What might I be doing wrong?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 7, 2014

Welcome to Allnurses.com!

I would have to mention this, but ageism may or may not be a reason why you are not receiving any callbacks. Any astute recruiter or hiring manager can determine one's age without ever having personally met the applicant.

In your case, spending 34 years at the same workplace in addition to possessing licensure for 40 years would mean that you are probably in your 60s. Some hiring managers might analyze this information and conjecture that you are close to retirement age and, therefore, pose a higher risk of leaving them with another staffing void down the line.

Furthermore, your tags indicate you are in California, which has had one of the most brutal nursing job markets in the entire country for several years. Things are bad there even for experienced nurses. Although you probably have not been job-seeking for the past 34 years, the job market changed for the worse in many parts of the state starting in late 2008 to early 2009.

Someone like you, with extensive acute care experience, should be called back. However, employers might worry that a candidate who has been a nurse for 40 years might require a higher starting pay rate than they're willing to offer.

If you do receive a job interview, be sure to emphasize that you plan to form a long term relationship with the company if they were to hire you. Emphasize that you are trainable, adaptable, and a great nurse who gets along with others. Emphasize that your life experiences would help you connect with hospice patients and their families.

Good luck to you!

RunBabyRN · Jul 7, 2014

You mentioned starting your own business. What kind of business did you have in mind?

Just curious, are there red signs all over town about this hospital closing? Just curious if this is the same hospital that closed in my town recently. :) Can't imagine this happens often!

If you are in this area, it's definitely a tough market. Age works against you, unfortunately, and not having been in hospice, it's tough to enter a new specialty.

What would you like to see change in nursing? Maybe that could be part of your business?

Best of luck to you!

BSNbeauty, BSN, RN · Jul 7, 2014

Commuter, hit the nail on the head. I would add, going to some of these hospice agencies in person with resume in hand. First impressions are everything and if they can put a face to the resume it may be beneficial to you.

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · Jul 7, 2014

Have you considered home health? One of the benefits frequently touted about that area are the close patient bonds you can form.

I definitely agree that you are probably experiencing ageism coupled with a saturated job market.

brillohead, ADN, RN · Jul 7, 2014

You could also look into Private Duty Nursing, which is shift work (rather than short visits) with just one patient.

I never considered it until it was offered to me, and I quite enjoy it -- you get to provide real hands-on nursing care. Someone with your assessment skills would be very desired for PDN in my area!

ceccia · Jul 7, 2014

**** those ageist bastards. i love the idea of starting your own business. what kind of business are you thinking of doing? go for it!

i'm currently busting my tail to build my business and i can tell you that while it is a ton of work and it's scary and risky and generally really hard, it's also exciting! and it feels SO much more empowering to be doing something for myself, rather than feeling like i'm in the position of begging other people for a job.

when you work for yourself, you have more control over the outcome, and you're not dependent on one person or company for your entire livelihood. being in a position where an employer holds all the cards and can stop your income at any time for no reason? that is not security! don't be a supplicant waiting for someone else to give you a chance; start something and give yourself even better opportunities. :-) best of luck whatever you decide to do!

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jul 7, 2014

.....Welcome to the club. Ageism is alive and well in nursing.

QWelcome to AN!

try to reinvent yourself. I would look to home health. I would find these agencies and show up in person. Get a fresh hairdo...modernize your look. Look crisp and fresh.

Tell them how easily you adapt and are looking for new experiences to grow into.

bikegal50 · Jul 8, 2014

You are all wonderful to take the time to answer. Your suggestions are good. I have applied to home health. I am polishing up my Spanish as that is always an asset, too. I also applied to be a hospice volunteer to get my foot in the door. I think I will go around and try to hand in my resume to real people, even though I have already submitted them on line. (sometimes that feels like a dark nebulous hole in the ground.)

And, yes, there are red signs all over town about the darned hospital. Maybe you are my neighbor??

My business has to do with serving healthcare workers. I have seen many good nurses not know how to really care for themselves and I want to provide them a place to be cared for themselves-bodywork, nutrition, cooking, reiki. Anyone have any thoughts about that, too?

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Jul 8, 2014

Actually less than 2 months of not hearing a word is not that unusual. Human resource departments have experienced huge cutbacks and they are notoriously slow to process applications and respond.

I wold not necessarily chalk it up to age. Your resume will reflect 34 years of experience, but you COULD be the ripe old age of 54. Have you buffed you ER resume' to include the core competencies needed in hospice?

I found my dream job at 60 years of age. You can too! Try MAJOR employers , such as Blue Cross United Health, the State and Federal job boards.

Good luck.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jul 8, 2014

You might PM GrnTea -- she'd have some information about starting your own nursing business.

It's probably not your age per se that's holding you back -- it's the forty years of experience that would put you at the top of the pay scale. But keep looking for a job while you're thinking about starting your own business. You might find takers. I found a job at 50 with 30 years of experience.

RunBabyRN · Jul 8, 2014

I used to work at that hospital as a phleb! :) We probably know each other (I left in 2008).

I think the kind of business you want to open would probably do well in this area. Would that make you happy? Acupuncture is another area to explore, and I'm sure you know about the public acupuncture clinic.

I agree about going into hospice companies with resume in hand. Another possibility is getting in with nurse recruiters and taking travel assignments. You don't necessarily have to travel- there are assignments in the Bay Area closer to home, some in SR. There are ER positions posted sometimes.