Nurses General Nursing
Published Oct 2, 2005
stlnurse
8 Posts
Just wondering how nurses feel about whether they will make it to retirement in the nursing field? Or will you end up leaving it before then?
I sometimes wonder if nurses that start out young in this profession will ever stick with it to the end? I started in nursing at age 21, and after 20 years am wondering if I will make it to retirement age of 67. Seems impossible. We nurses are getting older and I wonder how many of us will make it to our retirement or end up leaving nursing for something less stressful?
Tweety, BSN, RN
34,358 Posts
I came into nursing in my mid-30s and am in it for the rest of my life until retirement.
I don't envision myself doing floor nursing until then though. I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I'm now getting my BSN to give myself some options.
sjb2005
245 Posts
I don't think I'll make it to retirement in this business. I would certainly move on if the right circumstances come forth...ex:Win the lotteryLOL.
suebird3
4,007 Posts
With me, it all de[ends on how I feel at the end of a shift, and what the heck hit me. :rotfl: :rotfl: There are days when I honestly ask myself why I became a nurse. The answer is, "because I care."
I would like to retire early, but.....I can't. Iwould probably donate time, though. Ask me when I am closer to 67. :chuckle Even if I win the Lottery......which the odds are not with me.
UM Review RN, ASN, RN
1 Article; 5,163 Posts
Yes, I'll be nursing till I'm called Home. Or retirement, whichever comes first.
I'd like to be able to stay at the bedside or teach. Not sure I'd make a good Unit Manager.
NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN
10 Articles; 18,367 Posts
No reason I can't "nurse" people from my shiny red electric scooter as I zip around my retirement community!
On a serious note, my dear colleague who's been an RN 50 years, has worked 16 hours/week 5 years after FT retirement finally handed me her resignation effective December 31st. I first started working with her 18 years ago and will sorely miss her smile and energetic can do attitude.
traumaRUs, MSN, APRN
88 Articles; 21,250 Posts
I went into nursing in my early 30's and now 13 years later, I'm still fine doing it. However, I realize that I probably can't keep up the pace of bedside nursing until I'm 70! That is where education comes in...I got my BSN then MSN and then realized that I wanted a clinical degree - so back to school for an APN license. Have to have options.
llg, PhD, RN
13,469 Posts
I got my BSN at 22 (am now 50) and expect to be a nurse of one kind or another for my entire career. However, like some of the previous posters, I realized early that I could not be a staff nurse for 40-some years. So I got my MSN while still in my 20's and my PhD while in my 40's. I have been careful about managing my money and expect to be able to retire at age 62 with a comfortable lifestyle ... but I might ease into retirement by cutting back on my hours a little earlier than that and then working part time a little longer to maintain my access to group insurance rates, etc.
I find it disheartening that so many nurses fail to think about long-term career planning. So many just take it day-to-day and never look ahead and make plans that prepare them for long-term success and satisfaction.
Perhaps this thread will stimulate a few people to do so. :-)
Thanks for starting it.
llg
CseMgr1, ASN, RN
1,287 Posts
I probably won't, due to health problems mainly involving my back which began ten years ago and are becoming worse every day. It's just a matter of time before I wake up one morning and can't get out of bed....
BAck injuries are nothing to scoof at in nursing. I sympathize with your sitauation. I have found nurses to be very judgemental about those who have back injuries. I have been very fortunate that I have decent back health. One injury but I recovered fully. Thank God.
I've never had a known back injury, but have degenerative disc disease. I probably inherited it from my father, who had the same thing. And I am sure that all those years of pulling and tugging on people in the clinical area hasn't helped my condition, either.