Retired Nurse's...

Nurses Retired

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For you retired nurse's..............What is your age, and do you regret retiring from nursing ? I have many years to go, but just pondering the question ???

Thanks everyone ! :saint:

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
I am a few days away from 62. I have been an RN for 26 years and prior to that I worked in the business field for almost 14 years. I have filed for early retirement and will continue to work on a very prn basis in home health. I am just not the person I used to be and find myself running short on 'I care'. When I am completely out of nursing, I don't think I'll look back.

Good luck to you, Isabelle49. I wish you a long, happy life. Thank you for sharing your perspective with us.

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Specializes in ICU, Trauma, ER, Peds, Family Practice.
I am a few days away from 62. I have been an RN for 26 years and prior to that I worked in the business field for almost 14 years. I have filed for early retirement and will continue to work on a very prn basis in home health. I am just not the person I used to be and find myself running short on 'I care'. When I am completely out of nursing, I don't think I'll look back.

Hi Isabelle,

Sounds like you are ready in your body, mind and soul to retire. I retired @ 62. I was a nurse for 42 years and my body and mind just gave out on me. I love being retired and do massage and reflexology now only part time from my home . Good way to bring in extra income. You will do well working prn as you will find out you can leave things at the office so to speak and will feel much healthier.

I wish you a happy and fulling retirement. Enjoy your self and take care.

Paddlelady:yeah:

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Nope, I am retired (semi) for the last year and a half.. mainly from bedside. I worked in nursing for 36yrs before the retirement, but, I am now taking a telephonic case management position and wished I had done this long ago.... so much less stress..I would never go back to doing bedside, any specialty, anymore. The BS is just not worth it. I am talking about the business end of it and not the patient care.

I think management does not care about the individual nurse..

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Specializes in Adult ICU/PICU/NICU.
I am a few days away from 62. I have been an RN for 26 years and prior to that I worked in the business field for almost 14 years. I have filed for early retirement and will continue to work on a very prn basis in home health. I am just not the person I used to be and find myself running short on 'I care'. When I am completely out of nursing, I don't think I'll look back.

Best wishes on your retirement, I highly recommend it!

Mrs H.

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Specializes in ICU, Trauma, ER, Peds, Family Practice.

I am glad that I am retired. :yeah:

However, I miss my paychecks. I seem to have hobbies that are expensive. For instance, traveling even small local trips, riding my motorcycle, playing guitar, knitting and quilting. Then there is the occasional bottle of wine and a good beer and going out to eat. It all adds up. Guitars , yarn, motorcycles, material etc are an addiction. There is nothing better than wonderful yarn and nice material. As the quilters say: "those that die with the most material win." Guitars are a work of art and a good sounding guitar is not inexpensive. Motorcycles can be very beautiful also and can be an addiction also. Traveling and photography are 2 other forms of spending money. Where to stop. There is so much in life to enjoy and so little time and money.

In this day and age groceries are more expensive. When I started nursing I made a grande total of 3.05 per hour and that was working Trauma. Yikes that wont even cover a can of good tomato sauce!

Hard to save on the lo salaries even back in the day. Now nurses at least make a betty salary and it is probably just as hard to save as life is so expensive.

I also read but I over use the library. I use to go and purchase books but now the library is wonderful and I dont mind waiting for the books. I just keep the list on going and just wait.

I have tryed to go to more inexpensive yarn but some of those yarns do not wear well. I need safety gear for riding my motorcycle and once you have that it is good but there is maintenance which we try to do ourselves.

Then there is one more child in college and that will end next summer. Yeah! But I think kids never really leave home.

So for those planning retirement check on those wonderful hobbies and dreams of yours and make sure you can afford. If not then just walking is inexpensive a good form of excercise all you need is good shoes!

Even with the expenses and all there is a joy and contentment of being your own boss of your life. You dont have to deal with institutional stuff and bureaucrats . Some nurses miss the learning aspect of medicine. There are still journals you can read. There are so many new things to learn it can be overwhelming. I keep my synapses busy!

This post may be a little long but the reality of finances does change unless you have a supply of unlimited funds. I dont know too many retired nurses that are in that boat. Well unless, they have a spouse that has done well then it makes it more comfortable.

I just wanted to share some of the things that I have learned being retired from nursing the past 2 years.

I wish all of you in the retirement bracket the best of luck and happy days.

If you like or this is not the place it would be nice to share what each individual is doing during their retirement or what plans they have and how you are doing with not having that drated alarm clock on!

Respectfully,

Paddle lady:heartbeat

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Specializes in ICU, Trauma, ER, Peds, Family Practice.
Nope, I am retired (semi) for the last year and a half.. mainly from bedside. I worked in nursing for 36yrs before the retirement, but, I am now taking a telephonic case management position and wished I had done this long ago.... so much less stress..I would never go back to doing bedside, any specialty, anymore. The BS is just not worth it. I am talking about the business end of it and not the patient care.

I think management does not care about the individual nurse..

I wanted to say a few things about telephonic case management. I worked in that field and loved it.

However, I had an employer that would listen in on the conversations to see how you were handing the cases.

It did make me a bit nervous at first and added to my stress level. Then I got use to it . I figured they needed to make sure that you were indeed following the protocols of the company. I also worked as a case manager doing UR for an insurance company. That job was the death of me. I got so sick seeing what happens behind the lines. That I had to leave.

I hope that you work for a good company one that fosters learning and growth and cares about its staff.

Best of luck

Paddlelady:o

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I hope this works well for me too..... I am 65 soon to be 66. Worked many yrs in nursing and have worn out my body... it's this or what, I just don't know what? But, thanks for the kind words and I will think of you while I am working at this.

I do know they listen as I have friends that are working for the same company and report this too... but at least it's something I can do.. thanks

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Specializes in OR, L&D, Poison Control, Educator.

I retired at 42 after 20 years in the hospital setting. My mom had a massive stroke at the young age of 64. In order to keep her at home with my dad, I opted to retire early so I could better balance taking care of my mom and raise my young family. I continue to take care of her. I know work from home with a great wellness company. I do miss all my buddies at the hospital, however it is a blessing to take care of the people that mean the most to me...my family.

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