Why can't I get hired?

Gompers, BSN, RN · Apr 23, 2005

Maybe it's all about money? RNs with experience, especially with the kind of diverse background you have, usually gets more money than a new grad. Most hospitals have a scale that tells them how much to start nurses at, and with 20 years of experience, you'd be one of the highest paid new hires. Are you asking for a certain amount of money or putting your current salary on the applications?

Just an idea of what might be wrong. Good luck!

catlady, BSN, RN · Apr 23, 2005

Maybe it's all about money? RNs with experience, especially with the kind of diverse background you have, usually gets more money than a new grad. Most hospitals have a scale that tells them how much to start nurses at, and with 20 years of experience, you'd be one of the highest paid new hires. Are you asking for a certain amount of money or putting your current salary on the applications?
Just an idea of what might be wrong. Good luck!

Thanks, but nope. I don't bring up salary. On applications, I write, "Open." Wage compression in nursing is such that experienced nurses don't really make that much more than new grads. But I do wonder if there is a bit of age discrimination going on.

Nesher, BSN, RN · Apr 23, 2005

Could be (age discrimination that is) - or perhaps they are just all total idiots.

How about doing case management like you are now?

StatBlues · Apr 23, 2005

Think you hit the nail on the head. Age..............

I have seen so many wonderful nurses get picked on, over worked and hasseled just to get rid of them...past a certain age.

Happens all the time.

lil_judt · Apr 23, 2005

Hi ... I am having the same trouble... Getting hired.... I finally took a travel job..and was sentr to RI to a LTC facility where it was so disorderly...well, lasted there 8 weeks....then in apreil went to cal.... where they need the staffing and are handing out TL to everyone.

I was placed in a SNF unit where my recruiter said I could handle it....???. well, come to find out 25 patients and 25 IVs to be done by all the RNs and beijng on noc shift had to leave after one and half weeks.... Problem is I made no money and the travel place is taking money in as I had to pay for the 3 month apartment... I have not heard from them but they have placed 2 deposits in my checking....ready to write Jacho about them............

QUOTE=catlady]I have been an RN for 20 years. Lots of diverse experience, including about 14 years in various ICUs, a couple of years in long-term care management, and currently doing utilization review and discharge planning. I am planning to relocate to another state this summer, and have started looking for a job. I can't get anyone to offer me a job. They tell me my ICU experience is too old (not that they aren't hiring new grads with NO experience!), that I can't be a manager because I don't have current bedside experience, and they aren't interested in my current work in case management. That is, those places that even bother to respond to my application. There are big hospitals that run ads every week that haven't called me after I've applied. I have had some phone interviews that seem to go very well, but when I follow up, they are very cold. I still have certifications in critical care nursing and gerontology, managed to get my BLS recertified, and I am a quick study and am pretty sure I would easily learn what is new in the field. This is a state with a 40% RN vacancy rate, that hires thousands of travelers to fill their needs, and I'm getting the cold shoulder. I'm really starting to worry. I am planning to move in about eight weeks, and I have to have something lined up before I go! What am I doing wrong???

dphrn · Apr 23, 2005

My husband is in the Air Force, and I have had six jobs in the last seven years because we move often. I think since you are still out of state and will not be ready to hire for eight more weeks may have an impact on you not getting any offers.

Everytime we move, I start to make telephone contacts in my new state about one month before we leave the current state we are living in. Most of the nurse managers I speak with are very nice and informative about their unit and so on but usually end up telling me to contact them when I actually move to town.

Once I get to town and contact them, which I have done everytime, they are VERY receptive in meeting with me. I also have received many offers from them. I think you will notice a big difference once you are in the area and ready to work.

Something else that comes to mind...don't be so eager to take a position over the phone before visiting and having an interview in person. A few of the phone conversations I had, I just thought I really wanted to work for that manager and that facility. Once I got to town and went to the facility and had an in person interview, I was very happy I didn't make that decision over a telephone conversation.

I believe once you are in your new home state and ready to work, you will be much more appealing to employers. Good luck!

NO1_2NV · Apr 23, 2005

Just a thought...what about agency nursing for a few months? It would certainly show any future employer that you are capable and able to work not to mention giving you more recent experience but it would also allow you to try out different units/hospitals by "interviewing" them so to speak. Often times nurses are hired directly going this route. It gives the hospital a "no risk" way of shopping for a great, caring, employee like yourself. :)

Good luck and please let us know how it goes.

redwinggirlie · Apr 24, 2005

Hey, why not become a traveler?

Roland · Apr 24, 2005

Thoughts, advice possibilities:

1. I think that you will have better success talking directly to unit managers rather than the Human Resources Dept. Many nurses seem to have success cutting throught the clutter in this manner.

2. If you think that you may be overqualified consider understating your experience. Yes its technically dishonest, but I've never heard of anyone being fired for putting too little experience on a resume. Furthermore, you are essentially combating what may be unethical behavior on there part. I had a friend who was an attorney with about ten years experience working for government, and five in private practice who had to quit working for about two years due to illness. When he went back to work he wanted to work as a paralegal for the steady money and reduced hours. However, no one would hire him because they said he was overqualified (he was also turned down for several staff attorney positions for the same reason). He ended up taking several paralegal courses and then getting a job as a paralegal, but ommitting his vast experience as an attorney. If you take this approach list your most recent experience (say the most recent five years) but omit other experience which may cause some to say you are over qualified.

3. Alternatively, you could work for an agency. Home healthcare is another possible angle. For that matter you may wish to consider starting your own home health care and or temp staffing agency if you can learn the basics of insurance and Medicaid/Medicare billing. Even if you remain very small you will at least earn the full fee yourself without having to split with an agency.

live4today, RN · Apr 24, 2005

I agree about AGE being a factor as well as "who you know" being another factor in getting hired. Discrimination has been active for years, so why should anyone be surprised that it is still being used today in all aspects of hiring. That's why states now have the "right to hire/fire" law??? Yeah...I believe that was to get rid of anyone, or deny anyone jobs without any due recourse for doing so. :rolleyes:

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Apr 24, 2005

1. AGE

2. Abundance of experience, they can't fool you as easily as a younger nurse.

3. AGE

4. Higher wage scale (an increase in staff budget cuts down the HN bonus)

5. AGE

6. Fear of skill level. Not yours, theirs. I have seen so much this last 16 months it is scary.

7. AGE

Check with one of the more reputable travel agencies. There is a demand, there is a need. Good luck.