I am concerned with age discrimination?

[Michael Shimko]

first off hello to everyone. i have a few questions regarding the nursing carrier. my girlfriend will be starting a 16 month accelerated 4 year rn program. she already has the bulk of her class done with the exception of the core nursing ones. my concern with her is that once she is done with her 4-year rn degree, and fully licensed. she will be 60 years of age looking for a job. do you guys/girls think this is a big issue? or are nurses need so badly that she will be able to find a job no problem? i am very concerned about this i have seen this poor women get turned down over and over for younger less qualified people. thank you for all feed back.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Agree! I am one of them at 42

In the area where I live, a nurse who is in his/her twenties or early 30s is considered 'younger.' The people who make the hiring decisions would consider a 42-year-old applicant 'older' and in a protected class.

[Michael Shimko]

some of you have heard the story of one of my students who was 62. she had been married for forty-plus years to an old sob (not "short of breath," either) who told her how stupid and worthless she was and how nothing she ever wanted to do was the least bit useful. and when he died she took the life insurance money and went to nursing school, bless her.

she wasn't any better at nursing (or any worse) than any of her 18-year-old chickie classmates, but she had something that they didn't, and that was life experience. she had seen her mother and father die, seen how families coped with adversity, knew what it was like to be a mother and a grandmother; she could sit down at a bedside and calm a frightened person just because she was a white-haired older lady who didn't panic and knew what to say, when to say it, and when to be quiet and just be there.

i have no idea if your friend will be able to find work. on the practical side she should look for a job with fewer physical aspects, if she can find it. but it is possible that if she can express those qualities bestowed by maturity, someone will see how lucky they are to have her, even if only for a short while.

thank you i hope you are right.

[Stcroix, ASN, PhD, RN]

It can be done. I will be graduating soon and I am 60. The day I started school, I began volunteering at a hospital. I was noticed and have been offered a position working in that facility after I graduate. As I read on this very board, you have to go the extra mile to have an edge over the hundreds of others applying for jobs. In my case, I will have a job that was never even advertised for the others to apply for. Network, volunteer, work as a tech and be the one who gets the job.

[mystory, BSN, RN]

Unfortunately, age discrimination is alive is well in the nursing market.

My previous job was the evening shift, 3p-11:30p, and naturally attracted a younger crew - single, childfree, etc. The interviews for new hires included panel interviews with the current staff on the floor after they passed cuts with HR and the nurse manager.

We interviewed one woman who was in her 60s, and I thought she would be an incredible asset to our floor. Unfortunately, my peers hesitated, citing that she's older and may botch our fun work dynamic. I was outnumbered as they voted for an young and inexperienced nurse with mediocre interviewing skills.

I don't say this to discourage you or your partner. It is certainly hired to get hired as a relatively older candidate, even as a new grad. I am just answering your question honestly. My advice to your girlfriend is to make herself as competitive as possible, and there are many threads that discuss how to do so in such a tough market.

Best of luck!