How Long Do You Expect To Be a Nurse?

[SilverBells, BSN]

Just curious, how long you expect your nursing career to last? 

When I became a nurse almost 7 years ago, I did so with the intent that I would be a nurse for rest of my working career.  Lately, I've been questioning whether or not that will still be the case.  I'm at the age where I still have 30+ more years of working, so obviously a retirement is not an option at this point.  With that said, I've been stressed lately and am unsure whether or not I can actually make it through another 30 years of nursing, or even want to.   I'm not ready to make any fast career changes simply because I've had a few stressful moments recently, but I'm wondering whether I will keep my goal of remaining a nurse for my entire working career. 

How about the rest of you? How long do you expect your nursing careers to last? 

[Lynker, LPN]

I've been a nurse for almost a year and a half, hopefully going on forever! This is my first "career", so to speak. I started at 24. I want to move up in my education and ranks. I'm not sure where and what I exactly want to do, but I do know that I love being a nurse and helping people, thus this is probably going to be my only and last career in my life.

 

I'm curious to see other people's answers!

[NightNerd, MSN, RN]

I hope I'll be a nurse for many more decades! (I've got a minute until I retire, unless we hit Powerball.) I will say that I feel myself getting stressed to the max in med-surg, and even though I'm learning to keep it in perspective, I don't think I want to work the floor full-time forever. My ideal work as a nurse would involve working per diem, maybe once or twice a week, on the floor, and then part-time doing some kind of community health work. Sadly, I need something full-time for the health insurance, so I fear I'll have to pick one in the coming couple of years after I earn my MSN.

[TheMoonisMyLantern, ADN, LPN, RN]

There have been times where I tried to develop an exit strategy but ultimately I always abandon the idea of leaving nursing, so I guess I'm in it for the long haul.  

[CharleeFoxtrot, BSN, RN]

Well, this is my third and hopefully last career so at least another 14 years or so, or until I win the lotto ?

[Davey Do]

12 hours ago, SilverBells said:

Just curious, how long you expect your nursing career to last? 

Until March 15, 2020.

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

I'm a second career nurse. My first career was about 19 years and ended four years ago. 

I've been a nurse for eight years and right now I'll probably be at it at least another 20 years, since currently you can't collect social security until age 67. But if things go well I could easily see myself working past that age, unless I've found some fantastic hobbies that work interferes with. 

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

1983 to the present and looking toward retirement in 6-7 years...unless I hit it big financially!

[Wuzzie]

12 more years. If it doesn’t kill me first. 

[Guest 1152923]

Coming up on 30 years as an RN for me next year and honestly, without any hesitation, I would retire tomorrow if I had the financial means to do so.  Five or six years realistically though until I can get off the hamster wheel-like Wuzzie said "If it doesn't kill me first".

[Davey Do]

23 minutes ago, Wuzzie said:

12 more years. If it doesn’t kill me first. 

I once said that I was going to work at Wrongway Regional Medical Center until they opted to fired me, cart me out on a gurney in a body bag, or become a carpet warehouse.

The first option was the best option.

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

37 minutes ago, morelostthanfound said:

Coming up on 30 years as an RN for me next year and honestly, without any hesitation, I would retire tomorrow if I had the financial means to do so.  Five or six years realistically though until I can get off the hamster wheel-like Wuzzie said "If it doesn't kill me first".

I'm in the same boat, or hamster wheel. I'm just mentally tired