Nurses over 50 &/or with health issues affecting work

Nurses General Nursing

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I'm sure I'm not the first (or the last) nurse to deal with this issue - I've been a Nurse for over 27 years and now I find myself having trouble "keeping up".(( Due to age? Weight? Arthritis? effect of an AA (sustained while working) and other reasons)).

I think it would be great to be able to talk to others about how they are handling things or what they have done in the past (for those who have retired or found alternative means of remaining in Nursing that are easier for them.

Feel free to email me or respond on this buletain board!

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay you full time night shifters, how do you do it for years on end. Last summer I took job with rotating shifts. I love the job, hate the nights. They make me sick every time I do them. AND I ONLY WORK 1-2 DAYS A WEEKS. Our family situation changes in 3 months, so I will have to leave the job. :o

However, I've learned my lesson. I will never accept a position that requires nights again! I'm glad there are so many options to nursing outside of the hospital. I do L&D, and I can't imagine doing this when I am 60 years old. I don't think I could physically manage the job. So, give me tips on options out there that you have found and love.:)

There is a trick to tolerating Night Shift

1- You need to do it Full time - rotating shifts is extremely hard on the body, your body has NO IDEA when to sleep and when not to!!

2- You need to have that natural body rhythm that says you are a "Night Owl" you know the one - where you HATE mornings and LOVE nights! If you had your choice you'd stay up most of the night and sleep until at LEAST noon!

3- You need to be able to sleep regardless of the light and sounds around you!

4- and you need to be able to disconnect the phone and doorbell without any guilt!!!!!!!

5- You need to be able to go to sleep as soon as you get home from work!

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I managed well for 10 years!, I slept while my kids were at school, and had the entire evening with the family - then slept as soon as I got home!)

Of course that was when we were still allowed to work 8 hour shifts(11pm-7am)! Couldn't do it on 12 hours!!!!! :eek:

Now I know I'm not cut out for nights!:D

1. I don't want to work full time

2. My favorite time to get up and get stuff accomplished is 6am. I do my best work before noon.

3. After nights, I do not sleep well. Maybe, if I am lucky, I can get 3 hours in a row.

4. No problem there!

5. Usually my husband can take the kids, so no problem there. All I can think of all night is getting home and getting to bed!

The hospital is on 12 hours shifts, and we are homeschooling, so I really can't rely on my children being gone all day so I can sleep.

Yup. Done. I'll have to think about per diem when we next relocate so I can have more say over my availability.

PRN nights has always been the best for me and if Ii ever get back to critical care, I will do this and/or agency work. I love staying out of the politics and having the more controlled (usually) pace at night. Some nurses can't adjust their circadian rhythms enough--I found if I split them up and napped after work, sleeping normally on my nights off, I was able to tolerate nights.

RNKitty.. this is a topic of great interest to me also. There have been some interesting posts in the Nurse Entrepeneur Forum (this has been put back up recently)... Check it out and give your imput....

Not one of us.... can think as well as ALL of us...

B.:)

I can't believe some people when they say they are fine with just 4 hours sleep. They may not be playing with a full deck (of properly firing axons and dendrites)

When i worked graveyard, it took several weeks before things became normal. I took Sominex after the first week because I had read that astronauts and cosmonauts took them to establish sleep patterns in space. I took'em to force myself to sleep at 0900-1100 and get up at 1700-1900, after a complete sleep pattern. Earplugs - blindfolds

A N D - you have to keep going to bed at the same time, even on your daze off. That was the trick. If you live in an active envirnoment, forget it.

:cool:

Hi all - great stuff in this thread!!

I'll be 58 in July. In general I share many of the same concerns the rest of you do. I've been EXTREMELY fortunate that the ole back has never suffered any damage, and the knees "creek" a little but are holding out real well.

I've had a thirty-year career and "done it all" in terms of employment: acute-care, registry, home-health, teaching, management, rehab, long-term care, and ad infinitum.

I find myself now living in a very small (750 people) rural community in Minnesota, working full-time at the local Nursing Home - which fortunately is an excellent facility. I'm the "oldest" Nurse on staff and when I applied was eagerly sought after because of my many years of varied experiences in Nursing. Quite frankly, it's the first time I have felt "valued" in my work setting for many years, and it feels damn good!

