Ugly Nurses Need Not Apply

I’m still looking for the perfect job, and my friends are trying to help. One of my friends, who is an attorney, told me not to send my application to a particular Washington D.C. hospital. He said it would be a waste of time because I’m not their “type.”

The facility, nestled in an upscale area of Washington D.C., caters to the nation’s rich and powerful. It’s where the beautiful people go when they are having a rough time. The hospital is holding their nurses to new and unusual standards, and these standards were brought to my friend’s attention when a nurse from this hospital came to his office for help. She said that the medical director called her into a meeting and informed her, in front of witnesses, that she is too old and ugly to work at their hospital. He explained it's about marketing, and that the hospital is updating its image. He said that only young, beautiful nurses would be allowed to work at the hospital. He also said that patients want beautiful nurses taking care of them, so she had to go. She was shown the door after thirty years of faithful service to the hospital. I’ve often thought that aging nurses would someday face age discrimination, but I never thought it would be brought up in such a blatant manner. Fortunately, this nurse has options because the medical director was stupid enough to make his insulting statements in front of a room full of witnesses.

Personally, I refuse to get a face-lift, a tummy tuck, and a boob job just so I can find or keep a job. I asked my friend why he told me about this hospital. Did he think that I was old and unattractive? He said he should have known not to discuss age and aesthetics with a woman of my “advanced years.” It’s a good thing that he is one of my best friends. I may be old and wrinkled, but I can still kick butt.