Older RNs, job market for experienced RN

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jan 8, 2012

Ageism is alive and well....most expereiced nurses are being "downsized" and having difficulty finding jobs if at all. We cost to much money and we aren't "Yes men" There is no shortage. Many nurses have returned to the workforce becasue their husbands are out of work, many can't retire because there is no retirement after we lost our butts in our 401K's and nursing schools are churning out new grads with no where fore them to go. Qi=uite sad actually. Cruise the site this has been talked about a hundreds of time. :)

kcmylorn · Jan 9, 2012

Ditto:

The entire healthcare disaster that is happening in this country today is because top level healthcare leadership/execs want to turn a profit( I'm using the leadership term loosely not becuase I truely believe that they deserve to be called leaders, more like purse strings and sandbaggers). With the salaries they are pulling in, the profits these facilities have to pull in have to be astonomical just to pay bills/operating costs AND those big salaries. These execs are not conceeding on their salaries one dime, so the operating costs( which is what we nurses are thought of- LOL) is the portion that gets slashed, and slashed, and slashed. Which is where us experienced nurses come in- we have been pushed out by hook and by crook( mostly by crooks) because after so many years in any given profession, it stands to reason, that the pay scale is higher. If one has 20-30 years in nursing, we are obviouly not 21yr old. But no one will ever get HR to admit it is age discrimination- because that is a lawsuit- hands down. I would love to ask these twisted HR people, at what age in their "EXPERTISE" do they think dementia sets in?? Perhaps they think we are too"demented' after 50 to be aware of their unlawful hiring practices.

People are not going to hospitals like they used to, elective proceedures are being put off, admissions are down, insurance, government ( state and federal)handouts of taxpayer money and CMS reimbursments are also down so there fall the "profits". Yet these top level execs keep pumping money into competetive advertising, interior decorating and the 'lifestyles of the rich and famous' And we are supposed to sit back and 'yes' these fools to death.

Guttercat, ASN, RN · Jan 10, 2012

Huge changes at our hospital. Big layoffs/early retirement packages etc.

There has been over the last few months...a whole lot of young, fresh faces appearing in the halls I don't recognize.

Some folks magically disappearing, only to be replaced by less experienced/educated. Tales of railroading abound.

I am myself, and our department... on the chopping block.

New grads apply here.

netglow, ASN, RN · Jan 10, 2012

Heard from a friend of mine today. She is a NG with now nearly a year if she can hold out at her hospital. She says that the experienced nurses they've recently hired have all left. I've received a mass email from said hospital today, they're looking for several experienced nurses on yet another floor. I guess the place is bleeding out since it''s a real sucky place to work. NGs orienting NGs and orienting experienced nurses -- when they can get 'em...

Apparently the place is so bad that only the innocent stay.

Kica93 · Jan 11, 2012

I'm looking for work as a nurse. I'm 53 with 12 years experience. Everywhere I apply they say "recent graduates need not to apply". But there is discrimination with age too. So, what the heck? Almost none of the positions I've seen posted are full time. I would like to work enough hours to get benefits, but the positions I see are Per Diem, one shift 12 hours another 8 hours. To me it looks like they are trying to fill holes and avoid paying benefits.

blackjack0807 · Jan 11, 2012

Hello. new here.

Kica I agree completely about avoiding benefits. I have a job, but I am looking for hospital experience (have none). I was an LPN for 5 years did SNF/ home health. Got my RN 5years ago and just completed my BSN. I have just been doing HH and private duty cases.

All full time jobs posted are specialized and require years of experience. Med/surg and tele are PRN positions.

I have probably applied to roughly 30 jobs in past 6 months. Only one telephone interview. Went great up to "what hospital did you work at?". She politely explained that training staff cost the units money, nurses with no hospital experience require longer training; add to that nurses quitting after only a few months increases the staff turnover rate.

Still just want a chance to prove myself!

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Jan 17, 2012

Blackjack -- May I ask what state the hospital you describe is located in? Thanks.

Think it's good for posters to include this info in order for readers to get a better picture of the geographics involved with the prob of employment. (Of course, confidential items need not be discussed.)

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Jan 18, 2012

Moved to our Nursing Career Advice section.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Jan 19, 2012

Experienced nurses are still getting jobs in the Houston area - especially if they have mad skills in a high-demand area such as CVICU or OB. I haven't heard any problems related to age from any of our hiring managers. Heck, one of our hospitals has 80 year old supervisor who is probably the most well respected nurse in the (600 bed) facility.

southerly · Apr 12, 2012

I have read and heard verbally that new graduates are having a lot of problems being hired due to 'no experience'. What about older RNs who have a lot of experience and education? Is it difficult in some states but not others? Is the market flooded? Is it due to the current economic situation where the cost of living is making it harder to retire so there are fewer leaving and more working to assist other incomes? OR is it age discrimination?????
ALSO, How does one get an interview after submitting an online application? Do those online applications go into cyber space? Is there any individualization of interviews for positions posted?[/\\\
After being "dismissed" from a management position for no real reason, been looking for a job. I am an RN with 27 years of hospital experience and the last 6 being in management ( a very top notch one) . This most likely happened due to the hospital was cutting back and I was at the top of the payscale. ( had heard in a management meeting positions would be cut) Being experienced without a BSN and close to 50 years old has been hurtful to finding employment as an RN. I have been told that I am "overqualified" for office jobs ( only to find out that a new RN was hired for a position that i was well qualified for) and "underqualified" for supervisory or floor nursing positions. Hospitals are looking for BSN's , I can't afford school and do not qualify for a grant ( have college age children). I think it is sad that employers are passing up experienced nurses for new grads with no experience. It scares me to think what will happen when I need care and there are no experienced nurses to care for me. Upper management are thinking only of the dollar sign, but not considering the liability of inexperience. I have applied for over 30 jobs in the last 2 months. When I was younger, my husband was military and every place we moved, I did not experience any lag time in finding another position, but having been out of the job market for the last 11 years, things have changed dramatically, most employers only accept online applications and most of them do not contact you, unless you meet their qualifications and they are looking for inexperienced less costly employees as most advertisements read that you only need a BSN and 2 years for a management position. This amount of experience is not enough to prepare a young nurse without prior work experience for a management job.
I also think it may be hard for a new grad as a lot of the advertisements ask for 1-2 years of experience in nursing. However, these positions also do not want experienced, expensive nurses.
I do believe fewer nurses are leaving for retirement, I worked with several that really needed to retire do to physical issues ( hard to stand on feet all day, etc.), but with the economy the way it is cannot afford to do so.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Apr 14, 2012

Welcome to a growing group of valuable nurses being shut out of our beloved profession for the almighty dollar. :hug: