Over 60, seasoned nurse, fired for not being a "Robot RN."

[Wise Woman RN]

More than 10 years with the hospital, always good yearly evals. New manager. So, out with the old, in with the new, on the charge of not following the "values."

I'm so hurt, and angry, and scared. No insurance. Unemployment is not close to enough to pay the bills. And who wants an old RN?

They own the county. I can't handle LTC. So, I am applying at the stores and pharmacies for anything full-time, but think that the only thing that I will probably be offered will be a "greeter" position.

I guess I am just looking for validation as a decent human being, and as a good nurse.

[trai1971]

Wow...that's terrible! It sounds to me like you were basically being harassed the last 6 months you were there. If you want to pursue it, you most likely have a case. This is the second similar post I've seen on here like this in the last week! So sad. I'm a seasoned nurse. I started nursing at 22, in LTC, and have been a nurse for nearly 20 years. Now that I'm over 40, I fear this same thing, wondering if I have an "expiration date". When I first started nursing, the elder nurses were respected...too bad it's not that way anymore. Best of luck to you and I hope that something will come your way. Try not to shut the door on nursing...we need you until YOU choose to leave the profession. I'm sorry that you were treated this way and, again, best of luck.

[Jessierae526]

I am so sorry and sad that this happened. I am a new nurse and I cannot stress how important it is to have you amazing RNs with so much experience. That's what makes a nurse, experience. Please don't give up and go on to help those younger and less experienced than you. Maybe a new calling? We sure need you!

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

......there are many of us here in this group who have experienced ageism in nursing and you will not find another nursing job with benefits. Something does need to be done....but hospitals/facilities are VERY GOOD and documenting and it is very hard to PROVE what everyone KNOWS they did. You can file a complaint with the EEOC and at the very least hassle them with an investigation......it's free.

:hug:........it isn't you and your are amongst a very elite group!!!!

https://allnurses.com/gsearch.php?cx=partner-pub-9350112648257122%3Avaz70l-mgo9&cof=FORID%3A10&ie=UTF-8&q=agesim+&sa=search

[SoundRN7]

I am so sorry this happened to you and I truly wish you all the best in your future endeavors. I love reading everyone's encouraging and empathizing posts. It makes me feel good to be a part of such a wonderful community.

[bsyrn, ASN, RN]

sounds like age discrimination.....get a lawyer

[mclennan, BSN, RN]

I think every nurse aged 55+ who has had this happen should all get together somehow and write a letter/synopsis/report about their collective experiences. Publish it professionally, and send it to unions, professional nursing organizations, nursing media, the AARP and prominent nursing leaders asking them to address this issue!!

It is happening far more than what's reported. I understand the generational shift that's affecting all professions generally. I understand the complications this presents to management. What I don't understand is the total and utter lack of training, preparedness or mechanisms in place to deal with the widening age gap in the workforce. I have seen managers, time and time again, prioritize the bottom line over the value of experienced nurses. Rather than develop constructive ways to utilize their knowledge - or learn new techniques to effectively handle the conflicts between older and younger employees, they'd rather just fire them, or worse, passive/aggressively pressure them out by making the work environment so uninhabitable they have no choice but to quit. It's not just happening in nursing. It's happening everywhere.

That being said.....oldsters, my advice to you is to keep up with the changing technology, be tech-savvy, and don't be a high maintenance chestnut. Just do stuff the new way they want you to, stop clinging to paper and old protocols. Don't eat your young, and don't perpetuate the old stereotypes. Don't give those managers any excuse to start honing in on you. Every time I've seen an older nurse get canned it almost ALWAYS starts because of these issues. I hate to see it go down that way, but I find a lot of older nurses are so stubborn about learning new things, they practically invite the scrutiny that starts the process of termination. So stay flexible, stay informed, learn that software without complaint and nurture those youngins! You are our ROLE MODELS!

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

It is ageism. You're not alone as Esme posted. The worst part of being fired, is starting think that you deserved it. Or that you're worth less. I almost wish they could just say it's because you're old, at least that way you don't start doubting yourself. Not much you can fix about being 60.

Or over 50 like me.

