Unemployed 68 yr old NP told she is "too old" for job

Dear Nurse Beth Advice Column - The following letter submitted anonymously in search for answers. Join the conversation! Nurses Nurse Beth Nursing Q/A

Updated:  

Unemployed 68 yr old NP told she is "too old" for job

Dear Nurse Beth,

I am a almost 68 year old Family Nurse Practitioner living in a saturated area of the country and looking for a job. We have at least 2 or 3 NP schools here. I am a recent 2X cancer survivor with a 3 year employment gap due to Breast Cancer treatments and surgeries. I cannot find a job. I have revised my resume, applied to online, networked with colleagues, applied to old and new rural health / clinics and out of state. I have even hand carried my resume into clinics out of desperation. I was told at one clinic in the Inner City that I am "too old".

Share this post

+ Add A Comment

14 Answers

Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

Dear Survivor,

Your challenges include your age, your gap in employment, and job saturation.

As far as the NP job market being saturated, there are many opinions pro and con, and have been for awhile. But the situation varies regionally and by speciality as well as by experience. For example, the job outlook for psych NPs is still robust.

Regionally, cities like yours with 2-3 NP schools may have few openings, even for experienced NPs. Have you applied to locations such as rural New Mexico or to clinics with so-called "undesirable" patient populations, such as homeless people?

As a strategy, you could email primary practice groups with your resume directly, as well as respond to posted positions. Let them know you are an experienced FNP and how to contact you.

Age discrimination is nursing is real. You can't change others but you can project energy and keep current in your field. Read journals and attend conferences.

Related...
Age Discrimination in Nursing

Join a local chapter of NPs to make contacts.

Another thought to consider- look for at home-jobs such as telemedicine. Type in "remote jobs" as part of your keyword search in sites such as Indeed.com and it may get you thinking about other jobs you may qualify for.

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth

First, congratulations on battling cancer — twice!! — and not only living to tell the tale, but living well enough to be able to get back to doing what I presume you love, which is your career! Have you reached out to your degree-conferring school's career center or the alumni association? Your school has a vested interest in your success.

Specializes in Community health.

I'm astonished that someone actually told you that you are "too old."  In our lawsuit-happy culture, that person is asking for trouble-- and who knows what else has come out of their mouth!

Specializes in oncology.

I do wish you the best for obtaining an NP job. I don't have any recommendations beyond joining a health institution to progress into an NP job. Why hasn't your previous job (if you applied) accept you back, even on a part time basis.? 

Apply for Social Security (unless you are waiting for the golden 70)  but 68 will get you better payout than 62, you already have Medicare, seek out a good plan and enjoy life! 

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
On 4/13/2022 at 9:34 PM, CommunityRNBSN said:

I'm astonished that someone actually told you that you are "too old."  In our lawsuit-happy culture, that person is asking for trouble-- and who knows what else has come out of their mouth!

Agree.  A complaint can be made for age discrimination.  I would at least write to the CEO or someone that this person is breaking the law by mentioning age.

To the OP, congrats on being a survivor and best of luck!

Specializes in Bahavioral health.

I took a 3 month Nurse Refresher with clinical course at 60. I was so worried I would not get a job because of my age.   Upon completion at 61, I got a job on a medical tele floor, despite not having worked as a nurse for 13 years.  I tried applying on line with no bites. Then I went to a job fair that very few showed up to.  I respectfully asked the Director to give me a chance.  I got hired after a 4 hour shadow on the unit, the very next day.  Starting pay was very reasonable and since then I've received good increases.  

If you are looking for floor nursing, it is very demanding and even more difficult than in years past. Pt acuity is much higher. I learned Cerner system at first and now I have learned Epic.  It was not that difficult.  I am 64 now and had no trouble, having used a computer at home and at other non Nursing Jobs.  

I get treated same as everyone else--like a MAID.  Bedside Nurses don't get the respect they deserve. Some patients tell me they are glad to get an older experienced nurse. 

