Experienced RN's cannot get new jobs!

Published

  1. Are you an experienced RN being turned down for jobs?

    • 6
      Yes
    • 22
      No
    • 1
      Yes, more than three times in a recent search
    • 3
      Yes, more than two times in a recent search
    • 3
      Yes, more than one time in a recent search

35 members have participated

My unit has recently been sold to an outside company that no one wants to work for. Now we have 15 RN's with over 20 years experience each looking for new positions. Our institution told us they would help us transfer within, but it is all for show, and they are not helping us, plus, we are being told we are 'not qualified' for positions that we hold experience in. We find out these positions that we are 'not qualified' for are being given to new grads with no experience, using the nurse residency program as an excuse. The nurse residency program is a manipulative way to create a cheap labor pool'. We are all in agreement that this is, ultimately, age discrimmination. I have been a nurse for 21 years and cannot find a job in or outside my company!!! Help!

I think you have been given great advice. The situation is awful, but you may need to move elsewhere or try a new type of nursing. I'm telling you there are more options that in-patient nursing out there. TONS.

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New Orleans needs nurses badly. Come to the Big Easy!

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Wow...that's interesting. When I was a new grad, I couldn't even get arrested. All the hospitals were looking for "experienced" RNs. Either after a few years, things have changed dramatically in nursing or hospitals are making excuses for not taking on any new hires. My guess is the latter.

The hospital I work, for one, has said while they won't be laying off any of the staff RNs like they have been doing with other positions, they will not be hiring any more RNs for a while and no one knows how long that will be.

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I've worked for 3 hospitals in HR as a recruiter during the last 12 years and if we're talking about not-for-profit health systems, then I will tell you, unequivocally, that we are happy to pay for experienced RNs. If I lose out on an experienced RN over compensation than I immediately escalate to the CNO. And in the last two hospitals I've worked for, the CNO would meet with me regularly to specifically talk about concerns/strategy for hiring experienced nurses. The new grad residency programs are wonderful and we love having them, but every DON and Manager I've hired for sees it as a pipeline and ultimately views new grad nurses as a different position than a staff RN. When I meet with physicians, one of the things I repeatedly hear is how important it is to find people with experience and some of the more gruff providers will even tell me to stop hiring new grads (it's not their call...but they have influence).

But again, this is all within the space of not-for-profit health systems in the regions I've worked - Texas, New York, South Carolina. I do not know how differently for-profit or smaller shops view paying for experience. Of course there are times where we don't hire an experienced RN for other reasons - attitude/fit/not able to work nights. A lot of times I have to hire them for nights for the first 6 months, sometimes they're ok with this, sometimes they're not. Sometimes we just miss out on each other. But I don't know your location or type of organization, so your concerns are as valid as you perceive and project. Age discrimination does happen, I truly hope it's not happening or stops happening to you.

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Thank you for your valuable feedback. I work for a non-profit, but would prefer not to state where. It is a major health system, though.

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How about holding on to the job you have. Word does get around and the market knows there are 20 experienced RN's trying to get jobs in one specialty. That would make them mighty picky and choosy. Maybe after hanging on for a while you will realize you can keep this job. Maybe the hospital got rid of a unit they did not think was profitable or did not hold a future? If that is true, instead of quitting the job, start prn work at another more marketable area somewhere. After a year or so of prn work, you could jump ship on the basis of that experience.

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Specializes in Management, Med/Surg, Clinical Trainer.
My unit has recently been sold to an outside company that no one wants to work for. Now we have 15 RN's with over 20 years experience each looking for new positions. Our institution told us they would help us transfer within, but it is all for show, and they are not helping us, plus, we are being told we are 'not qualified' for positions that we hold experience in. We find out these positions that we are 'not qualified' for are being given to new grads with no experience, using the nurse residency program as an excuse. The nurse residency program is a manipulative way to create a cheap labor pool'. We are all in agreement that this is, ultimately, age discrimmination. I have been a nurse for 21 years and cannot find a job in or outside my company!!! Help!

If I am reading this post and the ones posted since right, you have spent all 21 years at least in this facility, and possibly in this same unit, right? If so, your skill set is very defined by that unit and that role. (Not to be crass, but some employers see that as a negative; they may wonder about your willingness to add new skills to your tool box or your ability to be flexible....if being Flexible is not already on your resume, you might want to consider adding it.)

I also see that you said Case Management has not nibbled at your resume. That is surprising with 21 yrs experience. Add that you are flexible and state you are looking for new opportunities for growth on your resume.

With 21 yrs in the same arena have you considered applying to your previous unit as a trainer for the new staff? Or pitching that to them...all those new nurses will need a trainer.

Totally hear you it is not feasible to just pack up and leave an area but.......

have you considered a consulting gig? Some are full time others are part time. I saw one recently from a Pharma Company where the nurse would travel to other hospitals in state and out of state and train people on nursing tools. (Glucose Training Specialist was one.... another was Cardiac Monitor Training Specialist)

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Specializes in CVICU, Travel RN, Cath Lab, Clinic RN.

Here's my experience: I took an 8.5 year "maternity" break, which included moving to a new state for my partner's job. I obtained my RN license in the new state and maintained my former state license. Continued to obtain CEU's (went way over yearly requirement), continuing ed, attended a few conferences, and in general tried to keep up. First job I applied for is in home care, and they hired me after a 2nd interview. All previous experience was hospital; I didn't have any home care experience. I was told that they liked that I kept current (I obtained CEU's pertinent to home care). It's part time, fits my schedule, and while the pay isn't as good as hospital, it's also lower stress. I don't know if home care is something you would consider, but a casual glance at a quick google search indicates there are lots of available positions across the country.

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Yes I find this to be very true. I find that getting hired has more to do with age rather than experience. I has seen younger nurses with the same experience get hired over older nurses with same experience. Age discrimination is alive an well in USA, is just covered up. You don't get hired because you don't have the "right" experience, too much experience, not enough experience. I interview for a job and get one of these answers and I find out later that the person hired has exactly the thing that I was disqualified for.

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