To old to be hired anymore?

[kathylorr]

I was downsized from my med/surg. job a year ago last February (18 months). OK, I know unemployment is high, but should it affect nursing that much? I go on interviews and think I do well, but then nothing usually or maybe an email or letter a month later telling me they chose someone else.

I've come to think that it is my age-63, that is keeping anyone from hiring me. The only jobs that I've found have been seasonal or temporary like flu shot clinics or HEDIS reviews.

I was a late comer to nursing and only have had my RN license for 6 years, was a LPN for a couple before that.

I don't want to retire, not that I could afford it, and I really loved nursing and thought this was what I would do till they carried me out. I don't look my age, have great health, and hardly ever took a sick day or vacation time. I believe I was a good employee, but now I can only think it is my age that keeps me away.

What do you think of my age and the chances of ever getting full time work again?

Kathy

[fanfan8787RN]

Have you considered working for an agency? Just a thought. Good luck to you.

[Marisette, BSN, RN]

I'm sorry to hear of your situation. I'm 49 and many times get questioned about my computer skills. When I tell them, of course, I can use a computer and my skills are pretty good, they looked surprised. Just because I'm 49 does, not mean I've been hiding under a rock. If I could retire, or work part time, I would. Unfortunately, I need health insurance. In nursing, 49 plus is old for employers and while I think you will ultimately succeed in finding a job, it may take some time. I'm just curious, what do employers who down size their nursing staff offer their RN's? Severance, health insurance, or does one go to the end of the unemployment line. Even if you can get retirement at 62, I don't believe you can get medicare health insurance until you reach 65.

[happyinillinois]

Try Assisted Living or Dementia care. The place I used to work at wanted "mature" people, they considered it an asset.

[shodobe]

Well it still depends on what your experience is in. I have 35 years experience in the OR and don't really think I would have a problem. Certain nursing specialties are flush with too many nurses so hospitals can pick and choose. The best thing to do is pick out some area that will be in need for years to come and train for it. Make yourself stand out among the crowd.

[Jenni811, RN]

Honestly? i think it has do deal some with your age. But have you brought it up you don't plan on retiring any time soon??

I'm 23 yrs old and when i was hired they asked me where i saw myself in 5 years. Fair question. I told them i was not sure but i may possibly go back to school in 5 years. So they hired me KNOWING i could possibly be leaving in 5 years. So what would be the difference if they hired you for 5 years? (or more, depending what your doing). Just be upfront with them if you get the opportunity to talk about it.

[kathylorr]

I want to thank everyone for their reply's.

I'd say the consensus is that it is age discrimination, but of course none of my potential employers would ever say such a thing. What really brought it home for me was reading an article in the paper about age discrimination and how it starts at age 40! I think I have shoes that old:)

To be honest, I think I can understand why some employers would look askance at someone my age as a month ago I attended my high schools 45th reunion and most of the others there were acting/talking/thinking old and physically hampered in some way. It was scary in many ways and made me appreciate how lucky I've been not to be like that. Of course, maybe they all thought the same about me.

I'll keep on trying. Don't really have a choice as I can't afford to retire as my SS payments would be way to low to live on. I need to keep working to 70 to get enough to get by on from them. Have very little saved in my IRA and still have mortgage payments and car payments to make.

To answer a few questions that were posed-how does a hospital downsize? Basically it was a small local one that did a big remodel and ended up with less rooms and had closed their OB dept. which meant a bunch of nurses could now bump for the jobs. I wasn't the only one cut and I've kept in touch with a couple and they haven't hired anyone back since and often tell folks to stay home because the census is low.

Work in a dementia unit? Did that before I came to last place and thought it was the worst job I ever had. Lasted about a month and got out of there. No way I'd go back to that atmosphere.

I did flu clinics last season and will again starting next month. Also tried doing chart reviews/HEDIS work and found it didn't pay enough to pup up with all the aggravation that ensued.

Resume revamp and "re-brand" myself and how I present? Yes, I've been doing that continuously with the same results.

Thanks again everyone. I thought there was a way to reply to each posting/answer but can't find it.

Thank you,

Kathy, RN

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

Keep us posted kathy. I am sure you will be able to sell yourself and you may even have the edge on a lot of the new grads....

[kathylorr]

Thanks,

I tried that a few years ago and it was the worst job I ever had. The screaming, biting, hitting was terrible. The med pass was almost impossible to complete as only few could actually swallow a pill and not need it crushed, pureed, dissolved in pudding etc. Each resident had their own 'special' way of getting their meds and they got way to many of them. I really think the institution was getting paid for each one and they encouraged their doctors to prescribe to the hilt. 25 pts. and only 2 aides who weren't allowed to touch a med even if I gave it to them to give while feeding them.

Bless you for having the patience to do that type of nursing, but never again for me.

Kathy

[kathylorr]

Just about all of my time was spent in med/surg with only an occasional float to another type of unit, such as ortho or gyno.

I think I would really like surgical but any time I see it advertised it is always for people with at least a year of experience.

Kathy

[kathylorr]

I've resisted agency nursing because I saw how badly their nurses were treated when we had them on our floor. They'd get the worst assignments and be treated rudely by the 'regulars' I didn't understand that but saw it happen so often. I have talked with a couple of agencies and when I brought that up, most admitted it was true. Maybe my skin isn't thick enough to take that.

I also think it is getting to be the future of nursing. The hospitals don't want to fully staff for the chance that one of their own might not get the planned over load of patients if they get a run of discharges and it would work out to only say, 6 patients per nurse instead of the planned on 10. Of course if the ER gets a run and there is a lot of admittances, they can handle 12-14 without missing a beat.

Kathy

[♑ Capricorn ♑]

I always was under the impression that employers cannot ask their applicants their age. Its discrimination! You can volunteer that information but they blatantly cannot ask this.

Best of luck to you.

[84RN]

Have you ever thought of working in Home Health? I recently turned 50 and a few months prior went back to work after more than a decade at home with my children. Home Health is a good fit for me at this stage of my life. I love the autonomy, one-on-one with patients, and most of all it's not nearly as physical as most hospital jobs, and the schedule is very family-friendly. I still have small children and work my patient visits around their school schedule.

It took some persistence to get my foot in the door, but once I got the interview, I was able to show the DON that I'm energetic, motivated, and would work hard at learning this new area of nursing.