How Long Do You Expect To Be a Nurse?

[SilverBells]

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? 

[Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN]

Til the day I am no longer part of this world.

[Hannahbanana, BSN, MSN]

There’s a difference between “be a nurse” and “be employed/licensed as a nurse.” I was a nurse at nine or ten when I knew what medicine to give a severely asthmatic sibling experiencing an acute attack, or expressing a big sterile abscess from repeated IMs in her arm (standards of care in asthma were a lot different in the 50s, LOL, but the doc was very impressed at how thorough I was with it). I will be a nurse long after I let go of my license to call myself “RN” … but I’ll be damned if I will keep doing it as work for much longer. 

[SarahMaria, MSN, RN]

I work hazardous duty, and will retire at 54.  This is after putting in 20 years.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

6 more years until my 50th year in nursing.   Doing HH consulting and FT live-in  8 week Summer Camp Nursing  session resumed after 25yr hiatus.

Finally gave up my NJ license, limiting nursing care to PA only.

 

[SilverBells, BSN]

This week, I've started to question my role in nursing more and more.  I feel as if I need a break at least.  I feel my performance is declining.  I'm questioning if this is even a good career for me.  As of today, I don't think I'll still be a nurse in 30 years

[klone, MSN, RN]

Until I retire, which ideally, will be in 12 years (which will make me almost 60). That will be 27 years of nursing.

9 hours ago, SilverBells said:

This week, I've started to question my role in nursing more and more.  I feel as if I need a break at least.  I feel my performance is declining.  I'm questioning if this is even a good career for me.  As of today, I don't think I'll still be a nurse in 30 years

Good luck. Take care. Thoughts and prayers.

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

On 7/21/2021 at 6:51 PM, SarahMaria said:

I work hazardous duty, and will retire at 54.  This is after putting in 20 years.

What do you mean hazardous duty?  Do you work for a govt hospital or agency?  There is also the Rule of 55 where you can take money from your 401k/403b without penalty if you retire in that year or after.  But you can't take money from traditional IRA's till 59 1/2 without penalty.