How Long Will You Nurse?

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  1. I'll be leaving the bedside within _____ year(s).

    • 16
      Less than two years
    • 4
      three years
    • 3
      four years
    • 14
      five years
    • 5
      six years
    • 3
      seven years
    • 0
      eight years
    • 0
      nine years
    • 31
      ten years
    • 34
      Never

110 members have participated

Specializes in Utilization Management.

The nursing shortage is supposed to get worse. How many of us bedside nurses plan on leaving the bedside within the next 10 years?

Any comments welcomed.

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I hope to leave nursing in 10 years. However, that will depend on my financial situation. Of course, if I meet a rich sugar daddy tomorrow then I will leave nursing immediately. :chuckle

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I am still young (28y) and intend on nursing for many years to come. I cannot imagine doing anything else. I have been a nurse for 7 years now and every day I still get that silly, O boy I'm a nurse! feeling. I'm sure that eventually it will get old and boring, but not yet. I love what I do and everyday is exciting, even when it is a horrible day.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I love what I do, but there aren't many more years left in this worn-out ol' body for the level of physicality med/surg nursing requires. I've spent the past two days playing ICU nurse (today they actually gave me a real, live, CRITICAL patient on a Dopamine drip!! :p ) and I think I'd probably last longer there.....but I have a lot to learn about critical care, and training positions don't open up very often, so I'll probably be out of bedside nursing before one becomes available.

It's sad to say, but the working conditions on even the best med/surg units---and I include mine among them---are getting nothing but harder, and middle-aged backs and knees and feet just can't take the pounding day after day, year after year. I'm sure I'll stay in nursing, but I figure a couple more years---at best---in med/surg will probably be it for me. :o

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i want to work til i drop dead or until i am deemed impaired/incompetent. i love nsg too much-big part of who i am.

leslie

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Specializes in OB.

I voted on never... but that's because I'm still too young to retire and I have many plans ahead. Also, I'm one of those nurses who love bedside nursing. However, I do plan to drop down to part time or go to a resource (per diem) position in the future so I can be home for more quality time with my children when I do have them and as long as my financial situation permits at the time.

I know a nurse who just turned 69 and she says she wants to keep working for another couple of years! She's such a trooper and so enthusiastic. I don't know how she does it.

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Specializes in O.R., ED, M/S.

I plan on working well past 10 years, but couldn't vote on never because it is reasonable. I want to work part-time even when I am in my mid to late 60s. No reason to completely quit. I like what I do now but I know I will not be able to continue with the pace I am at now. I will eventually need to do something less stressful and physically demanding. I currently work in the OR but will probably do something that can been done at a desk or with little walking. Mike

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

i'm almost 50. i know i won't be able to do this forever, but i'll stay as long as i can!

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Where I work, we have a nurse who works every Sunday. She's 82 yo. Hard of hearing and more energy than I have. She " goes by the book" on everything. She is a pleasure and has no problem asking for help. She's been with us for about 20 yrs.

i want to work til i drop dead or until i am deemed impaired/incompetent. i love nsg too much-big part of who i am.

leslie

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Specializes in Community Health Nurse.
The nursing shortage is supposed to get worse. How many of us bedside nurses plan on leaving the bedside within the next 10 years?

Any comments welcomed.

After eighteen years as a nurse, this year was a defining moment for me, thus...no longer will work as a bedside nurse. It was great while it lasted (ummmm....for the most part anyway). :rotfl:

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i'm almost 50. i know i won't be able to do this forever, but i'll stay as long as i can!

i'm there too! can't imagine doing anything else.

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Specializes in Babies, peds, pain management.

I voted never as well. I've been doing it for 22 years now and I'm about to get the hang of it, why stop now?? :chuckle One of our house supervisors just celebrated 60 years in nursing, and she is terrific. She can get just about any IV that no one else can. I pray that I have her energy and love for patients when I'm her age. (Actually, I'd like her energy level now!)

Funny, I never really wanted to be a nurse until I became one! :rolleyes:

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