How long do I have to be penalized?

I I was a caregiver for my mom who had ALZ disease , during the last 10 years or so I have had 5 nursing jobs. I went through a nasty divorce, buried my mom, had 2 back surgeries; I am currently the healthiest I have been in years . My question is how long do I have to be penalized for switching jobs. Each time I switched it was to better myself and move up in my career, HR people only see that I switched jobs they do not listen to the reasons, it is so frustrating. I have battlled through depression anxiety and grief and am ready to give nursing my all again but nursing is letting me down and won't give me a break,
Have they actually told you that is the reason you are not being selected? The market is super tight right now and employers can afford to be as picky as they please. It may not be as much about "punishing" you as it is just how many other candidates there are to choose from.

Yes I was told that. Love your call name by the way. Thats how I feel . not done yet. The thing they are missing is that I worked for the same system for 20 years and also worked for another system, i.e. I was working 2 jobs and was a caregiver and they don't see my vast experience. It is just frustrating because I have been down such a long road and now I am healthy and ready for anything , I know what kind of nursing I want to get into and I am not having success, I know the market is tight but I worked for this place 8 years ago, left on good terms and had excellent reviews. I have been working adult/senior nursing and I want to get back into peds which is my first love at the moment. thanks for your response. it is much appreciated.

I have to say Peds is a tough specialty to get into, same as OB, ICU, ER, etc. Good luck, and I'm glad you are feeling better than ever.