Focus on open houses and make your case in person

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Agree with NurseBeth - project an energetic image, smile, know the lingo of the specialty you are interviewing for and network. Thats the biggest hint I can give you. 

Specializes in Mental Health.

Is there a free clinic in your city? We have a faith based one here in my town. I would guess they could use your services. It would also give you a chance to network, and add some current work experience to your resume. 

Jordee said:

I took a 3 month Nurse Refresher with clinical course at 60. I was so worried I would not get a job because of my age.   Upon completion at 61, I got a job on a medical tele floor, despite not having worked as a nurse for 13 years.  I tried applying on line with no bites. Then I went to a job fair that very few showed up to.  I respectfully asked the Director to give me a chance.  I got hired after a 4 hour shadow on the unit, the very next day.  Starting pay was very reasonable and since then I've received good increases.  

If you are looking for floor nursing, it is very demanding and even more difficult than in years past. Pt acuity is much higher. I learned Cerner system at first and now I have learned Epic.  It was not that difficult.  I am 64 now and had no trouble, having used a computer at home and at other non Nursing Jobs.  

I get treated same as everyone else--like a MAID.  Bedside Nurses don't get the respect they deserve. Some patients tell me they are glad to get an older experienced nurse. 

Focus on open houses and make your case in person

I agree,  I became disabled at 57, but until then,  when I worked as a hospital RN, or as a nursing home RN, it was the same.  I was treated as a higher status maid.  You know, do this, do that,  seldom a please or thank you. Getting fussed at because it took too long to get something to this patient,  or she/ he wasn't my first priority.  As for medication rounds, always several who insisted their meds needed to be first bc they wanted to do something or needed pain meds or sleeping meds.  Now pain meds I can say OK,  that will be higher priority than just rounds,  but the other excuses,  if I go with that, it would take me forever to complete them if I agreed to them.  I learned to insist on being treated how I wanted to be treated,  my patients learned you give respect to get respect. (Was not disrespectful in making my point in regard to myself and my fellow nurses, and I included aides in this)  Only needed to do this a few times before it improved the atmosphere on our ward. 

Specializes in geriatric, home health.

My first career was a counselor. I had worked at the SC department of Vocational Rehabilitation and would routinely get my clients who were nurses hired at the local technical school as instructors. I even got a disabled physician hired teaching. One NP I got hired there taught several classes and was then hired by the accredited program. The college needed instructors to teach both continuing education and in the accredited nursing programs. Just an option while looking for a full-time job. I am 60 and recovering from surgical aortic valve replacement (doing really good) and am working with a small home care/home health care agency (doing administrative type work) and employed by a larger home health care agency (have to wait until I am released to do patient care). I would also recommend applying at rural clinics in areas that are not as accessible to healthcare. Good luck in your Job Search. You are not too old. Congratulations on beating cancer twice. Just a thought, maybe working at an oncology practice. You have the personal experience as a patient but may be very knowledgeable living through the cancer and treatments. I'm learning a lot about cardiology, open heart surgery, recovery in the hospital and what to expect when recovering at home (what is involved, yes watched lots of Youtube videos made by anesthesiologists, cardiologists and perfusionists, very interesting and enlightening.)

Specializes in ER.

I know everybody is outraged, but if I were an employer I wouldn't want to hire someone two years short of their 70th birthday. I would rather hire someone who might be on the job and working for more than couple years.

Specializes in emergency, med-surg, occupational health.

Hi,

First congratulations on Cancer Survival. I, too, am a Breast Cancer survivor.

I am actually disappointed in Nurse Beth's response as I found it extremely condescending and dismissive. I am not sure where you live but don't give up hope as I know of a fantastic NP, also in her 60's who recently was able to obtain a great position. I understand the trepidations of hiring someone 2 years shy of their 70th Birthday but quite often older employees are very reliable have great work ethics and their work experiences provide terrific teaching opportunities.  Good luck.

Mairead

+ Add a Comment