance), or fight.

I am sorry this happened to you.  It's not right, and you still have a ton to give and contribute.  What would I do?  I would pursue my dreams and ambitious just as hard- because you sound very accomplished OP.  I wouldn't give them anymore of time, grief, and angst than they've already taken.

Remember, Karma is coming for us all.  They'll get their's if they live long enough.  Whatever you do, Best of Luck and Blessings!

[SunCityInsPhysical, BSN, RN]

Welcome to the real world of Nursing. Magnet and AARP recognized hospitals bought those certificates and are a joke....I've been there.   I hot injured when I answered call at 1:30 am to go in on my night off to cover for two nurses who just didn't show up for night shift. No notice and no answer. Other staff said they heard a rumor of possibility.

After my injury, 5 witnesses in busy Trauma OR, I was treated poorly by charge nurse, manager, director, Employee Health, risk manager etc. Etc....I was put on alternate duty and  did a superb job for them doing audits, even made a training manual (there was no guide for this position). They questioned how I accomplished so much so efficiently.(caught them up on 4 months behind) accurately and quickly. ( I even kept time log for start and stop on each days audit. )  I explained that I was grateful for the work and I stayed focussed on the tasks at hand. ( No web surfing, EBay shopping, or playing Candy Crush.  Yes I looked at the search historytime log of prior users of that work station.). I guess I exposed someone with connections and  ruffled feathers. It wasn't long before I was told my alternate duty time limited out and they had no other work for me.  I took disability and early retirement.  

My advice, be quiet, lay low, do your job to the letter, do the best you can to stay off their radar and grab your pension the day you're eligible. 

I left and  cross trained to do Chemo infusions (Certified Oncology Nursing course) and found a job simply by walking in dropping off my resume and offering T/W/THUR, Period and walking out. My phone range before I reached my car. 

Think positively. You will find something. 

But, a word to the wise, every workplace has problems. 

Blessings 

[MNRN22, BSN]

SunCityInsPhysical said:

Welcome to the real world of Nursing. Magnet and AARP recognized hospitals bought those certificates and are a joke....I've been there.   I hot injured when I answered call at 1:30 am to go in on my night off to cover for two nurses who just didn't show up for night shift. No notice and no answer. Other staff said they heard a rumor of possibility.

After my injury, 5 witnesses in busy Trauma OR, I was treated poorly by charge nurse, manager, director, Employee Health, risk manager etc. Etc....I was put on alternate duty and  did a superb job for them doing audits, even made a training manual (there was no guide for this position). They questioned how I accomplished so much so efficiently.(caught them up on 4 months behind) accurately and quickly. ( I even kept time log for start and stop on each days audit. )  I explained that I was grateful for the work and I stayed focussed on the tasks at hand. ( No web surfing, EBay shopping, or playing Candy Crush.  Yes I looked at the search historytime log of prior users of that work station.). I guess I exposed someone with connections and  ruffled feathers. It wasn't long before I was told my alternate duty time limited out and they had no other work for me.  I took disability and early retirement.  

My advice, be quiet, lay low, do your job to the letter, do the best you can to stay off their radar and grab your pension the day you're eligible. 

I left and  cross trained to do Chemo infusions (Certified Oncology Nursing course) and found a job simply by walking in dropping off my resume and offering T/W/THUR, Period and walking out. My phone range before I reached my car. 

Think positively. You will find something. 

But, a word to the wise, every workplace has problems. 

Blessings 

Thank you for the wise words! I's starting to wonder what's wrong with nursing. Is it this way in every field?