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 am 37 and am having the same problem. I graduated from an ADN program in 01/2009 and passed the NCLEX in 05/2009. I have not gone on one interview yet. I have applied numerous times to hospitals in my area and have not received any feedback even after making follow up calls. I am praying that it is the economy that is the culprit in our situation and not bias regarding our age. Most of my younger classmates have been hired already. I am getting very nervous. I have paid out of pocket for my ACLS certification with the hope that it makes me stand out a little as far as my resume is concernced.
I'd still take my resume others and make some changes, then pass it to your references. As others have said, there are jobs out there for the right (or well connected) individuals. I am not versed on Oriental Medicine, but you may want to tone that down for "general hospital" positions as they may be concerned that you would practice outside of your RN credentials.
Have you considered relocating to find a job? I was unemployed for months and finally moved to an area where there were more available employers.
Yes. I have applied everywhere, but no responses. I cannot afford to relocate before obtaining the position. And I do not feel that I have the luxury of moving anywhere. I need to be in an area with some diversity.
Consider getting professional help with your resume. I think someone else may have already pointed out that the goal of the resume is to get the interview, not the job, and it is my belief that many of those on this forum who have stated that they have filled out "hundreds" of applications with no interviews are saying something in those applications or on their resumes that is causing recruiters to reject those apps. I just don't believe it's possible not to get some interviews out of hundreds of applications unless that is the case. There ARE jobs out there, despite some contentions on this forum, but it is more competitive than it used to be. That's why what you say and how you say it are much more important than it use to be.
I don't know why people are filling out hundreds of applications and not getting interviews. I was one of those people. I have filled out more than 100 applications and only had two interviews until recently. All of a sudden I was called for two interviews within 1 day. I didn't do anything different. I filled out the application the same and sent the same resume. Now I have two interviews next week. The last interview I had before that was in August. I would love to say that I was doing something special to get these new interviews but I didn't. I think it is sort of like the lottery. I think I just got lucky.
Some veteran nurses I spoke with mentioned the "nurses eating their young" problem and told me that managers prefer to hire those that seem easily manipulated. I find this very hard to believe. And if it is true, we need to do something about the leadership in nursing.
This is one of the reasons I think I did not pass my orientation on my first new grad job.....I opened my mouth before my orientation was over....Definitely learned my lesson there. Pass orientation first before you say anything about anything.
I don't know why people are filling out hundreds of applications and not getting interviews. I was one of those people. I have filled out more than 100 applications and only had two interviews until recently. All of a sudden I was called for two interviews within 1 day. I didn't do anything different. I filled out the application the same and sent the same resume. Now I have two interviews next week. The last interview I had before that was in August. I would love to say that I was doing something special to get these new interviews but I didn't. I think it is sort of like the lottery. I think I just got lucky.
I Just remember a book tha I did go through and as well as my wife. Its call "48 days to the work you love" by Dan Miller. Since we know the work we want to do is nursing the process laid out will be simpler but the Dan Miller goes through some techinques that should help
Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.
Freeflowchi,
I wouldn't give up at all. I would just strip my resume to bare bones. They really only care about experience that they think will make you a good hire/nurse for them so as much as possible tailor it to that.
You will get a job eventually if you stick to it and present yourself in a non-threatening way. Once you have established yourself as a nurse with your 1st job you can slowly bring in your other skills and function at the level you really want to.
I believe your assumption is correct, your age in this case is playing a serious role; I am not sure about the BSN over the ASN though. I used to live in San Diego and I know there are a number of universities in that area pumping out BSN level nurses....would the hospitals in the area pick a new BSN with very little experience over someone with an ASN with LOTS of medical experience such as yourself? I dont think so, the difference between an ASN and a BSN is....HUGE clinically....when it comes to working clinically an ASNs is more clincally ready than someone who has a BSN because BSN students focus more on theory than actually spending a lot of time in clinicals. ASN nurses also know how to get their hands dirty (of coorifice this is generalization, but believe me, in my area...it is too obvious), I have run into many BSN nurses who think they should never give a bath because that is an aid's job and not theirs.
55 years old is getting a little too close to retirement age....that is more likely the case against you rather than the degree you hold.
On the BSN vs ASN issue, we have 2 hospital chains here, and one has been awarded the Magnet designation. I believe that having a certain % of your nurses as BSN holders is part of that criteria. So, in our area, the push is for BSNs. I'm seeing more and more "BSN preferred" in the ads.
My mom was a nurse for 45 years (mostly in ICU/CCU) before passing away earlier this year. Her last couple years she worked in a nursing home. In her opinion, she said it was a much less stressful work situation, which is what she was looking for. I remember her endlessly saying that they were always hiring. Like any industry, I'm sure there are more/less desirable segments of the field, but I'd say consider looking outside the box too. Perhaps there is a segment of nursing in your own area that is "always hiring" and you could at least start working there until you find something you'd prefer! Good luck to you!!
Im having the same difficulty. it's been 4 months now jobless. I have some experience, but alas I didn't do that thing with orientation. I spoke. Now I'm jobless. Ive learned my lesson and learned it well. My preceptor basically decided she would screw me over and she has done it brilliantly. It's sad that nursing allows this to happen to it's people. I would like to think that eventually they will pay for it, but I know they won't. There will continue to be more and more nursing students, and new grads. And as long as managers support this kind of behavior they will continue ripping heads off like this is the Texas Chainsaw massacre. I have about a year of experience, ACLS cert, Telemetry experience and I'm hoping to apply for the new grad positions opening up soon, that lets you know how stiff the competition is. And believe me, even if my preceptor craps in my food, I won't say anything this time. Sorry. I have a son. What else can I do. (Nursing has defeated me.)
Starbeck
7 Posts
Thanks you for your comments.