JoannieO

Beth, I just loved your article! I've retired a few times in my career, only to go back to nursing. And most recently, just got hired per diem at two different companies: I'll be pushing 70 y/o in December! Retirement isn't hanging your feet off a yacht (as long as you are a middle class American); it's simply doing the same things without working. Volunteering is "unpaid work." I do keep active with exercise classes and other kinds of classes at our local University for Senior citizens (I take classes in dance and music), but sometimes you want to use your skills you have cultivated all your Life. Keep working until you no longer can. From a Keep on Truckin' RN--J.

I'm a retired RN, from year 1971 and retired 2 years ago. I worked in all areas, having many employments including surgical, pediatrics, community health, long term care (management-QA, infection control, nurse manager), medical instructor, IV therapy (hospital based), and my final job before retirement was occupational health/wellness. My degrees are: RN diploma, BSN, and a Master's Degree in Information Systems Science (computer + business). I even taught computers at a University but the pay wasn't near what I made as an occ-health nurse. When I entered nursing at 18 y/o, it was because I "wanted to help people." The course of study is difficult and the hours a nurse puts in are not glamorous. Are you willing to work evenings, nights, rotating shifts, holidays, weekends, double shifts (if short of help), having to go into work in a snowstorm (if that's the case)? I'm telling the job exactly like it is. Huge advantages to nursing are the ability to change up your type of work; also, once experienced, the pay and benefits are great--hoping this helps and good luck!! -J.

I see nothing has changed in nursing, as far as relationships go. Over 30 years ago, while working on a busy IV team in our local hospital, one nurse would always mention me to guide a new nurse or Senior nursing student, to travel with me, on a particular day. She would consistently "get out of" a new orientation or a student nurse with her. Now retired after 45 years of being a RN, I can see I first should have spoken out about this situation to our manager, and had a talk with the 3 of us together, on my observations. This must have truly affected me, because I still remember this particular nurse! Gentle Suggestion: Tell the nurse what you told us, and see if the nurse changes; if not, go to your supervisor/manager.

I'm looking for something similar; I have great computer skills and love to write. I recently retired about 1 year ago, with 45+ years nursing experience in a variety of fields. Your article was an inspiration ! Much thanks, indeed.

Extremely well said! Love the part where you say : "While bedside might be the 'core' of nursing, you can provide the best care possible in many different areas, it doesn't necessarily have to be bedside." In my 45+ years of experience, I worked at multiple places of employment. My very last job was in occupational health nursing, prior to my retirement in 2016, and I loved it. There I was the manager, clinician, and secretary: I did provide nursing care onsite to manufacturing and engineering employees in the Defense industry, and I had a master's level degree in business/ computers; 2 lower levels in nursing. So bedside nursing can be OUT OF THE HOSPITAL: in schools, in teaching, in the community (visiting nurse) or in occupational/wellness health nursing. What this new nurse describes about the other nurses sounds like burnout from the current workforce of "too much to do, with no staff or time to do the work !"

Now retired after 45-1/2 years as a registered nurse, the life you described of 'envy' of a patient is the life of a retiree. You sound like you are heading for a massive burnout with exhaustion. Please take good care of yourself. And remember, never ever wish your life away. Godspeed on your life's journeys...j.

I've always believed that if you put your mind to anything, you can do it. This might not be a job you wanted, but take it. You may find that after 6 months, you're starting to enjoy the work and your coworkers. So scary and frightening as it may be, submit your resume online to multiple venues, get your interviews, and go into the interview with a SMILE. Sit and be prepared to listen and ask questions regarding the new job. Followup after the interview a week later to see if you are still being considered. As a meme says "When one door closes, keep it closed. It has nothing new to say!" And never, ever speak evil about your last job in the interviewing process--always be pleasant. Godspeed on your job search !

