RNat55

UPDATE! I finally got hired as a pediatric private duty nurse! But before then I was further rejected by a nursing home and home health agencies, then finally, contacted this group, went for interview and I was hired! As if the job was just waiting for me.:) I am currently in their preceptor program! Glad to be starting somewhere. Thank you all for your support. I learned a lot!

Greats tips that new nurses like me can benefit from if those acting as preceptors take them to heart! Thank you for sharing.

Thanks! I call myself RN at 55 because I am proud of my accomplishment at this age and not because I feel it's a problem. Determination and focus got me here. It just happens that the 55 might be a contributory factor in making it harder getting that first job. I take your counsel, "apply for all the things!" I know I will soon get something suited for me.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. It's true that how one presents one's self can be a contributory factor but I have tried to present myself in a positive light. My former preceptor in that unit (during my practicum) told me they had asked her about me after the interview and she was excited that I might be coming to the floor and she might get to train me again. So what happened...? I look at the "too fast-paced" as a pointer to my age-like you might have done well during your short practicum but you may not have the stamina for a full- time employment here? Again, just my thoughts... Also, yes, ONLY the HIRING MANAGER knows the real reason why I was not chosen. All anyone can do is speculate and that is why it is so frustrating when they don't tell you what the actual reason is. When I went for an earlier hiring event for a medical-surgical position, I was told they were not considering me and to go interview with their other locations...okay? If they are not considering me here, why would other locations do? But again, if their reason is illegal, they wouldn't say it, instead, they might find other reasons to give, so? But, I also self reflect after an interview to give myself perspective and to prepare better for the next. I KNOW I am closer to getting my first job-perfected suited for me. Thanks.

UPDATE I attended the interview yesterday at the SPCU where I did my practicum and for a night shift. The interview went well in my opinion and my former preceptor told me she was contacted and she "gave a good word" and was looking forward to possibly training me again! HR called today to inform me that I was not under consideration. Why? They feel I will be a better fit in the medical-surgical unit where there is lower acuity. There is always something why...? I should feel free to attend their hiring event coming up next week. Really? Honestly, I am not sure if anything will change interviewing with MSU. There will be a reason why they can't hire me also? What next? I have ruled out home health as a graduate nurse. Even if I wait to complete my BSN in April, my age won't be affected.. .still an RN at 55.

Unfortunately, most, if not all clinic jobs need hospital experience. I attended a hiring event for hospice and that was the response - go get 1-year hospital experience and come back if you are still interested.

I am very serious. Just stating my ultimate aim here to see if anyone felt I should just pursue these other interests and forget the hospital floor if age is an issue. Thanks for your thoughts.

I agree and know that it's very expensive training new nurses but it appears you misunderstood me here. I do not state this during an interview. I only stated this here because I was only providing additional information about my other interests so I can get some other directions. For example, whether I should just pursue these other interests or stick to pursuing hospital employment. Thank you for your thoughts. I have an interview scheduled for this week in a unit I did my practicum, so I am hopeful.

Thank you! ?

Yes, this is what I thought of this week! Be willing to work nights and go back to where I did my practicum. At least they saw how I worked despite my age! ? I contacted the nurse manager and she asked me to apply online and she will set up an interview this week. I will see...don't want to raise my hopes too high. Thanks for your thoughts.

The word "witchcraft" in the title caught my attention. I was like witchcraft in America?! ? Reading the OP, I guess you view complementary therapies as witchcraft? Interesting! As others have stated these have been around for ages. They do have their uses and I have a very practical example with my middle daughter who is now married in the U.S. When she was about a year old (we were still living in Nigeria, West Africa and I was an attorney then), she developed continuous high body temperature. When we took her to the hospital, blood work was done, and we were told she had an infection in the blood. We were given antibiotics but the temperature never subsided for weeks. We gave up hope and were just waiting for her to die. Fortunately, some relations from a rural community came to visit my mum, who complained about her granddaughter's condition. One of the women asked for my daughter and I brought her. She took her and laid her in the prone position and ran her fingers across her spine and said she knew what was the problem and she would send some herbs and roots when she got home. Early the next morning a bunch of herbs, roots, seeds, etc arrived with a small bottle of palm kernel oil. Instructions were to boil all the herbs, roots, etc, then take out some, cool it, give a scoop to drink and bath the child. After the bath, we were to dip a finger in the oil and put a drop in her mouth and another on her fontanel. I kid you not, immediately we did this the very first time, her temperature dropped and was normal! It was unbelievable!! Our daughter was brought back to life! From that day till date, the temperature never returned! So, I beg to disagree about the witchcraft part.

Awesome! It gave me a good opportunity to know you better. Indeed, allnurses is also giving me an opportunity to try my hand at writing. I am new to writing and don't know if I make an earning from it. I am in my final semester for my BSN but I don't have any job yet as an RN. I am wondering if I can make a headway going fully into the writing business since I am not getting a job at 55? ?

Certainly food for thought. Thanks for sharing!

