Fired After 50, Part I: What It's Like To Be A Statistic

First in a series about a nurse (me) who finds herself suddenly unemployed at age 51 and learns she is part of an alarming trend of American workers who are losing their jobs at midlife and beyond. This is a story about the new "midlife crisis", the lessons learned during the transition process, and ultimately, starting all over again at a time of life when I'd once hoped I'd get to throttle back and cruise into retirement. Nurses Announcements Archive Article

Fired After 50, Part I: What It's Like To Be A Statistic

Hello. My name is Marla and I'm an unemployed nurse.

There, I said it. Now's the time when everyone's supposed to shout "HI, MARLA!" and applaud. Oh, wait---that was AA, circa 1992. Oops. *blushes*

I've talked about this revolting development here on my blog before, but I had never actually felt embarrassed about it until two days ago, when I received my first unemployment benefits check. What a humbling experience that was! Even though I haven't worked since mid-June and needed the money desperately, it hurt my pride to walk into the bank and deposit a government check into my account. I swore that once I left welfare (now sixteen years ago) that I would never again darken the door of any government office until it was time to apply for Social Security. And until I lost my nursing-home job thanks to a deadly combination of a lousy economy, chronic low census, and degenerative joint problems, I had never needed to.

I've been in between jobs before, but there was always another job just around the corner......I wasn't "out of work", and I certainly didn't need to rely on public largesse to keep a roof over my family's heads during the brief interludes between the end of one job and the beginning of another. But the plain truth is---even if it's not really my fault---I AM unemployed, and the prospects for finding even a temporary position till I land my next 'real' job are few and far between.

Ironically, a temporary position was all I was looking for when I found this last job as a 3-11 charge nurse on a long-term care unit. I'd just come from a bruising experience working with an administrator whose passive-aggressive approach to work nearly separated me from my sanity; all I wanted was a job where I could hide out for awhile and nurse my wounds while still being able to eat and pay bills in the same month. In the process, I found redemption for previous career mistakes, right there in that old LTC........and even after almost two years, the old yearnings for money and power hadn't returned.

Well, fate is indeed a fickle creature, and thanks to the aforementioned trifecta of misfortune, I now find myself part of a growing---and alarming---trend in which many older Americans are being "Fired After Fifty", as AARP recently called it in a piece they did on the subject. No, we're not necessarily being hauled into the boss's office and told "don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya"; but whether it's described as getting fired, losing one's job, or being laid off/let go/shown the door/downsized/outsourced/cut back/restructured/fill in the politically correct blank, the result is the same: we are out of a job. And Lord help us in finding another one.........few companies want to hire in uncertain times, and fewer still are willing to take on, ahem, experienced workers who tend to cost more in terms of salary and benefits than their younger counterparts.

I have become something I never thought I'd be in a million years: just another statistic.

That said, I am oddly optimistic about my future, even though I'm what you might call damaged goods. I may have a case of advancing age, but I still have the education and knowledge that no one can ever take away from me. My body may be in a state of dilapidation that precludes any job requiring physical stamina, but I'm comfortable in my own skin, I can still do what I need to do to get through the day, and frankly, I think I've lifted as many 300-pounders and run as many halls as I should ever have to. (Nor is my overweight state solely to blame for it; I hear complaints all the time from fellow midlifers who are thin and fit, and yet have knee and hip problems and backaches that are as bad, if not worse than my own.) I'm also fairly intelligent, I learn things quickly, I get along with just about everyone, and I'm willing to try new things......what else could an employer possibly want, right?

We shall see, in any event. I've gotten some nibbles from the twenty or so applications and resumes I've sent out, and the interviews have now begun. Today's was interesting, especially in light of the fact that I am directionally dyslexic........and the job involves extensive in-state travel........and I got lost trying to find headquarters. Stay tuned!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
VivaLasViejas

About VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide

I'm a Registered Nurse and writer who, in better times, has enjoyed a busy and varied career which includes stints as a Med/Surg floor nurse, a director of nursing, a nurse consultant, and an assistant administrator. And when I'm not working as a nurse, I'm writing about nursing right here at allnurses.com and putting together the chapters for a future book about---what else?---nursing.

22 Articles   9,987 Posts

Share this post

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I'll be following your story and wishing you all the best. I hope you find a new niche soon.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Psych, M/S.

Will you share 'how' exactly you got 'fired?' Not that I am passing judgement b/c I have worked with several nurses who were unjustly 'let go', discriminated against, harassed, ect in order to get them to quit on their own and I have been subject to it myself.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Without going into too much detail, let me state that I have indeed been discriminated against and bullied by an assistant nurse manager........but not at this last job. That's what made the separation so emotionally wrenching---it was a good place to work, most of the nurses and management have been there for decades, and we were as much a family as any workplace can be. In a lot of nursing homes, if you've been there more than six months you're the senior person, but here......well, that's why I was one of the five licensed nurses who went from full-time to on-call status. And when you're on on-call status and the facility remains only half full, you may as well consider yourself jobless. (The state employment division agrees with me, hence I'm collecting benefits.)

