Retirement from Nursing to Employment of Another Type

[Dangerous]

I retired from bedside nursing within the past year. I was very dedicated and was the type of nurse that you would want for yourself or for a family member. I left because the increasing unrealistic expectations demanded of staff nurses, which were aggravated by nurse understaffing, had become too much for me.

I am financially poorer now, but so much better off in so many other ways--both physically and mentally.

Since the cost of health insurance is high and with a few years till Medicare, I may go back to some type of part-time employment. But not nursing, including home health or any type of nursing.

So, has anyone out there returned to work in any area removed from nursing? AND this could be most anything, from waitressing, security guard, retail clerk, etc. My husband has cautioned me, saying he has worked in the retail area and that I would not like it(as compared to nursing), that I would get little respect, be hounded to stay busy, and that I would not be permitted to sit down while on the job. I'd like to hear your thoughts.

Thanks.

[DogWmn]

There are many jobs that are nuse related that are not direct patient care. Insurance companies, Medical malpractice law firms, medical sales...and many more that would need your expertiese as a nurse but you would be away from bedside nursing.

I do causion anyone leaving nursing to check with their BON about retaining your license and what is required. Like many of you I burnt out and left nursing - never thinking I would come back I let my licenses expire and now with the economy I'm going back, I happen to live in a state that is creating a true nightmare for me to get my LPN back - you can read my threads in the Georgia forum about it.

When I left nursing, I had great typing skills from HS typing class, so I went to work at a temp agency as an Admin. Assistant and really liked "office work" with regular hours. So I spent my spare time learning software (old DOS programs) and continued to increase my skills when windows products came out I became an expert and that led to Tech writing jobs with graphics, I also did a lot with statistics in excel, I got my Web Design Certificate all on a roll moving onward and upwards making $30+ an hour - then the IT bottom fell and I was again without a job, so I re-tooled and became a real estate title examiner (my fave job of all time) then as we all know the real estate market didn't just crash it died and I've been out of work for 17 months.

I'm now 59 years old and no one will hire me to work in an office, I've got the skills but - and you can't prove it but it's definatly age discrimination, so I've managed to get my license re-instated in Ohio by online courses but I live in GA and I've been fighting with the GA LPN BON and it won't be until February or later before I even know if they will let me take a refresher...sigh. I never wanted to be the little old lady tottering down the hall at midnight with a tray of pills...but....I hope and pray I can be that little old lady because I'll have a decent paying job!

This tale is told to warn those with burnout - don't let your license lapse, talk with your BON to see what it takes to keep it current, you never know when you might need it. And remember, there are always medically related jobs to utilize your nursing knowledge and get a job.

I wish you all well.

[llg, PhD, RN]

This tale is told to warn those with burnout - don't let your license lapse, talk with your BON to see what it takes to keep it current, you never know when you might need it. And remember, there are always medically related jobs to utilize your nursing knowledge and get a job.

I wish you all well.

Thank you for the warning, DogWmn. I have seen other people in your situation and know that what you say is something anybody "leaving nursing' should seriously consider.

Also, I would add the advice to work a shift ocassionally as a PRN employee if at all possible. Keep your skills current as well as your license. Employers are much more confident in hiring someone who has taken a break if they have worked as a nurse at least ocassionally -- even if it is only 1 or 2 shifts per month.

In other words, people should keep their options open. Don't close doors completely. You never know what you might need in 10 years ...

[Whealth Wise]

you are right to abandon the nurse job. In fact, you could do other things that related your the past work experience. I have a plan. if you are interesting, we could talk seriously

[meliusf]

I am in the same or a similar boat. I quit my job of 17 years because of the toxic work environment. I am using my early retirement to support myself and it is adequate, but I want to keep myself busy and in health care for the next 5 years or so. I have applied for at least a job a day over the last 3 months. I have had two interviews with minimal outcomes. It seems like one of two things may be working against me. Either it appears that I do not have any experience in acute care, because I "supervised" students, or that my apparent age it too old for the employer to invest the time and energy in someone who will not be a long time employee. I suppose it could be the economic times as well, but I am getting frustrated. Any suggestions?

[cmm40]

In my area they seem to want young, good-looking women with a bachelor's degree for medical sales. What are your requirements and what part of the country are your positions in?

[DesertwindRN, ADN, RN]

I am in the same or a similar boat. I quit my job of 17 years because of the toxic work environment. I am using my early retirement to support myself and it is adequate, but I want to keep myself busy and in health care for the next 5 years or so. I have applied for at least a job a day over the last 3 months. I have had two interviews with minimal outcomes. It seems like one of two things may be working against me. Either it appears that I do not have any experience in acute care, because I "supervised" students, or that my apparent age it too old for the employer to invest the time and energy in someone who will not be a long time employee. I suppose it could be the economic times as well, but I am getting frustrated. Any suggestions?

WOW-------if I had not happened onto this site I would have "lost" it. I have "always" been hired after placing my application, sometimes within minutes. Not so today. For the past YEAR I have not even gotten an interview. And I wished I had not given my AGE. Really. Yes, age. I do not know why I did not know that AGE would be such a negative. I am the kind of nurse that other nurses and doctors request to be there for the birth of their child.

On the UP side---------I am retiring in May, when I can collect SSI----------------------and I am glad I have been forced into this. I do not want anything ever again to do with nursing.

