Ckwil1948

I am going to check on the amt I can get from Medicare at age 62, and then find out how much I can make doing something outside of nursing. I live 50 miles west of Chicago, and I can paper the walls with resumes in the form recommended by the unemployment office. Got a "hot offer" on the internet from CareerBuilders.Com today- selling high-tech electronics equipment! I got a good laugh over that one! Unemployed After 38 Years.

YOU GUYS ARE ALL GREAT!! I WILL TURN 62 IN NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR, SO IF I FILED FOR SOCIAL SECURITY i COULD EARN A LITTLE, BUT I AM WONDERING HOW I MIGHT SUPPLEMENT MY INCOME IF I CAN'T EVEN FIND PART-TIME NURSING WORK. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY IDEAS? I HAVE NO FAMILY, SO I HAVE NO OTHER INCOME, AND NURSING IS THE ONLY PROFESSION I HAVE EVER WORKED IN. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT!! UNEMPLOYED AFTER 38YRS. P.S.- DOES CLEANING HOUSES SOUND GOOD?

I feel your pain! I was laid off with 4 other RNS 2 months ago. I have been an RN for 38yrs full-time, and I can't get arrested. I try to keep busy,but I get really restless to work! I have done so much computer work for my searches that I feel more like a secretary than a nurse. Healthcare institutions are looking for employees who cost less to employ,and we are too near the top of the food chain to hire, when they can make do with and LVN or aide. Are you receiving Unemployment? If not, get it!! Never give up! You have your youth and school experience (I graduated in 1972),will eventually get you a job-just keep at it. It is tougher for "Oldies" like me! Keep calling employers back, too! Good Luck, Unemployed After 38 Years.

The state of Illinois is a mess! After 2 months of looking, I can't find a job,and I don't know what to do next! I worked at a multi-specialty clinic,a series of doctor's offices, let 5 RN's and 3 Aides go on June 11th. At 61 I am in great shape,I can easily do 12hr shifts, but nobody is hiring! I have no family, so I am on my own, and it really makes me angry that I call and email employers,and they don't even bother to call back! It is an employer's market, and they are just plain rude! I can't rertire for another 5 years,and even that isn't enough! My ex-supervisor weighs 400lbs,and will soon have her second series of knee replacements in 6 months,and she is still working! I have no family,so my paycheck and a few more months of unemployment (1/2 my salary) is all I have,and I am really angry! Sorry to vent, but I have been working so hard to find work! Thanks for listening,I really appreciate it:mad: Unemployed after 38 Years/1

Health Care is in a horrible state when this kind of issue pops up!! I am "Unemployed after 38yrs." I have worked hard all through my career. There is no nursing shortage-employers are just to cheap to hire educated employees! I live near a college town with a great B.S.program,and new grads cant find anything. I wish I knew what to tell those nurses who are working as aides. I am over 60,so if I have to do it to make a living,I guess I will have to (although my local unemployment office has advised they might be able to train me to be a welder!). It all depends on how much you need the checkee-poo every 2 weeks! If you are really needing cash then do it! There is no shame in being underemployed, and take my word for it-the unemployment office doesn't know jack about nursing! This country believes in the urban myth that there is still a nursing shortage-do what you can to survive in this economy. The Opinion of an Elderly Nurse! God Bless!

DO WHATEVER YOU CAN TO MAKE MONEY! SEE THE LATEST NOTE FROM "LAID OFF AFTER 38YRS". Hospitals and clinics are laying off RNS in favor of cheaper workers!

Still looking for work. Everybody wants experience, and what I have is apparently not needed by anybody! It makes me so mad! You need Med-Surg experience even to work the generic places! My experience is in office nursing and long ago in labor and delivery in hospitals. I have no family, and I need a job! I know the economy has done this, but I have motivation and skills,and can't find anything! Just venting!! Thanks to you all, Chris!

Thank you all for your help and support. I was turned-down for a job at an extended-care nursing facility yesterday-they found someone else. I have tried travel nursing, but one year was about all I could take, for various reasons! All the other Rn's who lost their jobs have solvent husbands or family money, so they are not looking too hard, if at all. I am feeling pretty despondent right now-I am afraid to wind up out in the street after all these years. I have an interview at a nursing home this afternoon, but it doesn't have the greatest reputation, but after 6 weeks, I am desperate!! I have filed for unemployment, which is not much, but at least it helps. In a couple of weeks, the Illinois Dept of Unemployment wants me to attend a seminar on finding jobs. I wish I could get out of nursing, I am really disgusted with this profession! I will keep you all posted! You are the best! P.S. This Site Needs a Frowning Nurse in it's Icon List!