Back in about 1983, working nights on the IV team, around 3 am I was setting up a bag of blood to transfuse, and suddenly the blood bag broke! Blood went everywhere! This was prior to such PPEs that exist today and long before we had HIV patients on the East Coast yet. I excused myself from the patient, took a shower in the OB/GYN ward, and switched to their baggie scrub dresses (I was thin at the time)! That night I wasn't supposed to work the entire hospital alone. I suppose it was so dramatic that I still remember the event,, even today !!

This is certainly a winner! What a disgusting, horrible Daddy-Boy.

This is certainly a winner! What a disgusting, horrible Daddy-Boy.

Hello, I would like to start writing nursing articles on various topics: how to get that job how to write a resume how to interview (smile !) jobs available outside the hospital setting how to love working in extended care nursing how to proceed in your first nursing job how to end your final nursing job: Happy or Hate my Job, Get me out of here.. Entering retirement: It's not what you think! Stress, meditation, and exercise Healthy eating: It's not that difficult

I am sorry on the loss of your job. Believe me, you are not the first nurse this has happened. I'd like to recommend counselling to build up your confidence--even a few sessions, and please go to your PCP for a referral. Then do not give up on nursing: look into community health, perhaps teaching in a medical assisting program, occupational health, wellness, addiction/mental health, and yes LTC--I've worked them all as a 45 y

I got my first senior citizen discount around age 56 years old at a D'angelos, stopping for lunch when I was working for the VNA, without asking. I had one hell of a morning so I must have looked it that afternoon! I saved the lunch ticket slip. Now I'm 67 yo and am proud to have earned Medicare, a 401K, , getting senior discounts, living simply, and finally retired after 45 + years as a RN.

I've been a RN for > 45 yrs and remember well, the difficulties of schooling. Time management is repeatedly brought out here but let me tell you, you are going to need it in today's workforce. Nursing is tough because you are taking care of peoples' lives; and what could be more important than this? Remember why you are doing what you are doing-your purpose for going into nursing. Godspeed 💕

I began nursing @ 18 yo, did a 3 yr RN diploma popular back then in 1968, got a BSN + then a MS in Information Systems. In all fields, attendance is mandatory. Your education is your job: You cannot "call out" at work frequently when your kids are sick, so the same goes for clinical. My suggestion would be to go part time + please, find a backup person to care for your children. Either that, or wait until they are older. By the way, I've held multiple jobs in nursing + no one asked my grades !! Only where I attended the schools...jw

I want to give you some good advice right now: start by part time courses in nursing. There will be a great need in the United States by the year 2020 as many of us are retiring. I retired 6 mos. ago after a 45-1/2 year career in various employment areas! Best wishes on your journey..Joan

I started nursing at 18 years of age. Burned out at 36 years old, went on to get my Master's in Information Systems, stayed there for 8 years, returned to Nursing and am now recently retired. No, it is not too late to return to school but think it through first and the reasons WHY you want to do a career change. List in writing the pros and cons. Do not forget the costs involved. I went into nursing for the simple reason that I "wanted to help people," and thus my return to the career after I left briefly. Godspeed on your career choices !!

If the manager hasn't responded to you, I'd take that as a No. You could reach out to HR + if in a financial position to do so, work per diem in order to get experience. I believe the "real deal" here is the Experience factor. You should try other hospitals and even doctors' offices to work with children, keep applying for all positions child-related. What about school nursing? Everything and anything--keep going + never give up. Advice from a nurse of almost 46 years and newly retired ...J.

