where do old nurses go?

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I am 56 years old and have been a nurse for 34 years. My body is wearing out from all the wear and tear over the years of nursing. So my question what is there for us old nurses? How do we figure out something else to do where the money is decent? Any suggestions?

Thanks

Specializes in Electrophysiology/Cardiology.

well, the idea of a pill grab-bag is enticing, but you could be VERY fortunate like me and have a father-in-law who passed away in November, and left his son, my hubby, a WHOLE lot of money, so i quit my cath lab job at the end of the year!! woohoo!! (OK i am bragging, i'm sorry!) now i am fussing around deciding on working maybe in a flower shop, a library or a book store, or just going back and be a monitor tech watching the rhythms i know and love! (without having to run around and take crap from everyone and their mother, father, sister, dog, etc)..... i am SO blessed!.... oh, and i also started my own legal nurse consulting business before i quit, and have 2 cases, and i charge 125.00/hr. i might need some partners soon........anyone? :)

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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.

I am changing nursing careers- 48 yrs old, I am currently in UM management at an insurance company, going into dialysis, 10 hr days- I thout it was very taxing on your body 10 hrs on your feet? am I wrong? I too, miss providing hands on care- too sedentary for me as well.

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

62 squinting at the computer screen d/t the effects of the meds I take for my joints. So far only 1 cataract, could be worse I guess. Going coo-coo by the minute missing all the real nursing stuff.

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Teaching many schools need nursing teachers to have nursing students. So if you need something as a 2nd career many schools could use teachers to keep the shortage of nurses down!

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I'd like to know where to go also as I feel like retirement will not be an option as I am recently divorced at 52. I have just resigned from a management position where the 24/7 stress was just too much. I'm going back in the field as a visit nurse but I wonder how long I'll hold up. Actually, I'm leaving for Italy tomorrow for vacation so I'll mull it over while drinking good Italian wine!

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Specializes in cardiac med-surg.

have a simply wonderful time

watch out for those romantic italians !

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Specializes in Med/Surg, midwifery, orthopedics, ob/gyn.

This thing has taken on a life of it's own !!!!!!! I have some good pills - Vicodan, zoloft, xanax. No need for any booze, but the houseboy sounds fabulous !!!!!!!!!!!!

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

The med student/house boy sounds absolutely brilliant~~~best idea yet!

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teaching many schools need nursing teachers to have nursing students. so if you need something as a 2nd career many schools could use teachers to keep the shortage of nurses down!

keep in mind that minimal qualification for teaching in the clinical area at a.d.n. level is a bsn. instructor usually does not lecture, as msn is required (california). note, however, that those instructors who are in their 50s following students in the clinical area find the work exhausting.

also there are vn & nursing assistant programs where one could teach that may have different educational requirements, ie, bsn not required.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.
The med student/house boy sounds absolutely brilliant~~~best idea yet!

Massage...oooooh ahhhhhhh... I'm next in line to sign-up if back and arms included.

:balloons:

I'll skip your candy bowl....instead my Chef2b son will become our chocolate and herbal tea "supplier". :smiletea:

:smiletea2:

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:lol2:

Thanks everyone for you responses. Its good to know that I'm not alone. Great ideas. I especially like the nursing home for old nurses. However, I want Margaritas instead of tea.

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I was a school nurse for 3 years. Loved it. Unfortunately, my school system decided that they no longer needed full-time nurses and cut the hours to 4 hours a day. Nurses are now covering several schools. The secretaries and teachers are handling all health problems and injuries -- interesting since I was the only person at the school I worked who was BLS certified!

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