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by insightful

I am 56 years old and have been a nurse for 34 years. My body is wearing out from all the wear and tear over the years of nursing. So my question what is there for us old nurses? How do we figure out something else to do where the money is decent? Any suggestions?
Thanks

[suni]

Re: where do old nurses go?

I would try to move into a CaseManagement , Staff Development, Pre-Admission, Recovery Room or OR position. I also think Peds would be an option as most kids are under 50 pounds that you have to lift.
You could also do private duty and start your own little business.

[bargainhound]

Re: where do old nurses go?

Lord help us. I feel the same way.
I have found a few niches, but am really looking at the
long term.......how to survive until retirement.

[LadyNASDAQ]

Re: where do old nurses go?

My sis works as a Case Manager as a Telephonic Nurse. No bedside Nursing. Her company is incredibly nice. It is called Matria. She has psoriasis that flares up horribly with the soaps and solutions we use everyday at work and also, her back and right knee are hurt from years of abuse.

I'm just shy of 50 and I'm determined to work at the bedside to the end in ICU. I have very little body aches. I tell the patients to move themselves more and more.

[Quickbeam]

Re: where do old nurses go?

I'm in my 50's and have now been in Community Health for 8 years. I could do this job in a wheelchair and plan on staying until I retire.

A lot of public health/community health jobs are competitive and don't open all that often so do follow the state/gov't job listings. I literally found my current job just browsing the state job listings and thought "What the heck? Why not?". I was wearing out and knew I couldn't do hospital care much longer.

IMHO, I found pediatrics pretty grueling. In the two hospitals I worked at you could end up with a baby or a 300# teenager. Plus, lots of traction and ortho set ups that were heavy to lug around. Lots of near drownings and head injuries meant special beds on the floor and climbing around on all 4s to do care.

[clearskies]

Re: where do old nurses go?

I am in a similar situation and am starting to research for a "2nd" career in nursing. Better money of course and interesting.

[Lacie]

Re: where do old nurses go?

Same here after numerous knee surgeries also. I went into case management but missed pt care to a degree. My experience had been primarily in open heart and critical care. I recently started working in outpatient dialysis. So far really am enjoying it but mostly because it is less taxing on my body to say the least and I have a great crew I'm working with. My preceptor is absolutely the best and isnt treating the "old" gal like a noob lol. I'm finding it much more pleasing to me then when I did case management as there I had absolutely no "on-hands" task to do and was too sedentary for me. If your looking to get out of on hands completely then case management particularly with worker's compensation/insurance industry would be good and they will love your experience.

[Bridget O'Malley]

Re: where do old nurses go?

This old nurse will be going to hell because of all the evil thoughts she thinks about the patients who drive her batty.

In the interim, I, too, am searching for something else for the future. Anyone know any successfull get rich quick schemes?

[Tweety]

Re: where do old nurses go?

I'm 47 and finishing up my BSN for more options. Right now I'm in good shape and feel physically like I'm not worn down, but I'm sure it's coming and I want to be prepared. Right now I'm leaning towards teaching. I'm going to get my Masters and then teach part time, and perhaps move into full time as I age.

But who knows what the future holds. I'm still thinking about those get rich quick schemes. LOL

Good luck!

[muffie]

Re: where do old nurses go?

i thought they went where elephants go
somewhere in africa where all the ivory tusks are
they are just as precious