I've been thinking a lot about getting older (and older) recently. For me, nursing was a second career. When I graduated from high school, I immediately started nursing school because that's what you did in the 70's. However, about 18 months later, I realized I hated it and didn't want to continue with all the work. To be honest, I was very lazy and saw no reason to put in the effort that nursing required. Hmmmm...what to do? Well, I joined the USN and shipped out two days later. Didn't bother quitting the classes either so ended up with <1.0 GPA. Along the way, I got married, had a couple of kids and worked several jobs. However, even I couldn't take the easy way out for my entire life.
At 32, I decided to try nursing school again. Not easy with such a lackluster GPA, two young kiddos and a husband that was deployed. However, I never do anything the easy way - LOL. I was on academic probation the first year. I completed an LPN certificate, then an ADN, a few years later BSN, then MSN then a couple of post-MSN certificates. I even started a DNP program but quickly realized that wasn't the route for me.
I've been so fortunate in my nursing career to work with some fantastic people: other nurses, staff members, supervisors and colleagues. I loved the level one trauma center ED where I worked for 10 years, most of the time on night shift. The never-ending parade of patients with complaints ranging from minor to major trauma. I truly thrived in that environment - it forced me to be on my toes every minute of my 12 hour shift. So many good times yet so much sadness, the abused kiddos were always the hardest patients. You ED peeps know what I'm talking about.
After I became an APRN, I was very fortunate to land a great job in a large nephrology practice where I've been for the past 15+ years. Again, I am so lucky to work with some of the most passionate, compassionate, intelligent APRNs. My physician-colleagues always welcome questions and provide insight into patient care issues. As an APRN, while the job is much less physically taxing, it is MUCH more stressful mentally and emotionally:
Decisions about patient care that have possible dire consequences
Potential for errors
Conducting family meetings to discuss end of life care
Signing DNR forms
I joined AN in 2000 and was quickly hooked. I love AN. As it has evolved, so have I. Members come and go as have I. I've been fortunate to meet so many members over the years at conferences. The staff members that run AN are tops in the industry - they truly care for the vision of AN and guide it through the ups and downs of our world.
What's the point of all my ramblings? Am I going to announce my retirement? Nope, not yet. I'm working past "retirement" age.
I would like to hear from others, like me, that for various reasons continue to work past "retirement" age. Why do you continue? Finances, family situations? Or something else? What keeps you going?
So at 60 I left a rewarding and well paid career in research to go into an accelerated RN program (2 yrs). I am now 72, work partime as an RN in a large hospital based palliative care program. It's fabulous unit with excellent physicians; nurses have lots of autonomy and acess to those physicians 24/7. Working there can be draining but.everyday you know you are making a real contribution, helping people live their best life possible. Until Covid hit in 2020 I often worked almost full-time and sometimes even OT. Cant do that anymore though, just too hard for so many reasons......Now I see my colleagues and those on contributing units, leaving or retiring in droves. If I had been at the bedside for 20 plus years I am sure I would leave too. As it is I may do so this this year. Money is not the reason I have continued working, rather it was the work itself.
Specializes in EMT for 18 years, and licensed LPN.
I wanted to continue working as a nurse, and even interviewed to finish my RN training, but I got very ill shortly after I graduated from LPN school and became disabled at age 58. I even get around in a wheelchair, am now 78, and have always missed working as a nurse.
I am currently 70 and collect both a paycheck and social security, and no, it doesn't affect my SS. It was easy for me as I've worked locum tenens the past seven years. I work when I want and don't work summers. I am currently working in a covid treatment clinic as an NP a few days a week. I would not continue to work if I was still a floor nurse, as the hours were a bit much. I am very active, and my bike probably costs more than my car. I use my paychecks for luxuries. such a yoga/spa retreats, decorating and soon, I hope, travel. I like my work. I don't "have to work," but it improves my life.
I tried being retired for 3 years after a non-nursing career and was bored. I don't have to work anymore. A few years ago, I took a nursing refresher and got a bedside nursing job at 61. Learned new skills too. Good Health Insurance coverage. I'm now in my 3rd year of working.
I hate the way nurses are treated. I work PT on a really hard acute floor and I feel sorry for the nurses who have to work FT. Its so stressful and discouraging. We are treated like morons by the hospital, and like maids by the patients and visitors. I refuse to work more than 2 days a week, despite nice hourly pickup bonuses--its too much. I am grateful for the experience to work again. I am planning my exit strategy. My SS retirement age (FRA) occurs in early 2025. I'll quit in 2023 without taking SS.
I'm going to see how it goes. I went into nursing after a nasty divorce in my 40s. Due to my late start, I'm going to have to work as long as possible; luckily, I love my work. Hope I stay physically up to it!
I am currently 70 and collect both a paycheck and social security, and no, it doesn't affect my SS. It was easy for me as I've worked locum tenens the past seven years. I work when I want and don't work summers. I am currently working in a covid treatment clinic as an NP a few days a week. Last week I worked 4-12 hour shifts in a row for 48 hours in 4 days to cover an NP who was on vacation. It was fine. I would not continue to work if I was still a floor nurse, as the hours were a bit much. I am very active, and my bike probably costs more than my car. I use my paychecks for luxuries. such a yoga/spa retreats, decorating and soon, I hope, travel. I like my work. I don't "have to work," but it improves my life. If I had to work full time, I feel that I could, but I want to do more things for myself now.
