Why did you retire or become inactive?

Nurses Retired

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I find it interesting that the amount of graduate students increase each year and the number of active nurses don't. Why is this? Why did you retire or become inactive? I am looking for problems in nursing that causes experienced nurses to stop nursing. If I am sick, I want an experienced nurse to care for me. Nothing against graduates, but it takes a while to pick up on the nuances/intuitive factors that makes an effective nurse. Especially considering all the multi-tasking and troubleshooting required (not to mention the diplomatic maneuvering). And, who is going to help the grads and show them how to do it?

Specializes in Neuro ICU.

I quit nursing to stay at home with my children. Planned on going back and we had surprise child #3. :) I actually went inactive for about a year because my son was diagnosed on the autistic spectrum. Currently I do keep my CEU's up to date.

Now I'm scared to death to go back! But I'm checking into a refresher course.

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First time I retired was at age 54. Was out three years and came back for three years. Second retirement was at age 60. Even when I left this last time I wasn't sure I was leaving for good. It was just that I had been in two consecutive jobs that had started out with reasonable patient loads and then turned ugly. After two and half years off it seems to me that this time it is permanent. So my retirement was more of a process than a decision.

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Skinners Rats comment hits the nail right on the head....why I retired....was forced to retire by institutions that do not value the experience of a nurse of 30 years....After 25 years of working with patients....Med surg...15 in ED..then Imaging Services...promoted to Risk Management where I was promised I would get training.....NOT..It was a huge learning curve...computer, meetings, reports, deadlines...all skills I had never been exposed to.....Instead was treated like Skinners Rat, bullied by Director...to the point that I made a terrible mistake of walking out of the job....25 years of excellent record destroyed....Was so devastated it took me a year and a half until I went back....This time Performance Improvement...Had a boss who did not give any instruction on job...I asked if she was going to explain my duties and she said "If you think I need to"""...should have quit that first week...stuck it out...ridiculed by brats 20 to 30 years my junior ...(uneducated)...because I worked too hard and didn't know the computer as well as them...even got published in a textbook and a certification work related with no recognition...might as well have been invisible...until it came to the complaints that my work was not consistent....(decided I would start taking lunch, that way I might not get so tired by 4pm) The Politics...what one person wanted 8 other got upset because it gave them work or worse yet exposed their inadequacy...I just couldn't win.....After 17 months ended up having 2 surgeries...one planned and one emergency...(Planned one for totally destroyed R elbow from RA...pain was excruiating) and because my LOA ran over 16 days longer than it should I was laid off...nice to be valued...And now..Some interviws but....Last boss is trashing me_huge turnover in her department....And hands on nursing is too dated....I am just too old and too tired and too fed up to work so hard to get another job...and to have to compete with the new nursing kids that are getting their master degrees straight out of nursing school....thanks for reading....next one will be shorter....

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Skinners Rats comment hits the nail right on the head....why I retired....was forced to retire by institutions that do not value the experience of a nurse of 30 years....After 25 years of working with patients....Med surg...15 in ED..then Imaging Services...promoted to Risk Management where I was promised I would get training.....NOT..It was a huge learning curve...computer, meetings, reports, deadlines...all skills I had never been exposed to.....Instead was treated like Skinners Rat, bullied by Director...to the point that I made a terrible mistake of walking out of the job....25 years of excellent record destroyed....Was so devastated it took me a year and a half until I went back....This time Performance Improvement...Had a boss who did not give any instruction on job...I asked if she was going to explain my duties and she said "If you think I need to"""...should have quit that first week...stuck it out...ridiculed by brats 20 to 30 years my junior ...(uneducated)...because I worked too hard and didn't know the computer as well as them...even got published in a textbook and a certification work related with no recognition...might as well have been invisible...until it came to the complaints that my work was not consistent....(decided I would start taking lunch, that way I might not get so tired by 4pm) The Politics...what one person wanted 8 other got upset because it gave them work or worse yet exposed their inadequacy...I just couldn't win.....After 17 months ended up having 2 surgeries...one planned and one emergency...(Planned one for totally destroyed R elbow from RA...pain was excruiating) and because my LOA ran over 16 days longer than it should I was laid off...nice to be valued...And now..Some interviws but....Last boss is trashing me_huge turnover in her department....And hands on nursing is too dated....I am just too old and too tired and too fed up to work so hard to get another job...and to have to compete with the new nursing kids that are getting their master degrees straight out of nursing school....thanks for reading....next one will be shorter....
I hear ya, only people that have put many years into nursing know how much it can beat you up. Hope things turn your way soon.
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Specializes in ER, Urgent care, industrial, phone triag.
Frankly, I retired because I was fed up with being pulled to adult units while working in a NICU for 19 years. I reached 60 in January and was eligible for retirement and took it without looking back. The politics of nursing pushed me over the edge. More and more responsibility is falling on nurses since they are at the bedside 24/7 and it just became too much for me.

OTOH, in this economy, I feel like I gave a new nurse a job!

Plus, the fact that now I can be with my dh as he is a pipeliner and is gone much of the time. We just bought a travel trailer and no matter where we are, our home is the same while the scenery changes!

Good times!

That is awesome! I would love to travel all over like that. Maybe someday.

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Specializes in Hospice, Case Mgt., RN Consultant, ICU.

I have not retired yet, but beginning to think about it. I am currently unemployed and looking for work during 'The Great Recession' is getting tiresome.

