I want to retire I'm so tired of the stress

GrumpyRN, NP · Jan 24

Being sore, achey and tired is normal.

Being bullied and having a heavier workload is not. Although it happens (unfortunately).

I retired at the age of 61 and was glad to go. I had 35 years of nursing and it was enough. My mortgage was paid off when I was 60 so no problems there.

As I was a Nurse Practitioner the younger nurses had nothing to do with me as I knew more than they did and was well able to stand up for myself. My problem was cr*p managers who, in my opinion, could not spell management never mind do it.

I tell this story to everyone who is thinking about retirement as it was told to me by a paramedic :- "One morning you will waken up and realise that you have had enough and it is time to go. And that is when you put in for your retirement."

Been retired for almost 8 years and think it was the best thing I have done.

What I would suggest is that you document, document, document all and every interaction with these people. Even if you don't have cameras you should be able to get an electronic trail if staff are using work computers for videos etc.

Good luck.

As a PS to this;

I am in the UK and workplace bullying is (sometimes) taken seriously leading to repurcussions for those involved. I appreciate that in US rules and laws are different but it is maybe something you could look into.

Also sick leave in UK is better - 6 months full pay then 6 months half pay as long as you have medical certification, and stress is seen as a legitimate cause to be off.

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Jan 24

Consider hospice, where you may not have to lift anyone... and consider you may not need as much as you think to retire.

Susan Feliciano · Jan 25

It sounds like you are burned out with your setting, not necessarily nursing. I would recommend finding a different job setting. I am 69, and over 6 years ago I sought a work-from-home Telephone Triage job, signed on, and have loved it ever since. I work in my back bedroom on a system provided by my employer. I plan to work many more years as long as I am able; perhaps cutting back from full to part time in the next couple of years, just so I have more time to myself. I do after-hours triage for a variety of practices and hospitals on a national basis. If you are interested, reply to this comment and I will PM you a link to my employer. There are several telehealth employers available if you want to try your own search. My employer values experienced nurses of all ages, and breaks/mealtimes are assured.

delrionurse · Jan 26

Can you do MDS? MDS is in SNF's and it's Mon-Fri 8-5. That is not a floor position.

Nurse Meg, BSN, RN · Jan 27

Have you considered stepping away from bedside nursing? With 27 years of experience, you've built a wealth of transferable skills that could open doors to other nursing roles. What type of nursing are you doing now? If you're not ready for a full transition - maybe consider working per diem instead of part-time.—fewer shifts but higher pay per hour.

With just two years until your goal of retiring at 60, I would be looking to explore less demanding, yet equally (or more) lucrative opportunities. I would sure want to coast into retirement with less stress and optimal health.

I've worked along side a number of nurses who have made that move, and helped a few too. Wishing you the best on this next chapter!

Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN · Jan 28

Retired at 58. My plan had been to work until 60 and then maybe drop down to casual before fully retiring ay 65

Covid changed that.

I was bullied. My assignments were heavy. It was bad. It was so bad that on my way to work I would think " maybe I'll get hit by a bus today and won't have to go to work"

I was lucky. I had a great pension plan . I realized I had hit the time when working longer would not change my pension.

It's been 3 years and I am so much happier now.

I hope you can find a solution that works for you

abbnurse · Jan 29

delrionurse said:

Can you do MDS? MDS is in SNF's and it's Mon-Fri 8-5. That is not a floor position.

Just fyi :

I was asked to become " the MDS nurse" when I worked in a SNF. I agreed, but the downside was, I was FREQUENTLY pulled to work the floor when staffing was short due to call offs, no - shows, etc.

That was frustrating as I was, of course, still expected to have everything up to date with the MDS's .

I left long term care in 1999, and never looked back !

Edited to add : Yes, I am a crusty old bat ! 🙂

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Feb 2

See my last post under the thread by Davey Do "What do you miss about nursing". Someone just like you was asking for help. Too long to rewrite it here.

See your Dr and an ortho specialist about your back. I had serious back problems for years and only recently learned what they were when I finally went to the Dr and eventually got an MRI from ortho. There may be things to help starting with PT and depending on the situation the Dr may suggest other interventions such as an epidural, facet injection or ablation. It all starts with getting checked out and not just living with the pain! Also stop damaging your back by finding a job where you aren't lifting and moving people. or maybe after reading my prior reply to the OP 58Dontfeelgreat you will realize you can afford to retire early if you live frugally!

I suggested a couple books on personal finance. Deal with your Debt by Liz Weston has an interesting take on it to use it as a strategy to reach your goals. She even used a HELOC for income temporarily while waiting for a new job to come to fruition! It is OK to have debt at times, not to be in a rush to pay off debt but consider flexibility to look at the big picture. I'm using this strategy to keep my taxable income low for Obamacare subsidies to make healthcare affordable and to help me make it to SS and Medicare.

Maybe you will find you can retire earlier than you think!

Best wishes to a more peaceful, healthy, pain free and stress-free New Year!

Cduke44 · Apr 3

MDS part time sounds very interesting