I am over 60 years old. I was encouraged by a hospital I was volunteering at to renew my RN license. Since my license was lapsed for over 8 years, I retook the NCLEX again and renewed my license.
I was told by nurse recruiters that they would want me to have a refresher course which I am starting 8/29. In the meantime they suggested that I apply to skilled facilities to get a start to bring my skills up to date.
I began a new job at a LTC, skilled, sub-acute facility in which I was told by the DON I would be put in the skilled unit, I had a lot of good experience, etc. and they really wanted me, $25 hour.
When I first reported to my first floor orientation, I was placed on the LTC unit. I asked why I had been placed on LTC and not the skilled unit. I was told, well, you've been out for 10 years and the new graduates don't last in the skilled unit.
The duties consist of passing meds for about 7-1/2 hours, plus tube feeding and lots and lots of redundant charting for medicare charting, etc. for 39 patients in 8 hours. Then I heard the LVN that was orienting me that I was going to be her replacement when she was off.
I feel used and screwed because I made it very plain to the DON that I wanted A SKILLED position. I feel like I can't afford to make waves at this time because I feel the pay is good (for CAL). I had studied for a few months to take the NCLEX and passed it on the first try, so it was not as though I my mind was blank to what goes on in nursing and a lot of the studying was fairly easy because I remembered from past experience.
I guess I will stick it out until I finish my refresher course in December and hope that by then my chances will be a lot better because I had sent my resume in to a big hospital and they emailed me back and wanted to know what I had wanted, but said I had to take the refresher first.
I feel like I am being treated as though I am retarded and too old, although I am in excellent physical health and shape.
I am really disappointed and angry by being treated this way but I guess the money is fairly good but my whole point was to be hired to start in skilled nursing to get start on working on my skills. So I guess that will just have to wait until I get my refresher. I want to be doing the things I used to do, although part time. I don't want to be a pill pusher. Couldn't help griping over my disappointment.
Frankly, I am really angry besides being disappointed. I just hope I can keep my big mouth shut and do it as long as they are paying me $25/hour.
You are welcome, movingalong. Be aware of everyone and everything around you on that job so you don't end up getting caught in a nasty web of trouble. Trust your gut feelings. They usually are there to warn you to get out of a troubled situation, or stay out of one. :)
Movingalong, I hope you don't mind me asking this...but what was it like taking NCLEX again? I was just curious...even though I've been a RN for 20 years, I'd be so nervous if I had to take it again.
When I took it before, it was the old 2 day, paper and pencil with no calculators and I was horrible at calculations. I just studied and for some reason, not logical, I knew I was going to pass it. Can't think of a reason I thought that though. But I think one of the things that helped me is that the diseases are the same and I remembered a lot of things that I had done so that helped. I studied for a few months and felt very confident when I went to take the test. But that lasted about 5 minutes. I just panicked and all I wanted to was get out of there. But if you read on the NCLEX everybody thinks they have failed. I think I felt just as confused with the first NCLEX. I really don't know what was different except the difference between paper and computer. I had a girlfriend that took the bar at about the same time and everybody's reaction seems to be the same. So I could never figure out what either rational was.
Looks like things have changed even from when I was in the hospital. I am only about 10 years your junior but I remember when a person's word meant something. Within 10 years of the oil bust I think the healthcare system became more deceptive like business systems. At this point, about 20 years since the oil bust, I think it has become as blatant deceptive.
I feel your frustration, especially, since I would be in your shoes if I chose to return to an acute medical surgical hospital setting. Also, over prolonged periods of frustration I do mis-speak so I understand.
Now that the NCLEX is over, my suggestion is for you focus on your goal of completing the refresher course and forget the age discrimination. It is not worth worrying over, especially, since it would be difficult to prove considering your history of not being in the active nursing force. We can all here recognize it for what it is.
Consider the pleasure it can give you at the end of the refresher course to also (e.g.; like the young ones) leave this unit!!! HELLO??? No one wants a manager who is a blatant in your face LIAR! Of course, leave on good terms but secretly laugh as you walk out the door in December.
BTW - I don't know if your area is like here but the job advertisements tend to drop after Thanksgiving and pick up again around February. There may be available jobs during that period but maybe not the one you want so don't be discouraged if that happens.
Best of Luck!
I remember medicine being a profession, and now it is an industry. I don't know what state you live in but if if is in CA, you really have to worry about Guv Sharzeneger. The Hospital associations and pharmaceutical companies are give him millions of dollars to break the ratios that have been so hard to win. It is all profit on the expense of the nurses back. Have you read the news sections about CA govenor? Thanks for reminding me about the lull during the holidays. I had forgotten that, so another reason to grit my teeth for a time.
I remember medicine being a profession, and now it is an industry. I don't know what state you live in but if if is in CA, you really have to worry about Guv Sharzeneger. The Hospital associations and pharmaceutical companies are give him millions of dollars to break the ratios that have been so hard to win. It is all profit on the expense of the nurses back. Have you read the news sections about CA govenor? Thanks for reminding me about the lull during the holidays. I had forgotten that, so another reason to grit my teeth for a time.
Thank you so much. As I said before, discussions help to put things in perspective. I feel a lot better.
Wow!!!!!! I am so darn impressed with you gal!! You must be some kind of special lady to jump back into the 'sesspool' after years away.
Kudos to you........big time!!
It really doesn't surprise me though. LTC facilities are hurting so badly these days that they will say anything just to get you into the door........been there, done that. I don't see what the big deal is about you having to take any 'refresher' courses or have some experience since you've been gone.....heck, I have worked with new grads who have no prior experience and they think they know it all.......scary!! I've also worked with nurses who have been on the floor for years and can't start a IV or change a simple dressing............you hang in there lady and when you can walk out that door..........DO IT!!! If they give you ANY indication that they are messing with you due to your age.........call their bluff and then call your attorney. We need to keep our quality nurses, not run them off.