After reading about all the RNs who graduated last May and still are looking for employment I got the picture. What a mess. And the hospitals doing everything they can to send people into the unemployment lines! Just an awful time to be in the hospital. They sent CNAs and LPNs out and told the RNs to get used to "bedside" care?????? Can just imagine the back injuries and poor patient care due to lack of staff. These were staff with benefits!! These were adult units not the units I worked on but what a mess. Big bucks is all they are after-------profit, not patient care. Hospitals and all of health care should not be about profit. Okay, I am on another subject--------sorry. Just so glad to have a place to share.

[all_over_again]

I had serious mental health issues while nursing that ended with an addiction to pain meds and a suicide attempt. The working environments I was in were absolutely toxic. Nurses are not all caring people. I should have expected that going in but I had warm fuzzy ideas of what my coworkers should be. Many of them were hateful and bitter and seemed to enjoy tormenting younger nurses.

I've been well for 3 years now. I work at a large farmers market in the summer and at the greenhouses getting stuff ready during the winter. The money is awful but I have my life back. :)

[Dangerous]

Thanks to all who have replied to this thread. In about 2 months, I will start the app. for Social Security. Paying $$$ for health insurance bites, but I have not gone back to work since retiring. Knowing now that I would have had much more $$$ in the pot if I did not pay out ridiculous amounts of money, 1st for COBRA and then for private insurance, might have made me think twice about leaving my work situation just a couple years ago, but then again, I just HAD to leave, could not stand it any more. All in all, it was a good decision.

[Biffbradford]

My first post here because this topic fits my situation perfectly.

I worked in a local CVICU at one of the major hospitals here for 12 years. We took care of anything involving surgery in the chest: CABG, valves, aneurysms, lung transplants, heart transplants, VADS, Total Artificial Heart, EVERYTHING. In addition, the nurses were all trained in ventilators, IABP, CVVH, about 7 different VADS, ECMO, cryogenic therapy after MI's, the works! I floated to all the other ICUs (cardiac, medical, neuro). The unit had always had a high turnover rate, so being one of the more senior nurses, I kept getting the harder assignments, and they just kept coming. We had some pretty tragic deaths, some real ugly post-ops, and having surgeons that were, quite frankly, mentally handicapped when it came to working with others, it all just built up to be too much. I was also working 3rd shift. I couldn't sleep anymore, wasn't eating right, had no energy to exercise at all ... so I gave my 3 week notice and split. My manager never said a word to me. I worked there for 12 years and I never even got a "Later!" My co-workers were great though and very supportive (take me with you!), and while I hated to leave, I'm glad that I did. The hospital paid me my 400 hours of vacation time that they would never give me (no, we can't give you a week off. You can have Wednesday off, but you'll have to work Saturday!) and I used most of my savings getting my health back (mental and physical). It is such a shame to put all that experience to waste (+ getting my BSN), but the hospital does NOT CARE. New nurses are cheaper to pay wages for, plus - get this - recently the hospital has been firing doctors for low productivity! Yes, the hospital is so big, that it bought out all the physician practices so now the hospital owns the MD's. If you don't bring in enough really sick patients to make lots of money ... out you go!

Anyway, I've spent the past year and a half scraping by making a living doing photography which I really love. However, with the economy the way it is, it's just not cutting it. I've kept my nursing license current and am now considering applying to the same hospital to work in the hyperbaric chamber / wound care unit. I don't think too many people die there. I need the insurance coverage and the pay would still be pretty good, but again it's back to every other weekend and ?? holidays. In the CVICU I swear I worked 3 out of 4 weekends and 80% of the holidays because "We need machine nurses!" (new RN's don't learn all those machines immediately). I'm NOT looking forward to that.

So, there's my story. Maybe I'll do it for a year and bail. We'll see. I'll get my resume together tomorrow and decide by Monday. Maybe some other job option will pop up in the mean time.

[Dangerous]

Dear Biff,

Am feeling your pain. My best advice to you is do what you can live with.

Obviously, the nursing job you are considering will have it's own drawbacks, but maybe it would be worth a try. 1) The job may be a perfect fit for you. Yea!! 2) The job may suck, but could lead to other opportunities. :-) 3) The job may suck so bad, you'll need to quit. In my opinion, there is no shame in that.

I am not questioning why you want to return to bedside/ barbaric chamber side nursing, because I had my reasons why I remained at the bedside, & I'm sure you have yours.

Am so glad you were able to get yourself put together physically & mentally. I give you SO much credit for that.

One last thought, do you have a photography website? I recall reading somewhere in photography tips that having a website helped to pull in more business. If you have gone the Internet route, including reading all you can & following other photographers' tips, utlilizing Twitter photog lists and "Listorius" photog lists, etc., I apologize.

Good luck and may God bless.

Dangerous (originator of this thread)

[Andar]

What is the best place for retired/out of work nurses to look for medical sales jobs? I'm trying to find a source of ex-OR, ICU, or GI nurses with free job listings.

[Biffbradford]

Update: Well, as it turns out, despite me sending in my money and getting a confirmation post card back in February, my license did NOT get renewed! My fault for not checking on the government to make sure they did their job, but fortunately I don't think I have to take the board exam again. More money sent in and now I'm still waiting for it to go through (starting week 3). Meanwhile, it seems that posted jobs are becoming less in number so I'll probably just be happy to get ANY job!