Mary.R

I'm 58 years old with a BSN. After working acute care for 16 years in a hospital in Dayton, OH I moved to Columbus to be with my fiance. I took a job as a PACU nurse in an outpatient facility and was terminated without cause or reason after 7 months. I've been collecting unemployment since Oct. and have had no luck in landing any kind of job after countless interviews and applications. At first I was told it was due to a possible hiring freeze before the holidays, but now I'm being told it's because it has been a year since I've worked in an inpatient hospital setting. No agency can place me because of that, even though all these places tell me I have a fantastic resume. I don't know anyone in Columbus and it's difficult to network. I've never been through anything like this, plus I'm smelling the rat of age discrimination. I'm very discouraged. Any suggestions?

I worked in acute care in a hospital for 16 years. Then I moved to a city an hour drive away to move in with my fiance, took a job in an outpatient facility as a PACU nurse. I had that job for 7 months and was terminated without cause or reason. I have been collecting unemployment since Oct. and have been unsuccessful in my job search. I've been turned down after every interview, and now even agencies can't place me because I've been out of inpatient hospital work for a year now. I'm 58 years old. At first I was told it was due to hiring freezes before the holidays, and now it's because I've been out of work too long. I also smell the rat of age discrimination. I have a BSN, not at all interested in going back to school at my age...can't afford it anyway. All I want is a job. Any suggestions?