Who wants to hire a graduate nurse at 55?

[RNat55]

I am in my final semester for my BSN. I qualified as an RN in September 2019 and I have been job searching. Due to my recent job interview experiences, I am beginning to wonder if I can secure a graduate nurse position at the age of 55.

My very last interview with an HCA hospital took about two months and included over 140 character assessment questions, on-demand video interviews, face to face interviews with the nurse manager, then the nursing director and finally, the management. I got a phone offer from the recruiter who stated she would email the formal offer. Three days after, she called and informed me they made a mistake as they thought they had more openings. I should feel free to reapply or apply for a different position and could contact her for help. I was shocked and dumbfounded!

I keep feeling my age is the issue. Please, does anyone have any suggestions as to where I could consider applying for a graduate nurse position at this age? My ultimate aim is to become a nurse educator. For now, I have an interest in also becoming a nurse writer.

Thank you for your assistance.

[Sour Lemon]

32 minutes ago, RNat55 said:

Hmmm? I can see how this can happen. Any suggestions on how one can present oneself as a nearly blank slate? Interesting... Thanks for your thoughts.

Maybe "blank slate" is going a little too far. ?

I'd just make it very clear that I was interested in learning everything from the ground up, and well aware of my novice status.

[RNat55, ADN, RN]

2 minutes ago, Sour Lemon said:

Maybe "blank slate" is going a little too far. ?

I'd just make it very clear that I was interested in learning everything from the ground up, and well aware of my novice status.

? I do mention this because I know that though I may have experience in law, I am new to nursing and always ready to learn. Thanks,

[adventure_rn, MSN, NP]

I vaguely recall that Nurse Beth has written posts about the challenge of age discrimination and how to combat it in your application process. You might find some valuable info if you use the search function to search for age discrimination.

[caliotter3]

On 1/16/2020 at 10:02 PM, Sour Lemon said:

I think the best thing for older new graduates to do is present themselves as nearly blank slates. For entry level positions, managers seem to want individuals who are pliable.

"Life experience" can come across as "doesn't take direction well". More so if the individual has been successful in their past life experience.

Then , on the other hand, they can expect you to have a handle on managing others in the workplace. Especially sought after if you are applying to LTC facilities where a good deal of your responsibilities fall under supervision of the CNAs on your shift. So you are blank if you do and blank if you don’t when it comes to age discrimination.

[caliotter3]

BTW an employment department representative advised me when discussing age discrimination in hiring that one should make subtle attempts at downplaying their age with their appearance, especially coloring grey hair.

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

15 hours ago, scribblz said:

Hi RNat55,

I suspect the combination of age plus being a new grad is working against you. However, you mentioned an interest in education and that is in your favor. Nursing programs for BSN RN students need BSNs to run their clinicals. As someone who has recently graduated from a program you can utilize the insights you gained as a student on what makes a good clinical instructor. You can leverage life experience, knowledge of how the nursing program runs and knowing the faculty already.

Most states/schools require MSN + x years of experience in the area that they teach clinicals in. To teach didactic classes, most require DNP; this is for ADN programs and above.

I would give Hospice a try

[Rogue1]

Have you said you will take night shifts? At most hospitals you have to start out on nights. Hospitals post day and pm shift openings on their sites, but in reality those get allocated to people with seniority (already working on the unit, on a waiting list for the next open day/pm shift). I found this out the hard way when on my first interview after graduation, the manager asked how I felt about working nights and I pulled out the paper listing the exact (pm) shift I had applied for on the website and--long story short, lol--we went our separate ways. I DID accept a night shift as my first job at a children's hospital because that was my dream place to be. I had to work it for 5 months before landing a pm shift (would have been a longer wait for a day shift).

Nights are hard for many--a complete wrench in your body clock--but if you find a unit with a lot of turnover you can get on a day/pm shift rather quickly, so assume you will do nights and ask the next manager you interview with how long the wait usually is for a day/pm shift.

Now the reasons for that high turnover might be a concern, but hey, after all this is the world of nursing.... Best of luck to you!

[RNat55, ADN, RN]

15 hours ago, adventure_rn said:

I vaguely recall that Nurse Beth has written posts about the challenge of age discrimination and how to combat it in your application process. You might find some valuable info if you use the search function to search for age discrimination.

Thanks! I will check it out.

[RNat55, ADN, RN]

8 hours ago, Hoosier_RN said:

Most states/schools require MSN + x years of experience in the area that they teach clinicals in. To teach didactic classes, most require DNP; this is for ADN programs and above.

I would give Hospice a try

I have started searching for home health and hospice graduate nurse positions but both appear to require some experience. Most appear not to be hiring graduate nurses. It is frustrating but I will keep searching. Thanks.

["nursy", RN]

I know everyone wants experienced nurses, but my school district just hired a new grad, maybe try school nursing?

[adjappleton]

On 1/16/2020 at 10:05 PM, RNat55 said:

Hmmm? I can see how this can happen. Any suggestions on how one can present oneself as a nearly blank slate? Interesting... Thanks for your thoughts.

What about "if there's one thing I've learned over the years is never underestimate how much you don't know. Nursing is a new field to me, and I look forward securing more knowledge and experience through your orientation process."

[RNat55, ADN, RN]

On 1/17/2020 at 4:01 PM, adjappleton said:

What about "if there's one thing I've learned over the years is never underestimate how much you don't know. Nursing is a new field to me, and I look forward securing more knowledge and experience through your orientation process."

I love this! Thanks.