Old nurse, feeling washed up.

Nurses Relations

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I worked with two nurses recently that are young, and very rude! I've been a nurse for 30 years and never been disrespected like this. They made comments about my age "50" that were discriminating to say the least, and they kept putting down other coworkers and saying how incompetent this person or that person was. Even in front of the client..which admitted it made him afraid of "new nurses".

On the last day of training they called our corporate office and made up complete lies about me. I suppose because I confronted them and suggested that they help nurses learn the job instead of waste time putting everyone down. Well I am new..they are not..and now I just got suspended and the patient says he doesn't want me back. I got along with the patient..I thought. I've never been disciplined or suspended in my entire life. I've had jobs for upwards of 15 years. Needless to say this whole experience in working with these two hurts and makes me want to leave the profession completely!

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I feel for ya friend had the same situation happen with me recently ( about a year ago) and due to the little whippersnapper it cost me my job of over 10 years, now I am having a hard time finding another one due to her "misjudgement" . She accused me of being impaired on the job. I tested negative of course. It had been my 4th 12 hr shift in a row and she was trying to show her authority as a charge nurse and I was tired. I am twice her age and worn out so I am impaired? I got the walk of shame to HR and staff health. Everyone knows when your flanked by your manager and HR going to staff health youre branded a drug diverter. Any way I was innocent but she wrote me up for something stupid and I got canned. Now almost 50 yrs old no real job to speak of for a year(thanks to her)and havent been abo=le to get one in 4 states, and rumors flying about the hospital, no interviews even with 23 yrs experience, lost everything I have, resorted to living in an old model RV since I have no longer a house, and credit down the toilet. I hope she chokes on her diet soda shes not supposed to be drinking at the nurses station!

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Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.

Unfortunately, the older nurse has to be proactive in reporting other coworkers when situations like this arise. I am very suspicious that hospitals just dump the older nurse with little or no evidence of wrongdoing because they usually are at a higher pay rate. The sad thing about this is that when hospitals wipe out their experienced work force the quality of care delivered plummets since it the experienced nurses that act as a resource for the new and less experienced. Just think back over the years and how much more you know and how your critical thinking skills are so awesome now. Did any of you seek legal help?

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Wow, I'm terribly sorry for your situation. Have you thought of travel nursing? It might be a good way to earn extra money, plus recruiters help you look for work!

Back to OP's topic. This is a distressing trend, especially for those of us that have been doing this for a while.. I can't imagine losing my job and not having a reference after working somewhere for 10+ years!

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Specializes in LTC, Education, Management, QAPI.

Might I just say that i'm a 31 year old nurse and if I didn't have some 50, 60, or 70 year old nurses in my life, I would have failed miserably! You are not washed up, you are not old, you are not to be disrespected!

Now, I know that doesn't pay your bills. But I will tell you- I hope you know that somewhere, someone needs you to be their mentor or their nurse. Don't give up, I know you didn't get where you are by going belly up... :-)

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