RN MGR Told me I'm too old.

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I graduated last May with my BSN, mid 40's. I had a phone interview, the RN Mgr didn't remember me at first, but then she did from a recent career fair. She told me the unit was "very heavy" and fast-paced, I need "alot of stamina", if I get tired that would affect my "critical thinking" skills, "I'm 57 and I can't do bedside nursing anymore", the young ones can do it. "I can let you shadow a shift, so you can see what you're getting into."

I told her thanks, but not thanks. I did call her on having an issue with my age and she denied it. I left a voice mail with the HR person that set up the interview and asked to call me back and let me know what units do hire "mature" RN candidates.

Should I call and complain to the hospital about this? Did I make a mistake my getting my BSN at 47? I'm completely floored, my self-esteem is really low. I wanted to do this my whole life, excited to finally make some money, and now this.

Thanks in advance.

Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.
I believe its illegal to discriminate based on age, but whether its worth pursuing is up to you.

It is. It's illegal for a manager to ask about age. The manager was skirting around that, dangerously close. OP, don't let anyone decide your future for you. You may be fit and sharper than I am...at 50 I self-selected to get out of the hospital gig for the reasons that manager said BUT it was my choice. Hang in there.

Specializes in LTC, Rehab.

No, you didn't make a mistake! But there are idiots everywhere. I had a hard time finding my first job - which still makes me angry - BUT, I've been working as a nurse for not much shy of 6 years now, I'm quite a bit older than you, and I'm a bit of a leader in my facility. So please, hang in there, be persistent, and you WILL come out ahead.

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I agree with NICU Guy (Post #2). The Manager was just being honest about her doubts that you could physically handle the job -- and was offering you a chance to try it for a shift to see what it would be like. Had you accepted the offer and done well during the shadowing experience, she may have offered you a job. But you didn't give it a chance. You terminated the hiring process and walked away without seeing it through and showing her that you could handle it.

Would you prefer that Hiring Managers smile all the time at you and lie about any doubts they have? Would you prefer they simply reject your application without giving you any indication of what their concerns were -- and without giving you any chance to address those concerns?

This Hiring Manager was up-front and honest -- and willing to proceed with the interview/selection process by giving you a chance to address her concerns. You made a mistake by shutting down the selection process. And making a big fuss about it will just give potential employers the impression that you can't handle the truth and are a trouble-maker. That will make getting hired even harder. Don't do that to yourself.

1 Votes
Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA)

If she declined to hire you because you're too old, then you have a case for age discrimination. But she didn't: you withdrew from consideration first. And based on what you describe in the post, she didn't tell you outright that you were too old. You felt she implied it...and perhaps she did. Or perhaps she didn't--I wasn't there so I could only guess.

Now whether her interviewing style/tactics were being upfront and honest, or shady and possibly bordering on illegal...well, that's up for you and if necessary, a good employment attorney to decide. At the least, you could get a free consult if you truly think this is a possible case of age discrimination.

IMO, unless this hospital is the only gig in town, I don't think it's worth pursuing. But next time you're in a similar situation, don't automatically rush to get up in arms.

Best of luck.

Specializes in Psych/Mental Health.

The manager made a lot of assumptions about what one can or cannot do based solely on age, that to me is discrimination. Offering a shift to shadow means nothing, and certainly doesn't mean she's going to offer you a job. Ultimately she is likely to choose someone younger (if one is available) because she already has such negative bias toward older people.

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
The manager made a lot of assumptions about what one can or cannot do based solely on age, that to me is discrimination. Offering a shift to shadow means nothing, and certainly doesn't mean she's going to offer you a job. Ultimately she is likely to choose someone younger (if one is available) because she already has such negative bias toward older people.

Maybe. But nobody can say what would have happened had the OP completed the application/interview process. By walking out without doing the shadowing, she didn't give the manager a chance to hire or reject her.

If it was a phone interview, how did she know your age? Someone correct me if I am wrong, but any info that may lead to discrimination should not be made available to the hiring manager or interview panel.

While Ithink refusing to shadow was a mistake,you my be over sensitive about your age.The truth is bedside nursing or any nursing can be really rough and hard on you physically,mentally depending on your own fitness and area.I have seen seasoned nurses leave adult floors thinking it would be easier in NICU,ER,Nuero whatever, only to find out it was a big mistake.

I agree with other posters that the Mgr was trying to avoid having you quit too soon.

Some Mgr that are younger than their staff already can not do the job on the floor.It happens. Some younger nurses have back pain,foot problems,headaches,joint pains too.

While older nurses make up for age with experience,knowledge and pure guts in difficult situations and the doctors love them.

Do what you need to get hired ,get experience.You might not have enough solid proof for age discrimination so I would not want to fight this yet,wait.,perhaps other positions will open up in same hospital.

Good luck to you,I am sure you will find something eventually,be open to it.

I think this nursing manager is likely just an old-school COB (I'm a COB, so nothing against COBs... nursing can do that to some people). She just sounds like a COB who is really tired, potentially burnt out and probably didn't realize what she was saying to you. She is obviously projecting her own experience/abilities onto you. That being said, you should have done the shadow shift and regardless you should definitely file a complaint because this is discrimination. If you're competent, capable, and wanting to do a bedside your age shouldn't be an issue.

Specializes in Med-Tele; ED; ICU.

The whole "I'm xxx old and I can't keep up on the floor anymore" is a complete fallacy.

It would be more accurate to say, "I'm in poor physical condition and..."

I'm 54 and I can hang with colleagues half my age in a busy ED or in the units.

It's not about age, it's about energy and conditioning.

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
If it was a phone interview, how did she know your age? Someone correct me if I am wrong, but any info that may lead to discrimination should not be made available to the hiring manager or interview panel.

She met her at a job fair

Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.

That is illegal to even hint at age during an interview. I'd report it to EEOC as discrimination. Nothing about age, race, religion, sexual orientation or disability should come up in an interview. That's a big no no. There are plenty of travelers in their 60s that work in busy heavy work load ERs.

Specializes in Critical Care.

She didn't turn you down flat and she even offered to let you job shadow. I think you are being overly sensitive and made a mistake calling her out on what you perceived as age discrimination and refusing to job shadow. I don't think calling HR to complain will help your chances of finding another job with that hospital or in that hospital system. The truth is some units have mostly younger new grads nurses, but other units have older nurses too and the reality is that the average nurse is over 40 so there are plenty of older nurses still working that haven't retired yet.

I personally think she was being honest with you about the intensity of bedside nursing and her own experience. I don't know if you are already working as a nurse and if so where, but she was willing to offer you a chance to shadow and see if you would be interested. She didn't turn you down flat. Shadowing is the latest thing, also group interviews where your coworkers meet and greet and interview you to see if you would mesh well. I think shadowing is a good thing it gives you an idea of what to expect and lets you meet some of your coworkers.

Also even if she was implying age discrimination you gain nothing by calling her out on it. You definitely won't get the job that way and will only alienate yourself and be seen as a troublemaker. Honestly, I'm not convinced she was discriminating against you just sharing her own experience and was even open to offering you the chance to shadow to see if the job was a good fit. I don't know where you go from here and if it is even possible for you to salvage the situation to get a job in that hospital/hospital system.

There is no reason you shouldn't be able to get a job your age is not a barrier unless you choose to make it one by looking for offense. Look around and you'll see plenty of older nurses working in the field in all aspects of nursing both as second career new grads and experienced nurses so age is truly not a barrier to getting a nursing job!

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