In 1978 I went on medical leave as a result of injuries from a MVA (rear ended) in December 1977. My neck and back were so stiff if something fell to the floor it had to stay there! I was Charge Nurse on a surgical floor. I had been with this hospital since 1970 and had worked in their ICU/CCU unit as both a Staff nurse and Charge nurse until burn out after 10 years in Intensive Care set in! My employer held my job open for 6 months when I was on medical leave. But, in the meanwhile, I had entered a rehab program for chronic pain and was told that I could not return to hospital nursing.

When I was in the accident I did not know that soft tissue injuries could be life changing! After all, I was used to dealing with life and death issues. Unfortunately, the physician to whom I was referred by the ER did not (apparently)know anything about whip lash injuries either! He told me I would be pain free after three months!!

So I continued my education and earned a BS in Business Administration. Would have liked to get a BSN and Masters in Nursing so I could teach nursing, but why get a BSN when could no longer do nursing?? Plus the Masters would have been two additional years and my husband was not supportive.

Earned my AA and BS and changed careers. But missed nursing and was eventually able to combine business and nursing. While working as a Nurse Consultant I did just the clinical portion of an RN Refresher course. I had been away from bedside nursing for 10 years. I could tell my young preceptor was a little anxious, but I did fine. The major change was the increase in IVs and the various 2 and 3 lumen lines. I could almost forget my neck and back injuries because my position allowed me to change position frequently - sit, stand, etc. But over the years the neck and back injuries have become more of a problem. I have been dealing with them on a daily basis for years now.

I have tried to find work that I could do and sitting at a computer all day and attached to a phone is really stressful and causes my neck and back to be in spasm. I found hospice nursing was something I could handle physically if I was careful not to be assisting with patient transfers. And it was something I was very good at and enjoyed doing.

Last year I was working as an RN Case Manager for hospice. Good manager, good CNAs, good patients and family members. Of course, some patients and/or their families were difficult, but mostly really good. However, my employer was purchased by another hospice company. I had been with my employer less than a year and was one of several nurses and other personnel laid off when the census dropped.

I thought I was lucky when I was able to obtain another position as a Case Manager with another hospice within two months. BUT it was a nightmare! No Blackberry, no company provided cell phone, no morning report, no communication, no orientation, no paper supplies, no medical supplies, no one there over 5 months! Three teams, but not one PCM.

Since that situation all I have done is a short travel assignment. My first experience with travel. It was OK, except company put me in a really lousy housing situation and then their business crashed.

I have been told repeatedly that nursing is 'really flat' here. Most of the positions advertised on various sites are for hospital jobs which I am no longer qualified to do and no longer able to do. :eek:

Sorry this is so long. But we all have our stories. It seems so much of what goes on in nursing is just not what it should be!!

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It is so unfortunate that after so much tine spent in nursing that I find myself not qualified to do many of the jobs...not a case manger...don,t know insurance. tried to advance with Risk Management Liscence but can't gret job because have no experience

(Wasted time and money) If I took a refresher course it would not help... I cannot go back to bedside nursing becase i have RA and fatigue easily. I am trying to think of ways I can use my skills to work for myself....doing home visits...taking seniors to doctor appointments...help communication between doctor and patient....just running some things thru my mind....houdini15

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I have been inactive for more that 15 years, i tried getting back but odds were against me. I gave it 2 years, applying as volunteer/trainee/staff nurse...I thought I was about to be given a chance when i got in step by step with St. Like's, The Fort team. I was even at the point where I was made to sign a contract-like document but eventually, I was told I did not qualify. They didnt say why but maybe its because I dont have any experience at all as an RN. Didnt get the chance in any refresher course too coz they keep saying they have to fill up at least 40 applicants to start one. I guess I can only hope & pray that the Lord will give this chance to me in His perfect time. I know my heart will always want to serve as a Nurse.in the meantime,i praise God for another job. i am connected with sending Nurses like me, to go to Canada. hope i could help my colleagues in this way instead. God bless us all Nurses.joyFUL

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I am semi-retired from nursing (RN) after 30 years. I am from Arizona, but come to Colorado for the summer where it is much cooler at this time. I still do some private duty nursing 1-2 days a week and I enjoy it (not stressful like a hospital or clinic). I have had a home care business (franchise) for 8 years and sold it in 2007. I am starting up another business that will be a lot less stressful and perfect for retired or semi-retired nurses. It is in the beginning stages right now, but I'll be in charge of my destiny. There are jobs out there, but after 30 years, I'd like to be in charge ;)

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i was never given the opportunity to earn enough for living as a nurse nor fortunate to qualify for a visa due to some unforeseen circumstances like changing of trends in the process of application and as a victim of some scams that plague metro manila.

now, i'm doing business in real estates and some passive incomes that at least are rather better than being a nurse locally. although, i still hope for a chance in qualifying as a student visa to Canada and later apply for a working visa, but how possible it can be?

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We somehow have a common ground here, I too has been unfortunate finding the experience i needed to qualify for work abroad. As i was diverted to showbusiness and enjoyed it immensely (for 11 years under International bookings doing immigration works for our performers) i landed another job in a firm doing the same, processing all kinds of Canadian immigration.

to give you the gist...entering Canada under a student visa will require you a proof of acceptance from an educational institution, personal study plan, proof of accumulated funds to support yourself etc. Should you want to learn more you can visit the website of Canada Embassy and check under STUDYING IN CANADA. God bless

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I got out of nursing 30 years ago because of my kids and I don't think I was mentally grown up enough to handle nursing. Now I am thinking about getting back into it again after I retire from my present job in a few years.

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