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?
Specializes in Physiology, CM, consulting, nsg edu, LNC, COB.
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.
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
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
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
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.
Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN
1,348 Posts
Til the day I am no longer part of this world.