I originally decided to work past retirement because of financial reasons. I am 70 in April and still working full time as a bedside nurse. It turns out I could have retired way sooner due to the fact that the markets have been so good but I have kept working anyway. Partly, what has kept me working is the fact that I like having a nice financial cushion going into retirement and there are some projects I want to do that require a little extra money. Also the SS at 70 is enough to support our current life style since we planned our expenses accordingly over the last few years.
I also set up my life prior to this time so I would have no regrets. Hubby and I have traveled widely throughout our marriage. We figured if they were paying us to be on vacation we should spend the money and travel while we had the chance. At this time we still have a few places on our bucket list. I am still working because I didn't wait to do the things I wanted.
I also found a nursing job that I love and that fits my needs at this point of my life. It took a couple of years to find it but it was specifically chosen to be a job I could work in while approaching retirement. I am still a bedside nurse but I transferred out of a high stress department (Emergency) ten years ago. I work in great unit with adequate staffing, good coworkers and a great boss who is responsive to the staff. I have kept working because I enjoy my time there.
I also set my life up to enjoy my health as much as possible. I put in the work to maintain my health and I have enjoyed good energy through most of my career. I slowed down a little 5 years ago when I had chemotherapy but my energy has returned and that is all in the past. I have longevity in my genes and I wanted to be healthy enough to enjoy my life for as long as I am around. I have kept working because working and better health are correlated, even into retirement age.
I just talked to my boss this morning and I am planning to work per diem starting in April. The main reason I chose this is for more freedom. It looks like the best of both worlds right now - work when I want, play when I want. I'm looking forward to it. If I end up playing all the time I'll quit completely, I'll see.
I love being a nurse. I know I make a difference. At some point I will have to let it go but for now this is what I do when I am not living the rest of my life.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
11 hours ago, Laine said:
Thank you for the comments.
I think for me the level of stress won't be bad. I'm on Medicare and supplemental insurance now, so I don't need that benefit.
Medicare with all the trimmings is not cheap either!
You're so right. I am glad we are retired military and our insurance is reasonable. It's not free like it was promised to us when we entered,though. But I won't complain.
You're so right. I am glad we are retired military and our insurance is reasonable. It's not free like it was promised to us when we entered,though. But I won't complain.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I retired once. Sold my house and almost everything I owned and moved aboard a 36 foot sailboat with plans to sail around the world. Literally. I had the charts and a plan for a Tradewinds circumnavigation. I also had a husband who insisted over and over again that HE wanted to sail around the world on our boat. Turns out he wanted to sit in a bar and brag about how he was going to sail around the world; he wasn't really interested in actually doing so. We cruised the inland waterways from the Chesapeake to Florida, and I loved it. Mostly. I think I would have enjoyed it more without the constant verbal abuse. After one particularly miserable Summer in Florida with no air conditioning, I left with what I could carry (and the dog), rented a car (and never mentioned the dog to the nice people at Enterprise) and drove to the midwest where my best friend had just lost her husband. I should have left after the first time he knocked me down, but I was reluctant to give up the lifestyle.
So I moved in with my best friend on her farm, leaving behind a <200 square foot boat for her 4000 square foot house. It was there that I discovered, courtesy of the Internal Revenue Service, that my husband had drained his retirement accounts and they wanted their share. I was findable; he was was on a blue water cruiser and wasn't. Oh, and there was that $8000 hospital bill for a breast biopsy that thankfully turned out to be negative. So hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work I go.
I swallowed the anchor 4-and-a-half years ago this month, leaving the boat and my then-husband with four boat bags full of my most precious possessions and my dog. I now own my own condo, have enough stuff to furnish it (albeit in a rather minimalist fashion), a car and a collection of handbags. I divorced the husband -- thankfully BEFORE he got drunk and rammed a multi-million dollar yacht or got caught pumping sewage out into the waterway or did something else stupid and unlawful that I would have had to pay for. I have built a nice life here in the midwest, a peaceful life, and I'm happy. I like my job, my colleagues and my patients. But the work is taking its toll physically, and recovery time is longer. I want to save enough money for a cruise to Antarctica to see the penguins and a new HVAC system, and then I will drop to part time and eventually (before the snow flies next Winter) retire. Again. This time, I expect it will stick.
lrslinger
4 Posts
So at 60 I left a rewarding and well paid career in research to go into an accelerated RN program (2 yrs). I am now 72, work partime as an RN in a large hospital based palliative care program. It's fabulous unit with excellent physicians; nurses have lots of autonomy and acess to those physicians 24/7. Working there can be draining but.everyday you know you are making a real contribution, helping people live their best life possible. Until Covid hit in 2020 I often worked almost full-time and sometimes even OT. Cant do that anymore though, just too hard for so many reasons......Now I see my colleagues and those on contributing units, leaving or retiring in droves. If I had been at the bedside for 20 plus years I am sure I would leave too. As it is I may do so this this year. Money is not the reason I have continued working, rather it was the work itself.