"Mature" graduates finding employment

eliselu2 · Jan 10, 2011

I can say that it appeared the facility I worked at hired more younger nurses than "mature" nurses but it I'm not sure that it was anything more than just the ages of people who applied for the jobs. The ages of the new grads ranged from early 20's to mid-40's. As a "mature" new grad, I've had offers from more facilities out of state than in state. I don't take it as an age thing but believe that it's the number of new grad positions just arent' out there for any of us.

When doing interviews, I have been able to discuss how I found myself in the helper/doer roles in my past careers, while raising my children and learning teamwork and communication skills while volunteering, and talking about how I was committed to, and ultimately achieved, my goal of a BSN. Ironically, two job offers came from mgrs, who like myself, were late starters in the nursing world.

carolmaccas66, BSN, RN · Jan 10, 2011

I don't know what country ur from but I've never had problems with my age finding employment in nursing. I was 41 when I fin my degree. I think it helps people see you in a more mature light actually.

If you have or or having any problems finding employment contact nursing agencies - they are always happy to help I have found (well, some are better than others!)

evolvingrn, BSN, RN · Jan 10, 2011

I had a two classmates that were 50 at graduation. one was hired right away as a case manager and another one was hired a home care nurse (he was also offered a hospital position) I think they both brought so much to the table from past experiences they were an easy sell.

NeoNurseTX, RN · Jan 10, 2011

Our new grads always seem to be a mix of younger and second careers.

GM2RN · Jan 10, 2011

I'm just one person with one experience, and this was in 2007, just before the hiring bubble burst. But, I actually had one hiring manager tell me that she liked my maturity level.

I was 49 at the time, but people consistently told me that I looked like I was in my late 30's to early 40's.

Again, this is just one experience, but if one hiring manager thinks that way, some others must as well.

ObtundedRN, BSN, RN · Jan 10, 2011

I'd say about 50/50 at my hospital.

LongislandRN23 · Jan 10, 2011

Most of the people in my LPN class were younger, but when I took Pharmacology we were with RN students and this discussion came up. At my clinicals I asked a nurse about the topic and she stated paraphrasing: "Many hospitals do not want to hire older nurses (50's and up) because they may get 10-15 years out of them at the most. While nurses in there 20's have a longer "shelf life" if you will. Also it depends on what the duties are...if you need to pick up a fallen patient every now and then, help in transfers, or patients being combative (psych), than they want younger nurses who are fit and in good shape with alot of stamina--im not saying that "mature" grads are not fit, but I mean come on there are physical difference between someone who is 20 and someone who is 50. If this is a second career than you are at the same level as a 22 year old grad unless your first career was somehow medically based." I think all future nurses regardless of age should be given equal opurtunity choices....however at my pinning ceremony my mom stated: "why is everyone so old?" I said alot of them, changed thier careers and got into nursing...she replied: "well that's not fair...shouldnt the younger generation who just graduated high school and want to go to college so they can have thier FIRST career be given first choice" I said : "mom it doesnt really work that way thats not a factor into getting into nursing school" she said: "well I think those who had a career for 10,15, 20 years and now they are competting with the younger generation is not fair, the young people who are just starting out should be given first accomadations" I never thought of it that way....and I wouldnt have put it in those words, but my mom does have a point...and it does makes sense, she is wiser than me and that for sure comes with age. :-)

SomedayIWillBe · Jan 10, 2011

Your mother may also be a little biased since her child is the younger one. Just some food for thought.

But you are right in that wisdom does come with age. Doesn't that right there make the older graduates a little more desirable?

Bill E. Rubin · Jan 10, 2011

Most of the people in my LPN class were younger, but when I took Pharmacology we were with RN students and this discussion came up. At my clinicals I asked a nurse about the topic and she stated paraphrasing: "Many hospitals do not want to hire older nurses (50's and up) because they may get 10-15 years out of them at the most. While nurses in there 20's have a longer "shelf life" if you will. Also it depends on what the duties are...if you need to pick up a fallen patient every now and then, help in transfers, or patients being combative (psych), than they want younger nurses who are fit and in good shape with alot of stamina--im not saying that "mature" grads are not fit, but I mean come on there are physical difference between someone who is 20 and someone who is 50. If this is a second career than you are at the same level as a 22 year old grad unless your first career was somehow medically based." I think all future nurses regardless of age should be given equal opurtunity choices....however at my pinning ceremony my mom stated: "why is everyone so old?" I said alot of them, changed thier careers and got into nursing...she replied: "well that's not fair...shouldnt the younger generation who just graduated high school and want to go to college so they can have thier FIRST career be given first choice" I said : "mom it doesnt really work that way thats not a factor into getting into nursing school" she said: "well I think those who had a career for 10,15, 20 years and now they are competting with the younger generation is not fair, the young people who are just starting out should be given first accomadations" I never thought of it that way....and I wouldnt have put it in those words, but my mom does have a point...and it does makes sense, she is wiser than me and that for sure comes with age. :-)

No disrespect intended to your mother, but she isn't showing much respect for the often hard choices older people have to make when changing careers. They may be stuck in a dead-end job (or career) or face a wave of outsourcing of their jobs overseas or any of a plethora of threats to their livelihoods, having mortgages and children and other financial responsibilities.

Facing this, we make the choice to humble ourselves, give up the familiar, and give up our seniority and start all over again. If you think that's easy, I suggest you try changing careers in your 40s. We have to start at the same base pay as someone in their 20s, the same lack of seniority, and often face scorn/discrimination from our younger peers. But we do what we must.

regularRN · Jan 10, 2011

One advantage of mature grads - apart from previous life experience - is that most are already established in their private lives (e.g., home and family) and therefore are more likely to stay at the same job for longer. Young new grads seem to move on after gaining their two years of post graduation experience.

So the argument that the hospital is making a better long term investment by hiring a young new grad - in terms of years of service - is not necessarily true.

Motivated grandma · Jan 10, 2011

No disrespect intended to your mother, but she isn't showing much respect for the often hard choices older people have to make when changing careers. They may be stuck in a dead-end job (or career) or face a wave of outsourcing of their jobs overseas or any of a plethora of threats to their livelihoods, having mortgages and children and other financial responsibilities.
Facing this, we make the choice to humble ourselves, give up the familiar, and give up our seniority and start all over again. If you think that's easy, I suggest you try changing careers in your 40s. We have to start at the same base pay as someone in their 20s, the same lack of seniority, and often face scorn/discrimination from our younger peers. But we do what we must.

I wish I could have given you more than one kudos. :yeah:

In my case, my husband is in IT and while he is very talented and has never been without a job, we know the day is coming when someone like the poster's mother is going to push him out the door and outsource his job or hire someone younger.

Besides, I raised six kids first with three teens still at home - yes, I was privileged to be able to stay home and do that - but aren't we women all told that we "have choices?" Work while raising kids, or work before having kids, or work after having kids? I chose the latter, and have no desire to go back into my previous line of work.

"Mother" needs a reality check. Age discrimination is wrong.