Then look to me. Retirement is defined as "complete cessation of work." After 45-1/2 years, I left nursing in a variety of fields, including management and information systems. Quit per diem in September 2016 and finally decided that "No," am not going back. Right now, I am working on financial management and budgeting. I have freedom but have to get used to decreased spending and materialism that will not matter anyways. I'd like to begin a blog about Retirement for Nurses and I mean RETIREMENT. For me, it is taking care of yourself at last..had a PE last week--BP is 104/60, great bloodwork and the health gains from not working are amazing. Retirement is a process. My manager wanted me to stay working per diem in occupational health, a good job Monday through Friday, but know what? I am taking my good health and enjoying the time I have left. Think perhaps I will get into the arts. My guitar's lying over there, unused since my 20s. And painting? Yes. Exercise and cooking? Yeah. Love wildlife and swimming in the Ocean which in the summertime, is less than 5 miles from my home. No more being couped up indoors, wishing to be outside "playing." Just know that you have to leave it "to the Young." I still have much to do. From Loving Retirement so Far, -Joan

I do not know what nurse you had to mentor you, but I would have contacted my nursing instructor or at least document everything that happened that day and present it to your instructor or a higher command. I've had nursing students with me on a busy IV team and in a Visiting Nurse Service in a very busy crime city (!), and took the time to explain things to her. The behavior of the older nurse was unacceptable. Simply document your day and hopefully you will find another nurse to mentor with you. BTW, this is good practice in nursing. Not every day will be delightful with co-workers but as you get more experienced, you will learn to deal with different situations professionally and such that you do not take it personally. It is more about her than it is about you. Godspeed on your journey in nursing. Respectfully, -Joan

I don't believe this is the real reason for nurses seemingly low pay, which actually isn't, considering around $72,000 annual income for a Rhode Island RN is fairly high for anyone. Secondly, nurses are in high demand! After a 45 year career as a Master's level prepared RN--yes, I did the 3 year diploma RN program, then the BSN finally the Master of Science by age 40--I retired for about 8 months. The pasts few weeks I went online, typed in RN per diem jobs Rhode Island, and a slew of them came rolling up. Here I am, 67 yo, and have had 2 job offers already with fairly decent wages. NOw if you would like to make 6-figures/year, be prepared for a 12-16 hour/day, 5 days a week or greater, work week. Those employees work hard. I know. No one gets paid for doin' nothin', as my mother used to say!!

..in the end, it was "How much longer until retirement?" Always keep your goal in mind! Save early, believe me. I've already forgotten how difficult the work world was, and it's only been 5 months since I retired, after a 45 year career in all areas, including information systems, teaching, hospital nursing, long term care, community health and finally in occupational medicine.

As a RN who finally earned her MS, worked in a variety of jobs + finally retired completely 3 months ago, I've forgotten how cruel the workplace can be. Unfortunately, since the Great Recession, employment has gotten more difficult to work, and that not only includes nursing but other professional fields, too. My husband worked in IT for a lifetime and the same conditions existed--a boss throwing a phone across a room, shouting businessmen, eating his lunch over the computer keyboard, as well as his coworkers, etc. Articles have been written on why people hate their jobs today. Well, as we fund a non-pension retirement, yes, I am not rich, but it beats the work conditions for mentioned. Today, you are required to do more, with less. Never come to the table, so to speak, without solutions. How do you solve the problem, without a nurses union? The responses could go on and on!!

My mom wanted me to be a nurse in 1968. Back the, the options were limited. I excelled in mathematics and wanted to teach math at the university level but was told I was a woman, so my options were a nurse, teacher or secretary ! So, my parents paid for my 3 year nursing RN diploma, later my BSN, and I did a work-study for my Masters in Information Systems Science. At first I did not not like the hospital ! After 6 months, I made nursing friends (whom I am still friendly with today) + later bbecame an excellent nurse, still going 45 years later. The degrees carried my family through many financial times. My husband worked in IT with a few layoffs, but nursing has benefits so it carried us through. My final job is in occupational health and is my favorite. I hope this helps and Godspeed on your journey.

Interesting in that I just replied that perhaps the nurse wife isn't home much. I married after I was a RN for 2 years, so my hubby adjusted well.I worked a variety of jobs, ending a 45 year career this past September-working Monday -Friday, no weekends, nights or Holidays. However, I wished to continue to work a few more years + my hubster wanted me retired with him, so here I am í ½í¸Š!! The time goes by very quickly so when you turn around, you'll find yourself retirement age !!