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

I think every nurse aged 55+ who has had this happen should all get together somehow and write a letter/synopsis/report about their collective experiences. Publish it professionally, and send it to unions, professional nursing organizations, nursing media, the AARP and prominent nursing leaders asking them to address this issue!!

It is happening far more than what's reported. I understand the generational shift that's affecting all professions generally. I understand the complications this presents to management. What I don't understand is the total and utter lack of training, preparedness or mechanisms in place to deal with the widening age gap in the workforce. I have seen managers, time and time again, prioritize the bottom line over the value of experienced nurses. Rather than develop constructive ways to utilize their knowledge - or learn new techniques to effectively handle the conflicts between older and younger employees, they'd rather just fire them, or worse, passive/aggressively pressure them out by making the work environment so uninhabitable they have no choice but to quit. It's not just happening in nursing. It's happening everywhere.

That being said.....oldsters, my advice to you is to keep up with the changing technology, be tech-savvy, and don't be a high maintenance chestnut. Just do stuff the new way they want you to, stop clinging to paper and old protocols. Don't eat your young, and don't perpetuate the old stereotypes. Don't give those managers any excuse to start honing in on you. Every time I've seen an older nurse get canned it almost ALWAYS starts because of these issues. I hate to see it go down that way, but I find a lot of older nurses are so stubborn about learning new things, they practically invite the scrutiny that starts the process of termination. So stay flexible, stay informed, learn that software without complaint and nurture those youngins! You are our ROLE MODELS!

It's all about money. To say it's because I balk at a computer, (I don't) or I'm mean to the new nurses, is simply giving my employer reasons that don't exist. It's money, money, money. To say otherwise, only implies that those of us who are over 50 deserve what we get.

[nursel56]

That being said.....oldsters, my advice to you is to keep up with the changing technology, be tech-savvy, and don't be a high maintenance chestnut. Just do stuff the new way they want you to, stop clinging to paper and old protocols. Don't eat your young, and don't perpetuate the old stereotypes.

Well, you managed to hit just about every stereotype out there about older nurses and apparently assumed them to be a)true and b)fixable by changing our behavior Maybe you aren't around a wide enough sample to see that. Anyway, you forgot to tell us not to complain about our nagging backache or our bunions. BTW, What is the "widening age gap?"

[NursesRmofun, ASN, RN]

This is a rough one to answer. Actually, I am somewhere close to where you are now....maybe even it would be a worse situation for me if it weren't for having a great, supportive significant other. I am also out of work and having problems getting hired in a new city that really has very limited jobs for RNs...and I know I should not assume, but I think those jobs that there are may be going to younger more moldable RNs that are from this area (I am not.) I also am applying for non-nursing jobs and have had no luck so far.

In this, I offer you some empathy. I am there. Good luck in your job search!

[Bruno1968]

"That being said.....oldsters, my advice to you is to keep up with the changing technology, be tech-savvy, and don't be a high maintenance chestnut. Just do stuff the new way they want you to, stop clinging to paper and old protocols. Don't eat your young, and don't perpetuate the old stereotypes. Don't give those managers any excuse to start honing in on you. Every time I've seen an older nurse get canned it almost ALWAYS starts because of these issues. I hate to see it go down that way, but I find a lot of older nurses are so stubborn about learning new things, they practically invite the scrutiny that starts the process of termination. So stay flexible, stay informed, learn that software without complaint and nurture those youngins! You are our ROLE MODELS!"

I see this on my floor a lot lately....many of the 'older' nurses are so resistant to change and have such bad atitudes that they make working with them a miserable chore. I hear complaints almost every shift from the newer nurses who are well versed in AIDET, LEARN and computerized charting, complaining about the negative and surly attitudes of the older RN's. Whether we like it or not, the hospitals' reimbursement is greatly affected by patient satisfaction scores. This is the future of nursing so either hop on board or get off the train. Times are changing and it is only going to get tougher with all of the coming changes in healthcare.

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

I agree with whoever said it had to do with your higher salary. Seasoned nurses cost more and healthcare is a business, sadly.Definitely try applying anywhere. How about school nursing? Pay is less, but there is less drama and BS, and less physically demanding.