Out of Work Nurse

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Wow, I've been a nurse for nearly twenty years with great experience and am without a job. Recently got married and moved, quit my job because of the travel never thinking I wouldn't get a job right away. Have had several interviews, was told a few times I was "over qualified", what? Have about 100 resumes and applications out there, this economy is getting the best of us. Thanks for listening just wanted to vent.

Strange, my old job was running off experienced nurses LONG BEFORE Barack Obama even took office.

And will continue to run them off, no doubt, long after he is gone. This, however, does nothing to correct the train wreck that is PPACA. Nor does it mean that PPACA will not contribute (even if only in a "scapegoat" status) to the continued demise of quality healthcare in the US.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I don't think it's wise to quit a job without another one lined up, especially with the economy the way it is! I understand feeling that the stress is killing you and unhealthy, and God knows I've felt that way from time to time just so frustrated with the overwhelming demands and micromanagement and having to do everyone else's job on top of my own, but I wouldn't quit a job without another one lined up and a good sized emergency fund in case things didn't work out! Too risky especially if you are an older, experienced nurse competing with younger, cheaper, more attractive and healthier RN's for a job. It's an employer market now in most places and they are looking for cheaper, younger, healthier workers with just a little bit of experience probably 5 years, don't want to pay for anymore than that!

I just pray I can make it to retirement with my health and sanity and back intact and the mortgage paid off! Every time I turn around they make our jobs harder with the stupid computer big brother and endless forms etc. Enough said!

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Cases like these are not at all unique to nursing... in fact, they are ubiquitous in our youth-obssessed culture.

A common morbid joke going around the EE population: "What's the most common career move for a 50-year-old electrical engineer?"

Answer: "Behind the counter at Radio Shack."

My heart goes out to you, OP, because I was very, very near finding myself in the same position...

To the young 'uns, learn some lessons here and (a) look for an employer where you *want* to work for a long time, (b) consider the stability of the specialty and the position, © be very cautious about quitting a job prior to having another one lined up, and (d) support unions and collective-bargaining contracts that protect workers with seniority.

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what is NOC?

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, M/S.
what is NOC?

Night shift

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Specializes in ICU.

A few days ago, I was listening to the news (on one of those 24 hr news shows) and a man was talking about the sky-high price of college tuition. He said, "This is why we have such a nursing shortage, people can't afford to go to school to be a nurse." He kept on and on about the "shortage of nurses." If I hadn't been so stunned, I would have called the show and invited him to AllNurses, so he could see what it is really like. Nurses are a dime a dozen in my neck of the woods.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
And will continue to run them off, no doubt, long after he is gone. This, however, does nothing to correct the train wreck that is PPACA. Nor does it mean that PPACA will not contribute (even if only in a "scapegoat" status) to the continued demise of quality healthcare in the US.

Could you share statistics please, of how, exactly, the ACA is a "train wreck" or even how it is contributing to the "continued demise of healthcare in the US"?

It's odd - I keep asking the same question, yet no one seems to be able to answer with factual information. Even worse, no one bothers to answer at all.

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Specializes in Certified Diabetes Educator.

Half of the estimated $1 trillion dollars that Obama care will cost will be funded by cutting Medicare payments to hospitals. In 1997 when the Balanced Budget Act was implemented, Medicare paid an average of 18% above hospital cost. In 2011, that had dropped to almost 5% under cost. In 2008, hospitals spent $3 Billion more delivering care than they took in. The biggest factor in the financial conditions of a hospital is payer mix. The Obama administration admits that 10-15% of hospitals will not survive under Obama Care. The hospitals that do survive will have to evolve into high-performance cost-cutting machines. Don't be surprised if you find that inpatient care will no longer be the main function of any hospital. The goal of Obama care is for health care to be performed as much as possible in less expensive locations outside hospital walls. Obama was quoted "we are moving away from a healthcare system based on illness, and towards a healthcare system based on prevention and wellness".

So, if you get a chance, read the Wall Street Journal article about Mercy St Vincents Hospital in Manhattan. The article was written by Mark Levine called St. Vincent's Is the Lehman Brothers of Hospitals. Published in Oct 2010

I work for Mercy St Joseph's in Arkansas. We have been "for sale" for some time, but May of 2012, we had a contract with Capella Healthcare to acquire us. Then in June of this year after trying to do everything to make this deal happen, the FTC would not approve the sale. Their reason was that a For-Profit hospital could not purchase a Not-For-Profit hospital; leaving only a For-Profit hospital in the area. We have lost most all of our upper management. Many of our physicians have retired or left. Currently the board of directors is looking at 2 possible outcomes. They are trying to find a hospital to transfer ownership to and they are also trying to "re-imagine" our hospital downsized and more sustainable. Mercy has said that they are not willing to continue to support us because of our losses and going forward with Obama care......our payer mix is 85% Medicare/Medicaid. However, they are willing to look at the above proposals. We are promised that we will know by Sept 30 whether another hospital is taking us over, whether we are being downsized substantially, or whether like St Vincent's in Manhattan, Mercy will close the doors.

