Laid off after 38 years

Published

Hi! My computer crashed yesterday. I am happy to say I am back on-line,but I can't seem to get the responses I have been getting in the past! I am still here, and would love to hear from all of you, or anybody in nursing who has been laid off! I had a great "nibble" at an extended-care facility last week, but found out today that somebody else got the job. I am beginning to think nobody will hire me at age 61! Four other RN's were laid-off on the same day, and all were about my age! We had an Unemployment Breakfast last week and none of us has found anything. We all filed for unemployment, and last week when I needed a form filled-out at my ex-job, I had the distinct priviledge of letting the HR person that we were all still on the dole, which causes them a small fortune, because 3 aides were laid-off on the same day. I loved the distressed look on the HR lady's face! Don't get me wrong, unemployment doesn't pay very much, but the clinic I worked in is in real financial trouble, and every penny counts!! They are so mismanaged and desperate, that they decided they could also save money by stopping the yearly TB tests for employees!

Bitter? You betcha! My hospital experience (20yrs) was spent in labor and delivery, and the rest was at the clinic,as an office nurse with a specialty in peds. I am in excellent shape, with no need for meds for htn, cholesterol or anything else, and I can out-run any of the twenty somethings the doctors fall all over. I hope you guys I have been hearing from get this message-God, I hate it when the "blue screen of death" wipes out previous information! Thanks! Chris

Thank you all for your help and support. I was turned-down for a job at an extended-care nursing facility yesterday-they found someone else. I have tried travel nursing, but one year was about all I could take, for various reasons! All the other Rn's who lost their jobs have solvent husbands or family money, so they are not looking too hard, if at all.

I am feeling pretty despondent right now-I am afraid to wind up out in the street after all these years. I have an interview at a nursing home this afternoon, but it doesn't have the greatest reputation, but after 6 weeks, I am desperate!!

I have filed for unemployment, which is not much, but at least it helps. In a couple of weeks, the Illinois Dept of Unemployment wants me to attend a seminar on finding jobs. I wish I could get out of nursing, I am really disgusted with this profession! I will keep you all posted! You are the best!

P.S. This Site Needs a Frowning Nurse in it's Icon List!

Specializes in M/S, Travel Nursing, Pulmonary.

I'm so sorry this is happening to you. I hope something satisfactory does come up for you. In the meantime, please continue to be with us here and let us know how you are doing. There are a lot of us out there who genuinely want to know, myself included.

May not be what you want to hear right now, but me seeing your story helps me gain perspective. I get so annoyed with...........the wrong things. Need to buck up and appreciate what I have. Lots of good people out there who could probably do my job much better than I who are not working. I hate that decent people who only want to work are in situations like yours.

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I am 49 and got laid off.............hospitals would rather cut their tounges out before they use your age but when you see my graduation date from nursing school you know how old I am. I have sent out so many resumes and gotten very few responses and even fewer interviews. It is LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION the east coast is really tight right now and even posted positions when you inquire they have a "temporary freeze" right now. Hospital jobs say my bedside experience is "dated" and administrative positioins they have considered another canidate. which is code for why would I hire you with a bsn when i have this masters prepared rn who will work for half of what i would have to pay you for 31 years in nursing..... :-(

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