Ageism

Could really use some advice guys. Isn't discrimination based on age illegal???

Yes, but you have to be able to prove it. Also, the company isnt the ones discriminating, the patient/family is. Unfortunately, they can make that choice. If you would sue, the answer would be that you didn't meet whatever expectations. If the company doesn't meet the client expectations, client goes elsewhere. It stinks, but it's reality. I'm 50+, so understand totally

Thank you for the advice - much appreciated.

I really don’t think you have any recourse. If the agency refuses to give you cases then maybe. But clients and/or families can be racist, sexist etc. I have a client where mom doesn’t want any nurses with foreign accents, another didn’t like a male nurse to do the overnights. I once lost an elderly client because I was too young and the client liked the older nurse better. Sucks.

Is that even a thing ? Why does being young as opposed to competence influence whether you get a case or not ?

2 hours ago, El Primus said:

Is that even a thing ? Why does being young as opposed to competence influence whether you get a case or not ?

Yes, it's a thing. It's all about perception as experienced by the client, and what they want and expect in their caregiver. The client may view youth as more energetic, engaging, or stronger. In reality it's no more true than when some people view all male nurses as homosexual. The client dictates who will provide care, or they will go to another company, which I've seen more than once in my career. It would be nice if we could all be blind to certain characteristics, but life doesn't work that way

@Hoosier_RN I completely agree with you. Perception and life experiences definitely shape how people approach things. As stupid as some of these things may seem, once you talk to people with this line of thouht, you will realize the complexity of their view points and in some cases why they are justified.

On the other hand, atleast they are upfront about it, instead of trying to build a case against you to get you fired when all it is, is your age that they have a problem with and not your quality of work.

Family choice, and as we all know, patients and families make ridiculous requests all the time. Your recourse is to accept these people are going to say silly, annoying, and outright insulting things throughout your nursing career. Rarely anymore do I meet actual nice people who are unfortunately ill and appreciative of their care.

I'm a white male nurse. What I've come up against most often is the family who wants a female nurse or a Spanish nurse because mama would feel more at ease. They miss out on very good nursing care from yours truly though, as they come out of the room repeatedly asking me where their nurse is. Well she's either visiting her friends in the other unit or having the potluck.

Not gloating, but obviously there will be ageism, sexism, racism, any other -ism. You gotta let go of society's pinpricks and accept patients and families are by and large very maladjusted people who only see themselves. If nursing is better than that then I haven't really seen it.