However, this thread has hit me smack in the face with all of the questions that have been lingering in my mind these days as the prospect of "retirement" rapidly becomes a greater reality.

It's the financial outcome for me that gives me the greatest concern. IF, social security is to be believed I'll "retire" on a $1200/mo income. That's it folks!! I'm divorced, a single parent, and have no earthly assests (land, houses, investments, IRA's, 401's, insurances, etc.). What a fool, and how irresponsible I've been by NOT "planning" for the future! (financially)

Go ahead, throw the book at me you guys - lol - I deserve it!! My "life story" is a 12-volume encyclopedia read on "how NOT to do life" - perhaps. But, here I am, because of the choices I made for myself along the way, pure and simple. At least I see that and maybe it's not too late to take best advantage of whatever is available in terms of socking away some savings because I plan on working until they shove me out the door at this place.........or plunk me in a wheel chair and take me to my "room" as their next admission.

But, I DO have faith that it will all work out just the way it is supposed to, -

Just adding my 10 cents worth.

my 2 cents-worth: if your LTC facility has a 401K program, join now, and put in the max percentage the company will match. Everytime you get a raise, put in another percent, or 2. 58 is plenty of time for you to get in several thousand dollars' worth that should grow, quickly. Once you get a couple of years' worth of investing under your belt, and are well-established at your job, and in the community, start checking with local real estate folks, (or your co-workers and residents families) about getting a small, fixer-upper house. Not a wreck of a house, mind you, but one that may need new carpet, cabinets, and such. You can live in it while you fix it up. (I know whereof I speak!) Mortgage interest is totally deductible on your income tax. Try to get with a person you trust-a financial adviser where you bank, a CPA, or a friend with good financial skills, and have them continue to give you pointers. If credit is a problem, run, don't walk, to Consumer Credit Counseling Service. They will get your bills squared away, and help you get them paid on time, while rebuilding your credit to buy that house I was talking about.;) Again, I know whereof I speak-been there, done that!:cool:

Good luck to you. Keep us posted.

Cathy has some good advice Write!

The only thing she didn't mention is - what if you start with some medical expenses now! It wouldn't take much of a problem (with the cost of things) to keep you from saving!

This may sound HORRIBLE - but check with Medicaid and see what income level (SS income) you would need to be at or under in order to qualify for things like CAPS, Medicaid card (that pays for prescriptions and other health care items not covered by Medicare)etc.

I have found, working in Home Health that the folks who have a little (small house, some savings) but not enough to pay for medicine or any of the healthcare items they need, have too many assetts to quality for Medicaid to help and as a result they fall thru the cracks and are S.O.L (-----,out of luck). It is only the poor and wealthy who can afford to get old! Even the middle class (which is most of us) usually have one heck of a time making it thru old age finanically!!!:(

HATE TO BE SO PESSIMISTIC--no REALISTIC!!!!!!!!!:confused:

:D

Thanks a bunch Cathy!! Appreciate the tips, and I will take them all VERY seriously. Fortunately for me what I DO have going for me is my health overall. Not to be taken for granted I know, because we never know what might come down the pipes five minutes from now.

Although I might be some financial investor's nightmare walking, I've witnessed God do things in my life that would knock'em out of their snakeskin boots!

When I can't, God does. When I won't God will. When I "doubt", God doesn't. But my part is the footwork in all of it first. So here I go.............

Thanks again Cathy......

Hey Writestuff!

I LOVE IT ! ! ! !

" When I can't, God does. When I won't God will. When I "doubt", God doesn't. "

Going to paste it on my page of Favorite quotes!!!!!!!!!!!:D

:D

Hi Karen,

Glad you liked that. For me it's the truth.

I've made a lot of very poor choices over my life time....but I find that what works for me is to learn from my mistakes (hopefully not repeat the same ones).........and stay grounded in my belief that God is in control, despite my screwups!

It's NOT about sitting back and "expecting" God to clean up my messes - no way.

But when push comes to shove, He ALWAYS shows me a better way. It 's a wonderful way to live.

Free to be me today, and loving life in Minnesota!

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