Discrimination

[nerdynurse7, ASN, CNA, LPN, RN]

I am a new graduate LPN that has been looking for a job. I had an interview with a long term facility which has two floors and about 40 patients per floor. I met with the DON before my license was issued. The second interview was today and they offered me a per diem position. The DON kept saying since you're younger the older CNAs might not like that you are younger than them ( & other phrases along those lines). I am 22 and might even look younger, yet I do not think my age should affect my work ethic or determine other staff members personal problems with having someone younger as a supervisor. She also told me that they would be putting me on mostly as a med tech so the other staff could get "used to me" and basically since I was younger than other staff I would have to ease into more hours...I was confused but when I left there I put everything into perspective. I felt like I was discriminated against because of my age and will not feel comfortable working in an environment where that type of mentality is condoned.

I will be declining the offer, but wanted to hear others thoughts on it and what you think I should say. Thanks for the feedback in advance.

[ItsThatJenGirl, CNA]

You were offered the job, I don't see how you were discriminated against?

[NOADLS]

There is an element of discrimination here since the position you are applying for isn't what you are being offered. I don't think it would be wise to go after this employer for discrimination. Take the position and build your way up to the position you are seeking. If you don't get it, you can resign. One route results in you gaining some experience and money. The other route (the one you want to take) results in no experience and leaves everyone with a sour taste of each other.

You are a new graduate. You don't have any leverage. I have no idea what city you are in or what the job market there is like, but turning down a job offer without anything else lined up is generally a poor move to make.

[nerdynurse7, ASN, CNA, LPN, RN]

I do have other offers lined up but I think that is besides the point. I do not think it is wise to take an offer even if it was the only one available. I have a license as a nurse and do not think working as a med tech is much of an opportunity or else I wouldn't have gone to school and gone through all the classes.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

turning down a job offer without anything else lined up is generally a poor move to make.

I totally concur...

PRN/per diem nursing job = LPN Pay + LPN Experience

Refusing what was offered = Zero Pay + Zero Experience

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

I do have other offers lined up but I think that is besides the point. I do not think it is wise to take an offer even if it was the only one available. I have a license as a nurse and do not think working as a med tech is much of an opportunity or else I wouldn't have gone to school and gone through all the classes.

Did they actually say you would be working as a med tech? In my neck of the woods, LTC doesn't use med techs, but a nurse who is on a med cart. Experience wise, it is an ideal way to become familiar with medications.

I am not 100% into med techs passing meds under my "direction" (license) however, but story for another thread.

If the people you interviewed with made reference to age as opposed to experience that you misread as a reference to your age, that was inappropriate.

What would trouble me more is that apparently, the CNA's run the show, and although invaluable at what they do, the ultimate responsibility would be yours. No thank you. CNA's who are that experienced know what they need to do, and how they need to do it. To go beyond that is drawing you in, as their supervisor, to micro-managing. Which rarely ends well.

Enough passive-aggressive bru-ha-ha to go around.

Make sure that you are hearing "new grad" and "lack of experience" as opposed to "age" or "you are too young". The later being age discrimination, the former being "we are going to start you passing meds".

Most every LTC facility within a 50 mile radius of me has LPN's (and yes, even RN's) passing meds or doing treatments. With seniority, (as in years worked, not age) you then promote to a supervisor position. And to supervise med techs on meds that you are unfamiliar with on residents you are unfamiliar with, on a med pass you are unfamiliar with is setting you up for failure, in my opinion.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Oh my goodness. In the US, There is no such thing (legally) as reverse age discrimination. Discrimination only applies to "Protected classes" which are: :

• Race – Civil Rights Act of 1964
  
• Color – Civil Rights Act of 1964
  
• Religion – Civil Rights Act of 1964
  
• National origin – Civil Rights Act of 1964
  
• Age (40 and over) – Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967
  
• Sex – Equal Pay Act of 1963 and Civil Rights Act of 1964
  
  • The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission includes discrimination based on gender presentation and sexual orientation as protected beneath the class of 'sex'
    

  [*]Pregnancy – Pregnancy Discrimination Act

  [*]Citizenship – Immigration Reform and Control Act

  [*]Familial status – Civil Rights Act of 1968 Title VIII: Housing cannot discriminate for having children, with an exception for senior housing

  [*]Disability status – Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

  [*]Veteran status – Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 and Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act

  [*]Genetic information – Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act

Even for the above categories, discrimination is very hard to prove... because you have to show that it was ONLY that factor that was used in the decision.

Bottom line - it is unwise to use the word "discrimination" when you really mean that you felt you were treated unfairly. It throws HR into a total tizzy & probably results in you being put on some sort of a problem employee watch list. The two terms are not synonymous.

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

In what way are you a part of a protected class? Hint, based on the information you've provided so far, you're not. It would behoove you to learn a little something about big legal issues you're accusing people of breaching

I am a new graduate LPN that has been looking for a job. I had an interview with a long term facility which has two floors and about 40 patients per floor. I met with the DON before my license was issued. The second interview was today and they offered me a per diem position. The DON kept saying since you're younger the older CNAs might not like that you are younger than them ( & other phrases along those lines). I am 22 and might even look younger, yet I do not think my age should affect my work ethic or determine other staff members personal problems with having someone younger as a supervisor. She also told me that they would be putting me on mostly as a med tech so the other staff could get "used to me" and basically since I was younger than other staff I would have to ease into more hours...I was confused but when I left there I put everything into perspective. I felt like I was discriminated against because of my age and will not feel comfortable working in an environment where that type of mentality is condoned.

I will be declining the offer, but wanted to hear others thoughts on it and what you think I should say. Thanks for the feedback in advance.

[nerdynurse7, ASN, CNA, LPN, RN]

I never said I wanted to prove discrimination and either way she did give me that certain position due to my young age, do you know what you are saying?

[ItsThatJenGirl, CNA]

I never said I wanted to prove discrimination and either way she did give me that certain position due to my young age, do you know what you are saying?

Then what is your question? You asked what you could say - the answer is nothing because "being young" is not a protected class, and therefore you were not discriminated against.

If you're upset that you didn't get the exact job you wanted, ask her how long you will have to be on the med cart, and what their long term goals are for you. It sounds like you're a new nurse and they want to ease you into your new position as gently as possible.

[nerdynurse7, ASN, CNA, LPN, RN]

Point is I figured it out. I would never take a job even if it was my only option if they are not supporting me fully, because in the long run my license could be at stake due to some personal bias on age (or any other factor). So I rather go with a company that is willing to train me without putting up excuses as to why they cannot. I have had many offers and chose one that really wants to train me. I received my license to work as a nurse and I earned it for a reason.

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

Point is I figured it out. I would never take a job even if it was my only option if they are not supporting me fully, because in the long run my license could be at stake due to some personal bias on age (or any other factor). So I rather go with a company that is willing to train me without putting up excuses as to why they cannot. I have had many offers and chose one that really wants to train me. I received my license to work as a nurse and I earned it for a reason.

So what was the point of this post? A lot of people claim discrimination when it really doesn't apply to them. Those people are just upset something didn't go their way so they need someone to blame.

Did you bother to ask why they would start you as a med aide? When you would move up to work as an LVN?