I graduated in May 2009 and have not been able to secure a job yet. I have an ADN degree with a Bachelor's of Science in Marketing and a Master's in Traditional Oriental Medicine. I have ten years of experience diagnosing and treating patients as a licensed acupuncturist and have worked in several clinical environments with doctors and therapists in addition to alternative medicine practitioners. I am in my late thirties and have seen all of my colleagues from nursing school who are under 25 being hired without any patient care or life experience.
Is anyone else noticing this trend? I thought my diverse experience and age would be an asset. In school, we are always taught that nurses should be assertive, culturally competent and be able to apply critical thinking. These are skills that improve with age and practice. I believed spending 20+ years in customer service and medicine would give me an edge, but it seems to be a liability.
The other older graduates from my program were equally surprised to find that the local hospital where we attended clinicals seemed to prefer younger graduates.
I'm 29 and I was able to land few a interviews but it took me months so I dont think the problem is an age factor but just this terrible economy,anyway once I started applying out of state things started to change drastically even though I always put my true age on the resume...I started to have a lot of phone interviews (more than when I was looking in my original state) and I'm almost hired (they are still checking my reference and once I'm clear on that I will be hired) and I also have another phone interview coming up next week. Trust me it is not your age it is probably your damn (excuse my language)state,dont be afraid to look across the country,GL!
Can you tell me what hospitals you applied for that had phone interviews? Thanks
Wee good for you :) I know for me if I had gone to school for nursing 10 years ago I never would have taken it as seriously or appreciated it as much as I do know. I didn't have the best priorities back in the day lol.
Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.
Although I wasn't in healthcare, I used to work as an HR recruiter. Try taking the Master's in Oriental Medicine off your resume and see if you have better luck. Sometimes a masters degree will get your resume trashed for being "overqualified" and in nursing, it's possible that the hiring manager looks at "oriental medicine" and thinks that it's strange or too new-agey for the hospital.
I think this is very good advice. Anything you can do to avoid appearing "over educated" as many managers will see that as someone who may not be willing to perform as a staff nurse.
I've had interviews in Orange County, Los Angeles and San Diego....and my interviewers actually like the fact that I'm a little older and that I have some work experience under my belt. It has not been a problem so far.... All of them offered me the positions, but I decided to turn them down for other reasons......low pay ( $17.00 at a med spa) ..and part-time..( I need FT)......
I just turned 36 and have lots of LPN experience, which you would think would be a huge asset in finding a job...wrong. For me its a huge liability. I have a horrible resume with several short-stay jobs, which at the time I didn't think would hurt me, but now it is. I graduated in May 2008, found a job that didn't work out, now I'm looking again :-( My problem is slightly different....too many short jobs makes me look unreliable on paper so I can't score an interview. Age, I never thought about it. In my case I doubt it's an issue, but I can't say it doesn't happen.
hi, i am also a new nurse since june 2009 and i have yet to get a position here in san diego. i am wondering if i am missing something? i am retired us naval after 28 years with a strong medical background. i am 55.
everybody in the country hears about a nursing shortage that is except new nurses and the recruiters in san diego who are overwhelmed with applicants. this is a nice place to live and many new graduates are migrating here. yes and there are many who had planned to retire and are not, for economic reasons. the economy is in a hiccup but i am wondering when the hiccup will change the new nurse orientation openings. i am sure age is always factor but presently the difficulty is more due to the economy.
i have managed one interview out of over 100 resumes. i am sending resumes for out of state & overseas positions as well. i have formatted my resume many ways. i'm sure that an associate degree in nursing and being 55 is a major reason i am not getting selected for an interview. i will be certainly finishing bachelors and counting on things changing in the next few years. i see i narrow my availablity to work as a nurse in san diego in the near future and here "you need to move" frequently.
some facilities in san diego are getting 600 to 800 applicants for 30 to 40 positions. having a bsn and being in your twenties is what i am competing against. am i missing something if a plan to stay in san diego?
SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN
10,263 Posts
I have suffered no age discrimination at all. As I said elsewhere, I am in a medically underserved area.
As it seems you are willing to relocate, the Indian Health Service, perhaps? The military? You'd go in as an officer.