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?
I'd have to write an essay to cover it all, but many of my feelings about the subject come from seeing the culture of a city where my mother and her husband retired to in Florida, ie "The Villages".
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.
I always knew not to cruise on a sailboat with my husband; divorce is so expensive:) I understand the drunken sailor mentality PERFECTLY! But I'm happy to see that you have steered yourself into a better place - I am also having a peaceful (well, almost) life in the Midwest that doesn't involve anymore crowds, subways, long commutes, high taxes, etc. Enjoy the penguins.
I noticed a lot of red clothing and accessories: the color of the devil:) Looks like Hell to me.
Seriously, it's like the worst negative baby boomer stereotypical attributes are collected, distilled and concentrated into one giant cesspool of geriatric entitlement and hypocrisy.
You need an account to see the NYT article. Can someone summarize what it said?
It's one writer's view of The Villages, a massive retirement community in Orlando, which became a conservative stronghold. See Jedrnurse's description above, it pretty much sums up the type of people living there.
Long story here. I left the USA in 2002 at age 52 to travel after some miserable nurse jobs. I met a Portuguese/Brazilian and we married 18 months later, I went to live in Brazil and Portugal. 2012 I returned without the husband to the USA and did not work or think about nursing until 2020 when I started volunteering. I have worked in LTC a few paid shifts per month and in a few weeks I will be starting a Psych/mental health NP Program. I am 71 with incredible longevity in my family. 95+ is not unusual. My father's sister died 1 year ago at age 103. Sharp as a tack and lived at home, alone. I guess I'm starting the NP Program to cover myself if I do live to my 90's or beyond. If not, oh well. Education never hurt anyone!
On 3/2/2022 at 11:29 AM, FranEMTnurse The other member said:
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.
Fran - you've always been such a light here at AN - thank you.
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.
Truth - my hubby retired from the USAF in 1995 after 23 years active duty. I'm still on Tricare Select....however, with my work insurance, its awesome.
LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM
1,656 Posts
This was in the NYT this morning! ?
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/03/opinion/the-disney-for-boomers-puts-hedonism-on-full-display.html?campaign_id=9&emc=edit_nn_20220303&instance_id=54752&nl=the-morning&regi_id=55547210&segment_id=84503&te=1&user_id=41442b8604422bcfe24f39cf8ff091bf