where do old nurses go?

suni, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2007

I would try to move into a CaseManagement , Staff Development, Pre-Admission, Recovery Room or OR position. I also think Peds would be an option as most kids are under 50 pounds that you have to lift.

You could also do private duty and start your own little business.

bargainhound, RN · Mar 5, 2007

Lord help us. I feel the same way.

I have found a few niches, but am really looking at the

long term.......how to survive until retirement.

LadyNASDAQ · Mar 5, 2007

My sis works as a Case Manager as a Telephonic Nurse. No bedside Nursing. Her company is incredibly nice. It is called Matria. She has psoriasis that flares up horribly with the soaps and solutions we use everyday at work and also, her back and right knee are hurt from years of abuse.

I'm just shy of 50 and I'm determined to work at the bedside to the end in ICU. I have very little body aches. I tell the patients to move themselves more and more.

Quickbeam, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2007

I'm in my 50's and have now been in Community Health for 8 years. I could do this job in a wheelchair and plan on staying until I retire.

A lot of public health/community health jobs are competitive and don't open all that often so do follow the state/gov't job listings. I literally found my current job just browsing the state job listings and thought "What the heck? Why not?". I was wearing out and knew I couldn't do hospital care much longer.

IMHO, I found pediatrics pretty grueling. In the two hospitals I worked at you could end up with a baby or a 300# teenager. Plus, lots of traction and ortho set ups that were heavy to lug around. Lots of near drownings and head injuries meant special beds on the floor and climbing around on all 4s to do care.

clearskies · Mar 5, 2007

I am in a similar situation and am starting to research for a "2nd" career in nursing. Better money of course and interesting.

Lacie, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2007

Same here after numerous knee surgeries also. I went into case management but missed pt care to a degree. My experience had been primarily in open heart and critical care. I recently started working in outpatient dialysis. So far really am enjoying it but mostly because it is less taxing on my body to say the least and I have a great crew I'm working with. My preceptor is absolutely the best and isnt treating the "old" gal like a noob lol. I'm finding it much more pleasing to me then when I did case management as there I had absolutely no "on-hands" task to do and was too sedentary for me. If your looking to get out of on hands completely then case management particularly with worker's compensation/insurance industry would be good and they will love your experience.

Bridget O'Malley · Mar 5, 2007

This old nurse will be going to hell because of all the evil thoughts she thinks about the patients who drive her batty.

In the interim, I, too, am searching for something else for the future. Anyone know any successfull get rich quick schemes?

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2007

I'm 47 and finishing up my BSN for more options. Right now I'm in good shape and feel physically like I'm not worn down, but I'm sure it's coming and I want to be prepared. Right now I'm leaning towards teaching. I'm going to get my Masters and then teach part time, and perhaps move into full time as I age.

But who knows what the future holds. I'm still thinking about those get rich quick schemes. LOL

Good luck!

muffie, RN · Mar 5, 2007

i thought they went where elephants go

somewhere in africa where all the ivory tusks are

they are just as precious

WDWpixieRN, RN · Mar 5, 2007

This old nurse will be going to hell because of all the evil thoughts she thinks about the patients who drive her batty.
In the interim, I, too, am searching for something else for the future. Anyone know any successfull get rich quick schemes?

As a second-semester nursing student who's in her early 50's, I shouldn't be LMAO, but I am....too funny!! And I hope I won't find it to be TOO true for me!! :eek:

WDWpixieRN, RN · Mar 5, 2007

Sorry...