Are you planning to retire from public schools?

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2018

You can retire in 15 years?!? I think you're in Mass like me. How is this possible? I've been torn between staying private or going public.

Yep in MA. You can pull a pension from teacher's retirement after 20 years in (I'm in year 5) and get 60% of your salary. 80% if you put 30 years in. Not sure of age requirement, but not too concerned about it on my end.

I'm staying public. School nurse weren't part of teacher retirement a few years ago, but things shifted and now we are. So I'm planning on taking advantage!

CampNurse10 · Mar 16, 2018

When did you start working in the public schools? I'm on the same retirement, mtrs, and the grid I'm looking at is definitely not as good as whatever you have! The best deal I'm looking at is to stay for 30 years. Vested after 10 years, but you get peanuts if you walk away around that 10 year mark.

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2018

When did you start working in the public schools? I'm on the same retirement, mtrs, and the grid I'm looking at is definitely not as good as whatever you have! The best deal I'm looking at is to stay for 30 years. Vested after 10 years, but you get peanuts if you walk away around that 10 year mark.

I assume you're talking to me, CampNurse :).

Yep, MTRS. And yep, it is peanuts if you didn't make to the 20 year mark indeed. But I hated the hospital and knew I wanted to work in community health. Also I'd worked in higher education for nearly 7 years prior to going to nursing school so education felt like the right fit for me. So I knew I was in for the long haul.

Glitternurse, LVN · Mar 16, 2018

This is my first year and I am enjoying it. I don't have any real long term plans. I plan to stay until my kids are out of at least jr. high, maybe high school. My oldest is in 3rd and my youngest is in 2nd (I'm almost 47, I started my family late),so that's at least 6 years, Who knows. The PHN, RN I work with will retire in the next couple of years, so that will play into things too. My husband has a safety retirement, plus we have other accounts, so we should be good in our old age.

BluebellRN, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2018

I'm in Virginia, and the state retirement has been through some changes in the past several years. It is now more like a typical 401K. Thankfully, I worked for a state hospital years ago and had time into the VRS. It only takes 5 years to be vested. When I started with the school, the VRS started right back up.

As much as I enjoy school nursing, it doesn't feel like my stopping point. I'd like to return to grad school soon. I hope to find a state job as a FNP.

peacockblue · Mar 16, 2018

I plan on retiring in about 12-13 years. I'm staying put till the bitter end í ½í¸ I'll never make 30 years because I spent the first 20 years of my career in the hospital. I will get $166/month pension for those years of toil! Hopefully the school pension is better. The health benefits in the school are great though.

Mango Juice · Mar 16, 2018

Yes - that is my plan :)

airasalia · Mar 18, 2018

I'm a teacher getting out of the public school system. I was hanging on because of that pension thing...but realized I'll have my life passing me by while the adventures I dream of go undone. I'd rather be in a career that has more opportunity for growth and change. Public schools are stagnant in regards to where you can go within them. Nursing has so many opportunities and so many avenues. You can not say the same for most things in a public school.

ABRN2012 · Mar 19, 2018

I have been in our state retirement system for 5 years. I have to work 30 years total for the state to retire. That also puts me at 65 years old so I will be able to retire then regardless. I do not know if I will be working as a school nurse all those years. I have been a SPED assistant and LOVED it but I could not live off the pay. But once my children are out of the house and most of my bills are paid off I would really like a job in the school with LESS responsibility! I havent been officially diagnosed yet but drs are pretty sure I have MS or something related. I have peripheral neuropathy and tremors. And of course it comes a goes. But when I have a "flare up" it is bad. The tremors have even gotten so bad my voice quivers. So I dont know how much longer I will be able to work as a nurse. I get really tired of having to explain that I have tremors and no I am not nervous, or sorry I am walking funny but my left foot is completely numb. I love the kids and I love the schedule but I do not see me doing this for another 25 years.

AdobeRN · Mar 19, 2018

I am in it for the long haul. We were late getting our act together in life - went back to school in my late 30's, purchased our first home at the same time, started to work a decent job as a nurse soon after, etc etc. This school nurse job will be my only retirement so I am sticking with it. I plan on being here 12 more years - which will put me at 20 years with the district but most likely will stay longer - God willing LOL - I will only be 62 at that time - which as I get closer to that age doesn't seem "old" anymore :)

I have no desire to move up a career ladder - I just want to work someplace I don't dread going to everyday, do something I enjoy, earn decent money and be happy - my current position does this for me.

LikeTheDeadSea, MSN, RN · Mar 19, 2018

I'm in my mid-20s- my state requires a CSN to be considered part of the Professional Staff and be a part of the Department of Education pension system.

Although I've worked as a Staff Nurse for a couple years, this is my first year in the CSN role, but I 100% planned this as my long-term job to retire from.

SavyNurse, ADN, EMT-B · Mar 19, 2018

First year and I'm liking it so far. My hubby wants to retire at 55 and RV around the states. To do so I would have to still be working for insurance and such. So his plan for me is to become a travel nurse at some point. Who knows what the future holds.