what do you think about how I am going to handle this?

hoolahan, ASN, RN · Aug 24, 2002

I agree oramar, you never know. There are also loots of sedentary nurse jobs as case managers for insurance comnpanies, etc... I would at least renew it for this next go-round.

Nurse Ratched, RN · Aug 24, 2002

Keep active - as you say, you never know what the future may hold and it's probably a pain in the butt to go from inactive to active again (I'm sure there are classes required that you may or may not want or need to take.)

I sure hope you get to come back - we need you! :)

DIPLOMATICRN4HIRE, MSN, RN · Aug 24, 2002

I thought about just letting my licenses lapse when I first moved overseas and one of my old instructors told me a piece of advice that I will pass to you

You worked hard for that small piece of paper... And even though you dont see when you will return , dont let that little piece of paper hinder you from doing what you want to do...

I renewed and I did go back to nursing and now I do it from abroad as well...

I take the money issue as a tax deduction , you will get the money back even if its on money you have already paid in...

As far as the age issue, 56 is young and you would be a welcomed knowledge to any department in the hospital.

zoe

Brownms46 · Aug 24, 2002

I agree....keep your license current. I was out of nursing off and on for two years also. I had surgery, but at the time, I was unsure if I would ever be able to go back to work fulltime. I did....and I have had no real problems since. I do know folks who have come back to work who are older than 56, and seem to have a lot more energy than me! One lady was I think about 60, and had come back to work her five yrs and retire. I have no idea how she did it, because at the time I was a lot younger, and she just looked old to me...:chuckle. And working at the VA was not easy task.

So who knows what the future holds....for any of us. Hang onto your license, and believe in that you will come back...whole. Being 56 is by no means old to me now! :) I pray your surgery will go well, and you will be back online, telling us how great you feel... :cool:

caliotter3 · Aug 25, 2002

One of my supervisors came out of retirement for the second time at age 76 because the adm begged her to, so you can imagine the mess she walked into. She handled it well, did more by mistake and automatically than most of the others did when prodded. She also called the shots and left precisely when she had told the adm her deadline was. She had told me that she came back from retirement the first time, partly out of necessity and could not have done so had her license expired. She did not let her license go until she was good and sure that she was out of nursing. (It was well after her 50th yr anniv of being an RN!)

Please don't limit yourself. You never know what is around the corner and you do not want to put a stumbling block in front of yourself. That renewal fee may turn out to be a godsend.

My prayers are with you on your health problems.

caliotter3 · Aug 25, 2002

P.S. Have you thought of home health where you only have one client at a time? You can ask for a stable client, perhaps a small child who doesn't weigh much if lifting is an issue. A co-worker in home health is about 72 and just working a little longer until her retirement. It seems one client should ease the strain on you. Good luck!

P_RN, ADN, RN · Aug 25, 2002

Oramar I'm right there with you. I haven't worked since late '99 and in our state you have to have 960 hours of work in a 5 year period. So far we don't have the CEU requirement. I figure that if late 2004 I don't have the hours, then I will ask for a retired or inactive one. I'll be 60 by then.

Once you give up your active license you are no longer "registered" therefore you are not an RN.

Aussienurse2 · Aug 26, 2002

My dear old mum went back to work at the age of 59 then retired at 70 she says it was the best thing she could ever have done, it kept her mind young and active and was offered many high level positions in order to entice her to stay active, even now, at seventy-two her licence is renewed every year, just in case LOL!!! She cracks me up!:roll :roll :roll

Grace Oz · Aug 26, 2002

I recommend you keep your practise viable. As others have said, you never know what lies ahead.

I've just today been to pay my $100!!! ( and that's just for ONE year!) to our state nurses board for my practise certificate to be renewed for another year. This is despite the fact I only work occassionally through an agency. I'm now fiftysomething & thought my nursing days were over. Not so...I'm glad I've always kept my certificate current & my practise "viable".

Good luck... Cheers,

Grace.

Anaclaire · Aug 26, 2002

No doubt about it... cough up the 45 clams and send them in. Never limit yourself. As one poster said, there are too many things you can do as a nurse. I worked for Blue Cross/Blue Shield in their Medical Review Department. There were 40 Registered Nurses in that department and the Director was an M.D. All the nurses were 40+ in age with the average in their 50's. One had nearly crippling rheumatoid arthritis (she also had the prettiest handwriting!) They sat at a desk all day, reviewing charts to see if a person truly needed elective surgeries and such. They'd have us (clerks-- I was 17 years old then) order records and photographs from physicians and hospitals to help in making their decision on each claim. Now, that's a job many people could do...

Don't limit your possibilities!

And, good luck with your surgery.

nimbex, RN · Aug 26, 2002

I agree with all the posts

You never know what life will bring

You worked hard for the title... it's yours to keep and cherish

Wishing you well with your surgery and recovery.. we'll be here for you