[RNKittyKat]

For the next year and a half, I'm committed to working on a neuro trauma ICU. It's fast paced and tends to be hard on the body. As much as I enjoy the work and my co-workers, I know that this out of shape 51 year old with knee issues won't be able to do this for long. I only have an ADN and don't want to spend a good part of the remainder of my "good" years pursuing my BSN when I could be enjoying happy moments with my grands and family. Still, there are bills to pay and semi-retirement is not in the cards at this juncture.

So I'm looking at my options beyond my commitment to my current facility. What do you all think?

[shadow hawk]

Well. 51 is a little late to start planning for retirement but here are some suggestions. First I think you must plan on working at least part time for the rest of your life. Next you need to look at your work options. If you can't physically keep up in the unit you are in, you are doing nobody a favor. You need to start now looking for a job that you can physically do. There are a number of options. Home health care as a intake nurse, insurance companies, doctor's offices, school nursing, industrial nursing, drug and etoh rehab.
Look at jobs that have a retirement plan such as govt jobs, city, county, state, federal. Many of them have a retirement payment if you work for them for ten years, It will not be much but it is better than nothing and will at least pay your medical insurance premimum until you are 65. Make a financial plan and stick to it. Many companies offer this benefit with their 401Ks.
Ok you knees are bad and you are out of shape. Lose weight and get in shape. If you want to be around the grandkids, make sure you stay around to be with them. I get the feeling that you want easy answers and the answers are easy the hard part is putting them into effect. Good luck

[RNKittyKat]

Thank you for your advice Shadowhawk. I love this forum for the free exchange of ideas. I will agree that implementation is a lot more difficult than planning. In the meantime, I intend to fulfill my obligation to my unit. My knees are bad, true, but I can still respond to codes and boost and move pts with the best of them.

It might be just a tad too early to be actively looking for my next position but some of your ideas are right up my alley.

[NurseyBaby'05]

Are you definitely committed to your unit, or just to your facility? You may want to look into the fine print of your contract. My dh and I each work at one of the big Trauma/Neuro hospitals in town (He's at one and I'm at the other.)and the nurses can transfer within the facility after six months. Neuro's tough. Patient's are acutely ill and sometimes acutely crazy too. Maybe another specialty might be better suited to your spirit and your body. Two yars is a long time in a bad job.