Jobs for us "old" nurses.....employers not willing to train

[docpsychrn42, ASN, RN]

I am having a lot of difficulty finding a job at 44 yrs of age. Granted I specialize in psych but most facilities that I have applied to or interviewed with are not willing to train me. They will train a new grad but not a nurse with 23 years of experience. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what to do? I would change my career field if someone was willing to give me that chance, but they want someone already trained. I have been unemployed 3 months now and still have NO prospects for a job unless I want to drive 3.5 hours away to work deep in the city. Should I take on a travel assignment to go where the jobs are? How does travel nursing work? Can I bring my child with me?

[ilmbg]

I was a travel RN for several years. You can travel if you will take a job in psych- they won't let you work in an area that you have no experience- you must have experience in the past year in the area you want.

Of course you may take your child- it is just like a regular job, except it is in another town. You arrange for child care/school just like any other place. As for being able to use a hospitals child care, I do not know, as I have no children. Depending on your childs age, it could be very hard on the child.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Hey! 44 is not 'old' unless you are a cheese or a car.

It seems as though you are caught in a bind. If you have already explored all the local employers and they are not willing to cross train, your options are limited. You probably are going to have to consider re-locating. Let's face it, 3.5 hours is not a commute. With a distance like that, you'd be better off moving there if you want to spend any time with your child.

Have you considered relocating to an area that is still aggressively recruiting nurses? I am afraid that the current economy is going to get much worse before it gets better.

[jandkmom]

Have you thought about taking an RN refresher class? I worked in psych for 4 years and then got burned out and wanted to get in to med surg. I took a refresher class and was hired on a surgical unit. :)