So.... How many years have YOU been a nurse??

P_RN, ADN, RN · Aug 17, 2003

got the legs, feet, & back to prove it.

can i get an amen sisters and brothers?????????

lee1 · Aug 17, 2003

36 years as a critical care RN, still working in a high acuity unit, graduated nursing school 1967, still feel young enough presently to possibly do this another 7-8 years.

Don't get medical retirement benefits anyway until 65 when Medicare kicks in.

JUST got a defined pension though which will give me credit for ALL my previous years worked anywhere. Maybe, now, can retire with some dignity as 403B has not been making great money last 4 years

WhiteCaps · Aug 17, 2003

I planned to work 10 years. It's been 28 years! Some people don't know when to quit! :clown:

imenid37 · Aug 17, 2003

16 llllllllooooooooooooonnnnnnngggggggg years as an rn. graduated 6/61987. 4 years as an na. 3 years as a jr. volunteer in high school. my 1st job was "patient feeder". i helped feed older pt's at dinner time on med-surg units in a hospital. i have never even worked at mcdonald's. i need to get a life (lol)!

KathleenC · Aug 17, 2003

Another 31 year veteran as an RN, here. Not to mention 3 as a candy striper in high school. Most of my classmates worked as NAs (no CNAs way back then) or LPNs (you could take the LPN boards after 1 year of college) while we were in college, but I skipped that and worked as an office clerk during that time.

My program was a, unusual for the time, 4 year, BSN college program.

mattsmom81 · Aug 17, 2003

I suffer to think how my back, legs and feet will feel after 30 some years vs 20 some...!

Only 1 yr candy striper, 1 yr CNA, 4 yrs LPN, and 22 RN here. Nice to hear of of nurses even more 'seasoned' than myself still able to tolerate the workload...maybe I'll gain stamina as I age......hehe. :)

bestblondRN · Aug 17, 2003

25 years total-5 as a NA during school, and 20 as a RN. Here's to us longtimers who have outlived the average working lifespan of a nurse (7.5 years)!!!!!!!!!!

wif411 · Aug 18, 2003

Okay only 17 years--------but my feet say more. And with 4 yrs CNA before that.:kiss

Hey---I forgot the candystripper thing too---two years as that..........

longtimeRN · Aug 18, 2003

I graduated in 1978. Nursing sure has changed over the years. Or maybe it's me.......

hbscott · Aug 18, 2003

4 years Navy Hospital Corpsman, 2 years Emergency Medical Technician, 4 years Surgical Technician, 15 years Registered Nurse. 25 years in Health Care but no longer practicing as a nurse.

-HBS

hilltopper · Aug 18, 2003

32 years RN, BSN

Many things have changed and many have stayed the same!

PRC · Aug 18, 2003

Will be starting my 41st year in September. All in various areas of Behavioral Health. Boy, have things changed over the years. Still going strong, and don't expect to retire for a while. Each day is as exciting and fulfilling as the day I started.