Went to inactive license

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I retired a couple years ago and my license is due to be renewed now. I chose to become inactive this morning.  I know I will probably never work as an RN again. I always taught acute care nursing and I retired because I had broken my hip in the ice and while I had a good repair I just couldn't be as active and keep up with 10 nursing students' learning experiences.

Surprisingly I feel sad today. I was thrilled when I graduated from nursing school in 1977 and never thought I would want anything else. I have many interests outside nursing but I just feel the 'loss'. Has anyone else felt this way?

Specializes in ICU/ER.

I agree that unless you absolutely hate nursing that you will be a nurse until you die.  Friends, relatives, and situations will dictate you bringing up your nursing knowledge and sharing your experience.  Someone once told me that being a nurse is like being in the Mafia...once in, you can never get out.  However, once you go inactive, retire, or whatever you want to call it, you do lose part of your identity.  I was a nurse for 40 years.  It was my calling, my being, my work, and my identity.  Although I will never work at  the bedside or precept, or teach again, I am still a nurse.  A happily retired nurse, but I am still a nurse and proud of my career.  I have found other ways to occupy my time and enjoy my life but at my core, I'm still a nurse and always will be. 

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Not exactly in the same situation, but similar.  I'm a new RN of only 3 years (!) and the burnout is real, despite self care measures and a few job transitions.  I only ever wanted to be a nurse and I'm so proud to have this title and my license, but there's a part of me that wonders "what if?" about being/doing anything else.  I can't bring myself to ever let those thoughts come to fruition though... it's a pride thing.  I don't want to admit to myself that maybe this wasn't for me when it was a big dream of mine and I'd worked so hard to get here.  So, I'll continue to show up for work until it is also my time to hang the hat.

Congrats on your retirement.  One door shut, another opens! 

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Specializes in Med Surg/Peds.

I would keep my license active. This gives you the opportunity to pursue other areas, such as online teaching, case management, remote work like telephone triage or telehealth, etc. I wouldn't want to regret it in the future. of course, I am not sure how old you are and if this is the time you would retire anyways. I am 45 yrs old and must work at least 25 more years. I am divorced and have very litte retirement left due to robbing it when my son was ill with tumors. I am not in a position to retire so look at it differently. Do what is best for you! I agree that you are still a nurse and that will never change.  I wish you the best of luck in being happy. 

 

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Specializes in ICU/ER.

I have over two decades on you so being retired is where I want to be.  I do miss bedside nursing and challenging patients very much but I do not miss the administrative handcuffs that come with it.  I understand how you feel that you must work after spending your savings for your son's medical care and just how unfair that is.  I would probably do the same in a similar situation.  My greatest fear along those lines is spending my pension, social security, and 401 on my own or my wife's elder care.  For now, we are healthy and living in our own home and hope to end our lives here.

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Specializes in oncology.
1 hour ago, CactusNurse said:

I would keep my license active. This gives you the opportunity to pursue other areas, such as online teaching, case management, remote work like telephone triage or telehealth, etc.

The continuing education hours could be found for license renewal but I just wouldn't have the interest in the subjects, I fear.  I can reactivate my license so there is that. I have done online teaching and it just is not so easy. There are a lot of requirements with a 'learning management system' that varies from college to college. And of course the biggest thing - keeping current. No, I'll leave that to the younger faculty. The average age of a nursing professor is late 50s to 60s.We are aging out and need replacements!  I do worry that so many nurses who could teach have become NPs. But my time has come at 65.

I am so sorry to hear of your son's health concerns. Hopefully you will find the next 25 years go by pleasantly. 

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Specializes in Med Surg/Peds.

Thank you everyone for your support. 

I just hope that we all stay safe during these uncertain times with this virus. I worry all the time that I will bring it home with me. 

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