I am still looking for work, but with my great health and experience, the MD's are looking for youth, not experience, I have no family and I live from paycheck to paycheck,so this makes me furious!! Chris

Hi! My computer crashed yesterday. I am happy to say I am back on-line,but I can't seem to get the responses I have been getting in the past! I am still here, and would love to hear from all of you, or anybody in nursing who has been laid off! I had a great "nibble" at an extended-care facility last week, but found out today that somebody else got the job. I am beginning to think nobody will hire me at age 61! Four other RN's were laid-off on the same day, and all were about my age! We had an Unemployment Breakfast last week and none of us has found anything. We all filed for unemployment, and last week when I needed a form filled-out at my ex-job, I had the distinct priviledge of letting the HR person that we were all still on the dole, which causes them a small fortune, because 3 aides were laid-off on the same day. I loved the distressed look on the HR lady's face! Don't get me wrong, unemployment doesn't pay very much, but the clinic I worked in is in real financial trouble, and every penny counts!! They are so mismanaged and desperate, that they decided they could also save money by stopping the yearly TB tests for employees! Bitter? You betcha! My hospital experience (20yrs) was spent in labor and delivery, and the rest was at the clinic,as an office nurse with a specialty in peds. I am in excellent shape, with no need for meds for htn, cholesterol or anything else, and I can out-run any of the twenty somethings the doctors fall all over. I hope you guys I have been hearing from get this message-God, I hate it when the "blue screen of death" wipes out previous information! Thanks! Chris

HEY! WHODATNURSE-I know just what you are feeling-I wake up early in the morning feeling panicky and depressed,BUT IT IS ONLY A FEELING!! Get up, exercise any way you can,and get out of the house if you are inside and feeling confined! Do not take this personally! This is probably the worst economy in 80yrs,and you need to keep going for YOUR sake! Darn right it is scary! I was let go along with 4 other RN's over 50. We were all healthy and hard-working. Keep looking,and don't be down on yourself for feeling depressed or moody. I have no family, or family money. All the other RN's who lost their jobs are married,and are retiring and taking care of their grandchildren. Those of us who don't have family to rely on are under a lot of stress, and it is an injustice to people like us,at both ends of out careers,that we are stuck in this mess. Keep trying! Apply and if you don't hear in one week, call again! I wish I had more advice to give you,but be as tough as you can, and keep trying! Stay on this site,too! It is a great help to have back-up in a tough situation. Love and Prayers, Chris!

You know,i just don't know what to think anymore! Whether they can fire me because i am older, just isn't an issue for me, anymore-i want a job!! I went to an interview at a nursing home this morning, and found that the director of nursing was in a 3-way phone call, and it would take up to 45 minutes-sorry! That is when she told me to come for an interview. I just left! She called back and apologized later, but i decided not to go back again today. I am taking the weekend off from interviews, turndowns and paperwork! I have no family or family money,and the rest of my fellow firees do-damn, i am angry! They can just say, "let my husband do it!" nursing is all about money now, not help for people who need it. They depend on nurses to comfort them and keep them comfortable,but that is no longer what it is all about! Sorry, i am just really ****** right now. Thanks to you all for listening! Chris

HI ALL! WELL, I JUST GOT HOME FROM THAT INTERVIEW AT THE EXTENDED-CARE FACILITY. THEY REALLY GRILLED ME LIKE I HAVE NEVER BEEN GRILLED BEFORE-"HOW WOULD YOU HANDLE THIS, HOW WOULD YOU HANDLE THAT? I WAS RIGHT, THE DIRECTOR WAS VERY INTENSE. JUST TO MAKE IT TOUGHER, I WAS INTERVIEWED IN A TINY ROOM WITH NO AIR CONDITIONING, AND IT IS 90 DEGREES OUTSIDE HERE-IF THEY HAVE A "NEVER LET THEM SEE YOU SWEAT" PHILOSOPHY, I AM IN TROUBLE! NONE OF MY CO-HORTS WANT TO SUE, AND I WILL ADMIT, I AM AFRAID TO TRY THAT ALONE-GOD,THIS IS TURNING INTO A DISGUSTING PROFESSION!!! I WILL HEAR FROM THE "UBER-DIRECTOR" SOMETIME EARLY NEXT WEEK. IN THE MEANTIME, ON TO TOMORROW'S INTERVIEW AT THE NURSING HOME. YOU GUYS ARE ALL THE GREATEST. YOU REMIND ME OF THE TWINLESS TWINS SUPPORT GROUP WHO SAVED MY LIFE WHEN MY LAST RELATIVE, MY SISTER KAY DIED. THERE IS NOTHING LIKE SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS TO KEEP YOU SANE IN THESE SITUATIONS! THANKS, CHRIS.

Thanks again, all of you for your love and support!! I 90 min I have an interview at a local extended-care facility. I got the offer yesterday. God, my stomach is in a big knot right now-I will keep you posted. Pray for me!!! Thanks, Chris!!

Bless you all! When i make the require the 15 posts that allow me to respond individually, i will thank you all online! Chris