Nursing as We Age.....

Nurses General Nursing

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I was curious as to what the career plans are for nurses on this section of the forum. These are concerns because aging is enividable and some of us don't have enough retirement money to retire.

I am an older student and was wondering what we can do as RN's later in our career?

Are we washed up at 65?

What type of work can we do as we get older?

thanks very much...

Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

I retired at 55 on permanent disability. Feeling pretty sorry for myself I discovered there are people who buy computers and don't know what to do with them. Tee hee I do. I can set themup wires and all and demo most of their programs. My neighbor and I do that. She's 40 years younger so she crawls with the wires and I do the upper part.

There are also people who can type (kind of) but not in APA style or with adequate grammar and syntax. In college it was $1 page. Now it's been hit by inflation. I used to type 60-70 on a manual typewriter. Maybe 1 error. NOW I have a computer, with spellcheck, a thesaurus and a dictionary. I have typed a bunch of medical reports that transcriptionists send me when they get overwhelmed. FTP is good for that. Saves gas too. I did some medical coding but YUK didn't like it. And the beautiful thing is 33 years ago when the hospital FORCED me into the retirement system...I acceded. So now I can type for fun money or not.

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bariatrics???- bariatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the causes, prevention, and treatment of obesity.bariatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the causes, prevention, and treatment of obesity.

how do you see yourself fitting into that area?

you don't see how gi and cardiology correlate to bariatrics?

please, think about it.

it shouldn't take too long.

leslie

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bariatrics???- bariatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the causes, prevention, and treatment of obesity.bariatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the causes, prevention, and treatment of obesity.

how do you see yourself fitting into that area?

bariatric surgery patients need cardio clearance.

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Specializes in ICU, CCU,Wound Care,LTC, Hospice, MDS.
Nursing as We Age.....

I was curious as to what the career plans are for nurses on this section of the forum. These are concerns because aging is enividable and some of us don't have enough retirement money to retire.

I am an older student and was wondering what we can do as RN's later in our career?

Are we washed up at 65?

What type of work can we do as we get older?

thanks very much...

I've worked with several RN's and LPN's over the years who were retired and supplemented their SS checks by working PRN or part time in LTC. Most of them had to be careful not to work too much and go over the amount they were allowed to make. I'll probably be one of them in a few years!

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Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
Nursing as We Age.....

I was curious as to what the career plans are for nurses on this section of the forum. These are concerns because aging is enividable and some of us don't have enough retirement money to retire.

I am an older student and was wondering what we can do as RN's later in our career?

Are we washed up at 65?

What type of work can we do as we get older?

thanks very much...

Hello,

I'm 41 now and realized a few years ago that not only do I not plan to ever retire but, that there will be no option as our grandparents and parents knew it, for us, anyway!

Thankfully for me I do not care to "retire". Luckily also for me that I've worked alongside some women in their 70's and 80's, (although this was in both textiles, yes hardworking textiles, foodservice, housecleaning and clerical). These ladies showed me that yes, it is hard but, the other option is even harder!

Gen

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Specializes in pedi, pedi psych,dd, school ,home health.

Dream retirement jobs... Taking care of the other old folks on the beach in Key West.....Margarita in hand....

Or staying here in New England and rocking babies.....

:idea:

Reality check... I will either teach or continue in a part time position in Pedi.

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What about LTC....what are the pros/cons of doing LTC?

I would think as nurses age....they could do LTC....or is this too demanding?

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

I've been in nursing 16 years and am considering what to do with the next 20 years of my career. Because unless I'm going to win the lottery or marry rich, I'm going to have to work another 20 years or so.

I recently at the age of 48 finished an RN to BSN program, so there would be non-bedside positions open to me as I age. I got the teaching bug and am going to grad school in January for an MSN in education and plan on teaching when part time and maybe eventually full time as I age. If that falls through with a BSN I now qualify for several non-bedside nursing positions within my facility or others around town.

Right now I'm in excellent health, but have developed what probably is going to be chronic plantar faciitis and running up and down the hallways all day is sometimes hard. I'm hoping it goes away, but having options to be able to stay in nursing I feel is contingent upon my education.

Good luck.

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Specializes in ICU, CCU, Trauma, neuro, Geriatrics.

I plan to keep working until I die, retirement does not interest me. I like to keep busy, I dont hold still well and my mind never slows down. I am only 50 right now so that may change with time.

I have considered opening a LTC center with specialty units, really different units. These units would depend on local trends.

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Hi Tweety...sorry about your feet problem.

Are you saying that if you have a BSN....you have more options for-non-bedside jobs?

What if you have a Business degree and a AS in nursing?

Also...what about Home Health RN work?

I've been in nursing 16 years and am considering what to do with the next 20 years of my career.

Good luck.

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LLG,

Are you saying that a BSN would sever better for those who are getting older?

I think this is a wise question -- one that more people should be asking. I have seen a lot of "older" students graduate only to realize a year or two later that their bodies just can't handle the physical labor of a hospital staff nurse job. .
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Specializes in Med Surg, Hospice.

Lifeguard.... :lol2: Seriously though, I can't retire. Nursing is my second career and the first never paid enough money to even be able to think about saving for retirement. Course, I could be persuaded to "retire" if Johnny Depp came swooping along... :balloons:

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