no job after two years

Nurses General Nursing

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I graduated two years ago and am still working as a CNA after hundreds of applications all over the country.

No, there is nothing wrong with me, except I am 58 years old and trying to get a job in a profession of extroverts when I am an introvert.

Have an associates degree and am paying off loans and have no desire or ability to get BS. I have a BA from an ivy league college ( not that it matters) from 1975.

Anyone else in this position?

to traumaRUs

Thank you. It has been hard and I am amazed by the intelligence and emotion in the replies.

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I called them. They asked how I had heard of their facility. They had never heard of this website. Needless to say, they were amazed.

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JSTOLLRN

If I get a job at Shannon Med, I owe you bigtime.

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ESME12

Thank you so very much for your reply.

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DogHmn

Best of luck to you also. Keep the faith.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

I haven't read every single reply on this thread.

Have you tried all the nursing agencies near you? Maybe if u think you're introverted, you could also look at doing some courses to you work better with other people.

And I've been discriminated against due to my age my whole life. Doesn't matter what age you are - you will either be told you are 'too youn' or 'too old' for jobs - it's very common and I don't work for employers now who use phrases like that. Oh and I also report them as well for discrimination, just to make their lives harder!

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Perhaps i do need to take advice from others, but I dont feel there is any harm in a person expanding their horizon and applying in different types of facilities. Many Rn new grads that dont get hired at the hospital try other types of nursing such as home health or nursing homes until they get their ideal job. Thanks;)

i agree. many marriage counselors have never been married (or divorced). many rape victim advocates have never been raped. many surgeons have never had surgery. you don't have to be a RN (yet) to give advice to a RN about expanding their horizons. i thought your post was very kind. :twocents:

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Specializes in Med surg, LTC, Administration.
It's in her signature and has nothing to do with the post. Look around, several other posters have quotes or sayings in their signature line. Nothing to get offended over!

OMG, just got this...spit out my coffee! LMAO!!!

Peace!

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Polka-dot can you provide me with your email address .... thanks!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
OP I feel your pain, I'm now 60 and have been unemployed for almost 3 years. I let my license lapse in the state I live but maintain it in another state via online CE's, so instead of investing $$$ I don't have on a refresher, I took a phlebotomy course and got certifed last year. It's gotten me a few interviews but no job.

I belong to several unemployment fourms and the sad news is, if your over 50 your ...welll screwed. If you haven't heard about the 99er's they are people who lost their jobs in the crash and haven't been able to get re-employed. Over 85% of the 99er's are over 50. There is big time age discrimination along with long term unemployment discrimination and the EEOC will not help you. Age discrimination is next to impossible to prove and they will tell you that. Also, the laws were written to protect employees NOT applicants, so again no help.

All I can offer is, if you can move to a place that will take your for a year or more do it, even if it's not what you want. Many of us can't because a. we have homes and the housing market sucks, and b. families that tie us to where we are currently located. If you have the option to be flexible, go for it.

Also, consider volunteering at the hospitals you want to work at, it's an opportunity for them to get to know you. Have you considered the Red Cross or other blood donor companies? You will really need to think outside the box to get some experience under your belt. As some mentioned - flu shot clinics, out patient anything, etc. Please let us know what happens

And good luck

Exactly.......all those statiscs saying the unemployment appications are down and the unemployment rate is down is because those "99 ers" HAVE RUN OUT OF BENIFITS and were NOT included on the "extension". The "extension" was only and extension of application benefits.......NOT an extension of the benefits themselves by adding another tier........we vanished off the radar and are no longer counted.

Employment laws are to protect the EMPLOYER, especially if you live in an "employee at will state", and very rarely the employee but are impossible to prove. Hospitals don't make stupid mistakes and flat out say "it's your age". NOw with on-line applications they run a credit check before calling you.........3 years unemployment and your credit scores aren't so good.....they don't call.......In general it really stinks out there.......let us know how it goes!!!!!! ((hugs))

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I like Trauma's advice. I am a little younger than you, also about to go looking for a new job, and I heed my own advice.

Appearance counts.

1)Get a good haircut from a professional stylist, consider some color.

2)Go to a full service department store and ask for a personal shopper. With her help, find a modern top quality suit or pantsuit, have it professionally tailored.

3)Go to a real bra salesperson (not one of the victorias secret places, try http://www.myintimacy.com/ for best results) and get professionally fitted for proper undergarments.

4)And buy a very good pair of low heeled pumps (sorry girls, cheap shoes give you away every time, we notice).

5) Consier some botox or a facial peel. At the least, go to the makeup counter at a fine department store and get a few makeovers from different places. You will pick a look you like and learn by watching.

6)get your CV done professionally

7)take an acting lesson. Not to act, but to learn to speak comfortably in front of strangers. A good acting coach will videotape you, watch it with you and go over areas for improvement

8)join toastmasters

9) exercise, eat right and take care of yourself. that inner glow will give you some confidence and shine!

I'm sorry, but the day I have to have my face shot full of botox until it's frozen to perfection just so someone hires me...I'm out. FWIW, when it comes to color, there are a lot of women who look much younger when they let their hair go completely white rather than trying to color it; color looks too harsh in contrast with the skin. I have seen some older women with spectacular white hair that has made this redhead dead jealous.

Getting an updated wardrobe for interviews is fine, makeup tips are fine, but I think it starts to get ridiculous when prospective nurses have to consider acting lessons to get interviews, inject toxins into their faces, etc. If you're looking for a job, you probably don't even have the money to do much of what is recommended. Plus, it just buys into the myth that youth and beauty = competence, and age= less productive, less attractive.

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icedtea, you certainly not alone! I know many nurses who still cannot get jobs. I'm an extrovert, so, I talk to a lot of people. Even through nursing school, I knew in 2007 that the market was changing, but I chose to continue on with my nursing education. It is bad for nurses and will not improve. Fact is no matter what your edu, you are one nurse in a sea of nurses in the US. There simply will never be enough jobs for the thousands of nurses that graduate every 5 to 6 months in this country. Unfortunately it's not your personality... LOL, as we all know, nursing has epic FAIL in that area! I was recently at a regional nursing seminar/fair. I talked to many nurses!!! Found nurses of all levels unable to gain employment. A sea of newer nurses as well. I know that to many readers I will sound like I'm bursting balloons, but knowing and understanding the reality of nursing in the US is important, it does not do you any service to not look things straight in the eye. I would rec that you look for other employment, as well as continue to look for nursing, but be open to leaving the field just the same. I rec that to EVERYBODY. Don't hold on to any thought that things will "turn around' for nursing.

I am so confused re: where you get your statistics (numbers) .... I think you might want to check out some medical journals or maybe the hospital settings across America.... Hmmmmmm!!!

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