For Those That Have Left Nursing

michelle54 · Mar 20, 2007

I'm 52 and have been an RN for almost 7 years ... I work on a busy Med/Surg floor which I do actually love (when push comes to shove), but the amount of physical labor can sometimes be unbearable. Couple that with the emotional demands of patients/families and all the necessary interactions with docs, peers, other disciplines, and after my weekend on (2 12's), I'm totally spent. The 12 hour shifts make it more difficult, but I value having more days not at work. Decide why you're doing this (in my case, after being self employed for 20+ years, I needed the security of having paid time off and benefits), and if it makes sense to you in the long run. As I look at it, hopefully at 60, I can cut down to 2 12's a week, and at/after retirement, I can always work per diem if I need to. You will gain valuable, marketable skills as a nurse. Good luck.

Gromit · Mar 20, 2007

Interesting question. I AM a nurse (RN) but thanks to my heart condition, I'm not sure of how much longer I'll be able to continue bedside nursing. I'm kind of curious about this as well.

krisssy · Mar 20, 2007

I graduated with a BSN in 1969. I worked as a school nurse teacher for two years. When they disbanded the school nurse teacher program in favor of a school nurse program, the pay went way down. I told my principal I was leaving , and I intended to get a peds job. He said I did a great job teaching health, and he offered me a third grade position. I received my Master's in Education in a year and two summers. I ended up being a teacher of grades K-3 until age 55. I excelled at this and even became Teacher of the Year. I always wanted to be a pediatric nurse, but at the time, being newly married, I did not want to work nights. That is why I took the school nurse teacher job.

I loved my teaching career, but when I retired, I felt a desire to go back into nursing. I took a refresher course, and I did very well. I was offered a job, but again it was nights ,and I turned it down.

Things have changed a lot in nursing, and there is so much I don't know. I am not really sure if I will ever go back to it.

In conclusion, I loved my teaching career, but I wonder what nursing would have been like and if it is too late for me?

I don't think it is too late for you to start a nursing career now. You don't have to work in a hospital if you don't want to-although you certainly could. You have many many options. My problem is that I can't start a nursing program over again, as I am already licensed!

Krisssy

doulaarts · Mar 21, 2007

I have been an LPN for 29 years. I loved bedside nursing very much. In the 80's things changed. I left my hospital job for an office position and then our hospitals went to RN's and NAC's only. I am sorry I was never able to go back. Since then I have been a case manager for a home health agency, and a charge nurse in LTC, SNF. I can no longer keep up the pace needed to pass meds to 28 residents, do treatments and paperwork and give the kind of care my patients need and that I want to provide. I have become quite dissillusioned with the nursing that is available to me. But I still crave contact with people and I plan to go to Massage Therapy School in September and hope to go into a medical specialty. My advisor tells me that having a double license will be to my great advantage. I will have a greater variety of opportunities and can set my own schedule and work with one client at a time. I love nursing and think it has many advantages and would never discourage anyone from trying - we are all so different! You can offer your skills and experience in so many different ways! The only thing I would caution you about is to look into what is available in your state before you decide how much training to take. Good luck;)

doobiedo, RN · Mar 22, 2007

I graduated in '79 and initially I loved it however nursing and the hospital (healthcare in general)has changed in many respects. I have had many opportunities because of my career and for that I am thankful. The hospitals and LTC's I worked did not give pensions and only in the early 90's did I finally have a job that even offered a 403b. Maybe things have changed as far as retirement benefits go now I don't know but physically I can't do it anymore. I had a bilateral hip replacement at 47 due to osteoarthritis and could not run the floors anymore let alone put up with it emotionally. I've had it with 12 hour shifts, mandatory overtime, poor benefits and management that seemed to think the staff had no life except the hospital.

I went into pharmaceutical and have never looked back. I finally have a pension and a 401K along with better benefits and they respect the fact you do have a life outside of work and you are compensated for it! I enjoyed the bedside for many years but would not even think about going back anymore. Good luck and hope you have you have investigated and know exactly what you are in for. Don't go into it blind :>)

sissiesmama, ASN, RN · Mar 22, 2007

Hello mammaoftwo! My husband and I are both RNs, with an RNC in med-surg. He has been working for approx. 20 years and I have been for 16 years. We both have experience in a variety of specialties, mine being ER, and his being ER, nsg sup. of a moderate sized hospital. We have 2 sons, a 9 y/o, nd a 14 y/o. My 14 y/o is "allergic to studying and homework'', so I quit working full time in Sept. to help him. His grades have improved, but I have started having some health problems. I got started on meds for HTN, and still not regulated yet. Last Friday pm I ended up in a trauma room of the facility where we work with chest pain, bigeminy and some other nasty looking stuff on the monitor. So now I'm stuck with clonidine, HCTZ, lopressor, and Altace. Can't even walk down the street without getting SOB. Not up to walking the floors, so Im a stay at home mom full time. And even with the meds, I LOVE BEING HOME NOW!! I never thought I'd be the type, but who knows?!! I think the thing at work that was the last straw was everyone fussing and backstabbing, ect. I know this goes on everywhere, but it's old. If I go back to work, it won't be as an RN. i have been toying w/ the idea of EMT school. I am an adrenaline junky and love the ER. Good luck and God bless!! Anne, RNC

deensy · Mar 22, 2007

I graduated in '79 and initially I loved it however nursing and the hospital (healthcare in general)has changed in many respects. I have had many opportunities because of my career and for that I am thankful. The hospitals and LTC's I worked did not give pensions and only in the early 90's did I finally have a job that even offered a 403b. Maybe things have changed as far as retirement benefits go now I don't know but physically I can't do it anymore. I had a bilateral hip replacement at 47 due to osteoarthritis and could not run the floors anymore let alone put up with it emotionally. I've had it with 12 hour shifts, mandatory overtime, poor benefits and management that seemed to think the staff had no life except the hospital.
I went into pharmaceutical and have never looked back. I finally have a pension and a 401K along with better benefits and they respect the fact you do have a life outside of work and you are compensated for it! I enjoyed the bedside for many years but would not even think about going back anymore. Good luck and hope you have you have investigated and know exactly what you are in for. Don't go into it blind :>)

Hi,

Well done!

Do you mind me asking how did you get into pharmaceutical? Did you go back and study.

nursetim, NP · Mar 22, 2007

busyrnandmom,

If walking down the street makes you SOB, EMT is not a light alternative. Relax, try to get off the meds and enjoy your kids. Good luck

sissiesmama, ASN, RN · Mar 23, 2007

busyrnandmom,
If walking down the street makes you SOB, EMT is not a light alternative. Relax, try to get off the meds and enjoy your kids. Good luck

Hey nursetim! You are SO right!! As long as the family is comfortable financially, I would like nothing better than to do exactly what I've been doing. I have always enjoyed cooking, so I have found more recipes and I am a part time room mother for my 9 year old. I'm hoping I won't be on all those meds forever, but I know I'll be on some type of BP meds. Ths SOB kind of worries me, and I just don't know much about bigeminy.(And as a nurse, I'm a little embarrassed to admit that!) I've tried to do a little research. Had just been thinking that maybe if I do go back to work, that kind of change may be nice. But, as long as I am off, I will be taking some time to smell the roses! Thanks! Anne:)