It's hard to be angry and broke, and not have anyone to blame for it. I'm glad I'm pretty much over that part. I'd been the primary evening shift nurse on the long-term care unit and had bonded so well with the staff, residents, and even the unit manager that I was considered THE leader of the unitl but I was passed over in favor of an LPN who has 15 years on me in age (!) and over a decade of seniority. So we can't exactly call it age discrimination, and while she IS an LPN she's been there so long that she probably earns as much, if not more money than I did, so it's not just about who costs more.

Then, when you throw in osteoarthritis and a bad knee that suddenly gives out and requires surgery, and your surgeon says you can't do this sort of work anymore, that puts a whole new spin on things. Now, even if they were admitting new residents right and left, they don't need any RCMs, which is another job I've done in the past, and their admissions coordinator who's been there 30 years still isn't anywhere near ready to retire. So that eliminates the positions that I CAN do..........and where does that leave me? Yep---in the unemployment line.

It's a good thing I have some sense of God's hand in all this. I think He's got something in mind for me that will be far better in the long term, but that's a piece of information He hasn't shared with me yet. That's why this will be an ongoing series; there will be mistakes made and lessons learned, and I suspect that part of my "comeback" will include passing these experiences on to others in the same situation to help them find their way. I think that's how it's supposed to work. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It is revolting what is going on economically in this country. I think it is a depression. People that use the recession word are tip toeing around the truth.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I totally agree, oramar. We've been through recessions before, and this one feels different.........like something we just aren't going to pull out of anytime soon. I don't care what the so-called 'experts' say---I'll believe there's a recovery when I see it.

I could throw in a couple of my pet theories as to why this is going on much longer than it should have, but this isn't the time or place. ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych.

You 'listen' to that intuitive part of yourself that has you feeling oddly optimistic. This recent turn of events is driving you to set up the circumstances to create the next chapter of your life you're intended to 'write'.

You sound really open to receiving the 'lessons' to be found in this experience. I have NO doubt that where you find yourself right now is just a temporary tunnel you have to travel through in order to reach your next interesting destination. You are absolutely going to be okay (although I know...I KNOW...how easy it is to succumb to those dark moments of your worst fears. Hang in there and keep the faith.)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Viva,

I have loved your posts over the years and have learned so much from you, from nursing school and now into my third year of working as an RN (even though I don't know that we have ever communicated other than me reading your posts). You have a wonderful talent as a writer, and I wonder if that is part of God's plan for you. I will certainly be following your story. I am 46 and rapidly approaching the same age range you are writing about, but I have far less experience in this field since it is my second career. I think nurses with decades of experience are extremely important to our healthcare system and hope that soon that will be obvious to all. I too just made a job move since I couldn't afford to lose all my hours to being put on call all the time for low census -- crazy times.

I am glad your hope is in God and that you are resting in him to see what comes next in your life.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC Family Practice.

I've been out of work for over 2 years now, stuck in a state where I can't get my license renewed (I let it lapse). I will turn 60 this fall and have been unable to find work in any of my other skills.

In March I took a 6 wk phlebotomy course and passed the final and national certification with flying colors :D. I used to be the wiz kid when it came to phlebotomy when I worked as a clinic nurse so I figured it would a good fit (it turns out I've still got it) while I wait to sell my place and move to Ohio where I reactivated my license through online course work. Since April I've applied to job after job after job, I had 19+ years as an LPN and 5 of those were in clinics performing phlebotomy and I've only had 3 interviews. All job apps are online now, most have that wonderful field of what year did you graduate from HS:mad: a sneaky but legal way to find out how old you are and if you don't fill it in the form will reject your app.:mad:

I'll be watching your adventure in finding work, since you haven't been out for too long I think you'll be OK...I wish you the best of luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.

Soooo no travel nursing in your future? I'm asking because I always thought that's what I would do if something like this happened to me. I'll be reading your blogs from now on. Thank you for posting :) God Bless

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I've never really wanted to do travel nursing.......they tend to get the worst assignments! Besides, I like to be home every night, and since we only have one car between my husband and me, it would put a big crimp in HIS life if I had to have the car all the time. But thanks for the suggestion, anyway. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Update: I put my resume out on CareerBuilder yesterday, and this morning I got a call from a hospice agency in a nearby city asking me to come in for an interview this coming Monday. The woman who called sounded quite enthusiastic about meeting with me.......that's usually a good sign!

Full tank of gas so I can travel to nearby city: $36.00

New pair of dress shoes to wear with interview outfit: $55.00

Getting closer to what I really want: Priceless

:)

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×