Laid off after 38 years

[Ckwil1948]

Still looking for work. Everybody wants experience, and what I have is apparently not needed by anybody! It makes me so mad! You need Med-Surg experience even to work the generic places! My experience is in office nursing and long ago in labor and delivery in hospitals. I have no family, and I need a job! I know the economy has done this, but I have motivation and skills,and can't find anything! Just venting!! Thanks to you all, Chris!

[lkwashington]

This is always a fear. That is why getting out of bedside is never going to be an option.

I see this all the time. Although I will go further in my studies, I will always do it, even if it is once a month (just like my professor nurse friend who is going for her DNP)...

I am so sorry you're going through this...I hope you find a job you like soon.

JoPACURN, I agree with you. I just accepted an offer to be nursing instructor. I continue to do bedside nursing because at the moment I love it. I hope I would not be doing bedside nursing for the next 30 years because it is hard work. I am planning on attending Walden U in January to pursue an MSN in education. I understand what you are saying. Just to think about leaving a job in this economy would be crazy.

[carolmaccas66, BSN, RN]

Home health is usually looking for anyone with a license. Just make sure you sign on with one that is going to give you work and not just jerk you around.

Chris, I am in the exact same boat as you. I have no family here and try to survive on my own. I went to an aid agency last week to get help to pay my rent arrears, and the woman was so darn rude and condescending but I honestly think she was trying to help. She said no-one pays rent arrears & sent me off to somewhere else. I felt absolutely humiliated - I have never had to do this and it is new to me. I have always been independent and tried to pay my way. I had to borrow money off a family member but am still behind in rent. I won't be surprised if I am thrown out soon. I will have to sell my car I think if nothing comes up to pay my bills.

No-one cares or budgets in their economy for single woman/men. People with children etc get help in our country at least, and they get help with child care, (as they should) but many, in my experience, abuse it. If you are single and need help, due to no fault of your own, no-one cares. They just seem to think it is your fault you are in that situation. It is so God awfully depressing. I'm not religious but I've been praying every night for a break.

I was jerked around by a nursing agnecy not long ago. They said sign up with us, we don't have enough staff to fill the tons of shifts we have. I did one awful shift now there are none for RNs it seems. I can't even do carers work because I haven't done the Aged Care III certificate - even though I am a RN! Crazy, crazy world. And I turned down a fulltime job not long ago as well and I am furious with myself. I have emailed re the fulltime job to see if it is still open, but I feel like a fool. They will probably say no and don't come back here again!

Maybe try to apply for any job outside of nursing. I can't believe you have all that experience and it is no good - what is wrong with all these employers? I only have a year RN experience though I have all up 25 years hospital experience. So I wouldn't expect to get a job right away but you I would.

That is what I am doing and I have one interview for a part-time job which sounds pretty good. I don't have any money for office clothes; I will have to wear my old gear unfortunately. Life has been so bad lately. I've never been in such a bad situation as this. When single women don't have partners, it is extremely difficult to get ahead, or even just to keep your head above water. I would tell you to go to any aid agencies for help but it hasn't benefited me - they just say we have no funding at the moment. What are we single ladies supposed to do?

At least you have allnurses to vent on.