I know what you are saying. I have read a lot about nurses being promised things in hospitals, great orientations, great nurse to patient ratios, bonuses and so forth not to have them materialize, so I wasn't so much surprised but angry. But I guess I will just stick it out. I feel like some kind of job while I was in refresher would probably look good also on a resume since I just got the license renewed by taking the NCLEX. So it will be their loss. Believe me, if it wasn't my first job, I would stare them straight in the eye and insist or walk. I totally agree with you about putting a stop to this practice but they will know soon enough. Thank you for thinking of me and trying to help.
Like you I am around 60 and like you I have witnessed a lot of dishonesty on the part of recruiters. I have only worked in healthcare but I wonder if this sort of dishonesty is as prevalent in other fields.
No. she is not going on leave. She means on her days off. Thanks for your encouragement. I have been looking forward to my refresher course and even more so now. The clinicals will be done at the large hospital so I am looking forward to that. A lot of nurses get hired during that time. I really appreciate your support. It helps when someone else is there to help put the situation in perspective. And you are so right, my day will come and I will just keep my mouth shut. I understand that another hospital corporation treats their older refresher nurses well. Thanks again.
Ah, I see. Well, poo. You're welcome, and the best of luck to you in your refresher and finding a better job! :)
Wow!!!!!! I am so darn impressed with you gal!! You must be some kind of special lady to jump back into the 'sesspool' after years away.
Kudos to you........big time!!
It really doesn't surprise me though. LTC facilities are hurting so badly these days that they will say anything just to get you into the door........been there, done that. I don't see what the big deal is about you having to take any 'refresher' courses or have some experience since you've been gone.....heck, I have worked with new grads who have no prior experience and they think they know it all.......scary!! I've also worked with nurses who have been on the floor for years and can't start a IV or change a simple dressing............you hang in there lady and when you can walk out that door..........DO IT!!! If they give you ANY indication that they are messing with you due to your age.........call their bluff and then call your attorney. We need to keep our quality nurses, not run them off.
Good luck and keep us posted, ok??
:kiss
Thank you so much for the your kind compliments. It has occurred to me "What am I doing here?" I know what you mean about refresher courses, but they run the show. Most of what I have seen as far as change goes seems to be in technology but I am sure I will be learning new things. Text books don't seem too different. So maybe the refresher will just make me sharper. Indeed I will keep you sweet nurses posted. Thanks again.
I started to push after a few days of orientation. I asked the DON when I was going tothe skilled floor. She said she would talk to me later. I then asked the Assistant DON when I was going to skilled. She was in favor of it and gave me a schedule to be in acute care. Then one day the administer met me at the door and started talking about it. He was in favor of it.
The DON was really mad. She started giving me a hard time about if I could be charge nurse nurse on the LTC, you've been here for 2 weeks. I said, no I've been oriented 5 days which one I just followed the nurse and did nothing. She said do I think I could handle the whole shift by yourself now. I said no. I said I have done all the meds, (hundreds it seemed, all the insulins, tube feeders and flushers, at least 10. But to do the whole shift with all the paper work, charting, ordering meds, admissions, etc by myself I said no! We kind of went back in forth and I said I wanted to go the subacute which I had already gotten the schedule for.
I only get 2 days orientation on 15 vents and trachs with supposedly a couple CNAs. So I am not sure if I will be able to be full charge on the 3rd day. So I am going to give it my best. If I am not perfect and get it all done in 8 hours, I don't know whether I'll be out the door.
One of the LVNs said new graduates do not last on the skilled floor. What does that tell you. It couldn't be that the nurses were driven to the brink with such overwhelming workloads. It seems that it is a put down of the nurses ability, not that the facility is so profit driven.
Another story I have found emerging. The DON is fillipino and most all the lvns are phillipino. I wonder if they are paid less wage and are driven hard to make the US money. These nurses work so hard. They are great nurses and I feel bad for them. I really feel like they are being taken advantage of by this money driven filipino DON.
I am going to do my best to be successful with these 15 vent and trach patients plus all the other work that goes with it, but I am not sure I will be able to be by myself on the 3rd day. I am wondering if they are going to fire me or keep me and try to help me more. If they send me back to the LTC, I will quit. Going back to the LTC will not make me learn more about trachs and vents.
What do you think? The DON sure doesn't like that I have opposed her but the assistant DON and the administrator are for me and all the nurses, so maybe I have a chance. And if I make it and taking the RN refresher, I will just leave anyway. I won't take this lying, insulting, treating me like I have no brains from the DON.
So let me know what you think.
Thanks again for all your support. Just like cheerful doer said, keep my eyes open and listen to my gut.
Thank you so much for the your kind compliments. It has occurred to me "What am I doing here?" I know what you mean about refresher courses, but they run the show. Most of what I have seen as far as change goes seems to be in technology but I am sure I will be learning new things. Text books don't seem too different. So maybe the refresher will just make me sharper. Indeed I will keep you sweet nurses posted. Thanks again.
As another one pushing the far side of 60 I have to say you are AWESOME!! I can't imagine having to take boards over! I did the two day thingy also, 31 years ago.
You know sometimes you have to look out for your self first.
If you hare having bad vibes about this job, perhaps your inner voice is telling you this isn't right for you.
It it were me facing all that, I would run fast and run far. That sounds CRAZY and impossible and dangerous. Eek. I wouldn't even go back if it were me, actually. Nor would I put it on my references, since I would have only worked there less than a week.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do. You deserve better!!!
You're welcome, and the best of luck to you in your refresher and finding a better job! :) 
ZZTopRN, BSN, RN
483 Posts
Isn't that the truth?