I started my first career in Nigeria as a state prosecutor. Coming to the United States, I decided to return to school to obtain a BSN. When I told my husband, he said, “Wow, that’s a huge change, moving from the liberal arts to science!” As the program commenced, I began comparing the legal and nursing professions. Prosecuting ProcessAs a state prosecutor, I perused police case files brought to my office, the department of public prosecution (DPP), to ascertain if there was a prima facie case to charge the suspect with the commission of an offense. Prima facie means the presence of sufficient evidence from the suspect’s actions that will likely secure a conviction at trial provided there is no contradicting evidence. Prosecutors, like nurses, also follow a process. This process begins with determining the offense the suspect may have committed, followed by planning how to proceed with the case. Nursing ProcessThe nursing process that guides the registered nurse in providing customized care and prioritizing problem areas is similar to this prosecuting process. AssessmentThe nursing assessment consists of a physical examination and obtaining data from the patient’s health history, which is analyzed to help formulate customized care. Perusing police case files is similar to patient assessment. Perusing means examining the file to obtain the suspect’s criminal history as well as actions that fulfill the components of the alleged offense. The components of the offense refer to acts of the suspect that make up the alleged offense. For example, in Nigeria, someone can be charged with burglary if the state prosecutor has evidence that the suspect forcefully broke into a home and took property without the express or implied consent of the owner. These are the components of the offense: forcefully breaking in, and taking property without some form of consent from the owner. Ingredients can be compared to signs and symptoms, while health history is similar to criminal history. Nursing DiagnosisThis is the nurse’s clinical judgment about the client’s response to actual or potential health conditions or needs. The nursing diagnosis is comparable to when the prosecutor determines the offense the suspect may have committed. The North American Nursing Diagnosis Association International (NANDA-I ) guides the nurses in doing this while in Nigeria, the Criminal Procedure Act guides the prosecutor. PlanningPlanning is the next step after diagnosis. Here, the nurse sets out goals (both short and long term) which are measurable and achievable for the patient based on the nursing diagnosis. The nurse outlines interventions to determine how the goals would be achieved and NANDA-I is also helpful here. For the prosecutor, after identifying the offense, a decision is made as to the court that has jurisdiction. A plan is made on how the case will be prosecuted and this includes determining how many counts to charge, the evidence needed, the number of witnesses to call, interviewing these witnesses and obtaining any needed exhibits. The Nigerian Evidence Act is helpful here. For both professions, this stage leads to the implementation stage. ImplementationThe nurse carries out the interventions that were planned and decides if delegation is required. The nurse’s ability to delegate appears to be the main difference from the prosecuting process. For a Prosecutor, there is no delegation but another prosecutor could be assigned the case due to reasons of ill –health or other reasons. The prosecutor in the implementation stage would file the case in court and commence trial by calling witnesses and presenting evidence as planned. At the conclusion, the defense presents their own witnesses and the prosecutor must be prepared to cross-examine them. An evaluation would then be next. EvaluationEvaluation is needed in both processes to identify areas that require adjustments. The nurse assesses the patient’s response to the interventions provided, to determine if the plan should be maintained or adjusted. While the prosecutor weighs each witness testimony and determines its effect on the case. Does it help or weaken the case? Is there a need to call additional witnesses, bring in more evidence, or even withdraw or substitute this charge? ConclusionDocumentation plays a crucial part in both professions. In the nursing process, this is done in the patient’s chart and provides continuity of care because other healthcare professionals involved in patient care are able to assess what has been done. In the prosecuting process, documentation is made in the case file and includes the evidence that substantiates the alleged offense, the witnesses to be called, testimonies in court and court remarks. The goal is to make it easier for anyone looking through the case file to obtain basic information to continue the case. The absence of documentation in both processes shows that what ought to have been done was not done. It is interesting how one can find a connection between professions that appear unrelated at first. If you have found some similarities between your first career and nursing, I would love to hear about it. Leave your comments below.

I appreciate the thought! Thank you. Hopefully, I will soon come across someone that thinks this way and also has the power! ? Thank you so much! I wish I did...hmmm, that's tempting ? You are so kind.

This is an update. I did attend the hospice hiring event today. The interview went well but unfortunately, they need at least 1-year hospital experience. I guess the bus doesn't stop here. Moving on...:) I am hopefully waiting to hear from the dialysis clinic RN position. I will keep you all posted. I appreciate everyone that took the time to share their thoughts and advice. When I posted this, I never imagined I would get this kind of massive response. Thanks for all your concerns. It is keeping me motivated!

This is sounding more and more interesting! Thanks for sharing and I hope you are in a better place now.

You are right. It appears more employers prefer younger nurses. I am trying not to give up that I will eventually find something. So you have not been able to get an opportunity to use your MSN to teach? Anyways, thanks for sharing. Wishing us the very best.

Congratulations! Thanks for sharing. Good suggestion.

Thanks, Nurse Beth! I will look into what you have written and try to make adjustments. I agree I may have dodged a bullet with the HCA job. I just saw they readvertised the same position last week. I agree, the time is now and I am doing all I can to get this first job. I am attending a Vitas hospice hiring event tomorrow and also applied to Davita Dialysis clinic yesterday. I will keep looking. Thank you.

Thanks for your response. Your wife's employers show they were out to be fair in the complete sense of the word. Really a blind interview which more employers should do. Once, I get a call for a face to face interview, I say, okay now they will see I am not in my twenties. ?

Thanks. I have not seen any openings for school nurses yet. I am applying now for a position at a dialysis clinic and indeed the hours are brutal.

Do they employ new grads? And offer training?

Most home healths appear to want experience and yes, I don't want to work solo as a new grad either. I have not tried corrections though.

I thought of this but never to this extent. Hmmm! You may be right...so what now? Hmmm...Thanks for your insights.