Hope this info helps

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The goal of Obama care is for health care to be performed as much as possible in less expensive locations outside hospital walls. Obama was quoted "we are moving away from a healthcare system based on illness, and towards a healthcare system based on prevention and wellness".

This is bad....why??

...St. Vincent's ...

Wow, Obamacare managed to shut down a hospital within a month of being passed. I guess it getting the blame for that is better than the many rants here where it's blamed for things that happened in the 1990s.

I work for Mercy St Joseph's in Arkansas. ... Mercy has said that they are not willing to continue to support us because of our losses and going forward with Obama care......

Another vague, random person/company says it's Obamacare's fault so it must be. Very convincing.

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And will continue to run them off, no doubt, long after he is gone. This, however, does nothing to correct the train wreck that is PPACA. Nor does it mean that PPACA will not contribute (even if only in a "scapegoat" status) to the continued demise of quality healthcare in the US.

The problem with health care in this country is not the ACA; it is Congressmen bickering, earning large paychecks and being content with gridlock for everyone else. Meanwhile, many Americans are content with choosing sides and not working toward a compromise. We are a divided country with regards to values. The economy tanked because businessmen got greedy and unethical. Many Americans continue to believe propaganda if only the 'other' party would do this, things would be better. The truth is that members of Congress need to make LESS money and all the CONFLICTS OF INTEREST that occur there need to stop. But maybe I'll see a flying dragon today.

It truly surprises me that people do not see the value in the pre-existing clause in the ACA. Sorry, but if I get sick and change insurances, I don't want to go bankrupt. Why this doesn't bother more people baffles me.

To the OP, I emphasize with you! I haven't been able to find work either. :/

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Hi Kathy, I'd like to join the others here in sending you my best wishes. I can empathize with you for sure. I graduated with my BSN in 1995, and this is the only career I've known. I'm the one who family members / close friends proudly announce, "is the Nurse". It's like my identity. Now in my late forties, I am also unemployed. In April of this year, I resigned from the GI clinic I worked at for the last ten + years, due to increasing difficulty getting along with my direct supervisor, being repeatedly told it seems I'm no longer a good fit, that I can't keep up with their "brisk pace" (this clinic started as a sort of "mom and pop" employer, but in the last few years grew very big, hiring a new GM who I think has been pressuring this same supervisor to clean house, so to speak.) They obviously favor the young twenty to thirtysomethings. After years of good reviews and no discipline this supervisor wrote me up twice in the space of six months and the second write up was enough for me. I didn't want to end up getting fired, though honestly I'm not sure they would have because it would have cost them $$$$. But at the time I just had it. Thought as you did I'd have no problem finding another job where I'd be a better "fit" and have lots of experience to offer. What a rude awakening. Now I'm living off of what's left of my savings (fortunately I had some) but running out of money, thinking of cashing out my 401K even though everyone I discuss this with says I'm crazy to do that. But I'm at wits end. I am considering going back to school and changing careers. We can't change our chronological age, but we can make the best with what we have, at least that's what I'm trying to do. I am so sorry you are going through this now. I hope it helps knowing you are definitely not alone here. Hang in there. I'm here anytime you need to vent. I am grateful to have others like you on this site for support / understanding.

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.
The problem with health care in this country is not the ACA; it is Congressmen bickering, earning large paychecks and being content with gridlock for everyone else. Meanwhile, many Americans are content with choosing sides and not working toward a compromise. We are a divided country with regards to values. The economy tanked because businessmen got greedy and unethical. Many Americans continue to believe propaganda if only the 'other' party would do this, things would be better. The truth is that members of Congress need to make LESS money and all the CONFLICTS OF INTEREST that occur there need to stop. But maybe I'll see a flying dragon today.

It truly surprises me that people do not see the value in the pre-existing clause in the ACA. Sorry, but if I get sick and change insurances, I don't want to go bankrupt. Why this doesn't bother more people baffles me.

To the OP, I emphasize with you! I haven't been able to find work either. :/

I agree with most of what you have said here. I am sorry you have had a hard time finding work, but if it is any consolation, you have the very best screen name on AN!

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