Why Retire? Career Strategies for Third-Age Nurses

this book looks very interesting and i thought i'd bring it to the attention of the membership. due to recent massive stock market losses, i will need to work in some capacity until at least age 75, if not beyond. i plan to stay healthy and remain current and marketable in my job skills. i'm also interested in exploring new nursing venues. i know i'm not the only one facing this situation. the issue of delayed retirement will become increasingly relevant as more and more boomers enter their senior years and face dwindling retirement resources.

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[color=#636363]nurses are aging, and the workforce is shrinking. whether you're a nurse or a nurse manager, you're looking for answers.

[color=#636363]join nursing expert fay l. bower and business/sociology professor william a. sadler as they outline a solution using a new paradigm of aging - the third age, a period of life stretching from age 50 to 75 that can be an energizing time for renewal and growth.

[color=#636363]why retire? career strategies for third age nurses[color=#636363] [color=#636363]offers strategies for:

* rethinking retirement

* tapping expertise of third age nurses

* directing nursing careers

* creating tomorrow's nurse workforce

* expanding personal freedom

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about the authors

at 79, and with three "retirements" behind her, fay l. bower, dnsc, faan, is founder of the center for third age nurses and chair of the department of nursing at holy names university, oakland, california. she has more than 40 years of academic nursing leadership, including positions as president of clarkson college in omaha, nebraska; vice president of the university of san francisco; dean of the university of san francisco school of nursing; and chair of the san jose state university school of nursing. bower is the author of five books and 34 national and international articles. she is a frequent keynote speaker and is often interviewed for her expertise.

william a. sadler, phd, is co-founder and director of research for the center for third age leadership and professor of sociology and business at holy names university in oakland, california. he is the author of six books, including the third age: six principles of growth and renewal after forty. sadler and james krefft, phd, are co-authors of changing course: navigating life after fifty. sadler is a third age coach and a noted international speaker.

http://www.nursingknowledge.org/portal/main.aspx?pageid=36&sku=90308&productprice=24.9500&utm_source=whyretirepromostti[42809]&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=whyretirepromo

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

whew! Thanks. I too am going to have work well into my 70's.

[llg, PhD, RN]

Thanks for the information. Personally, I am a little more optimistic that the economy will eventually recover and that those of us currently in our 50's won't be quite as bad off as we fear -- but I still plan on working at least part time well into my 60's.

I had to smile when I read, "I plan to stay healthy ..." One thing I am learning as I age is that we can't always control that. As I get older, I see more of my friends and family (and myself) develop health problems that were not preventable. It brings to mind that saying that goes something like, "We can't always control what happens to us in life. All we can control is how we respond to what happens to us."

The assumption that we can stay healthy and strong is an arrogant one that can lull us into poor planning. I hope we all stay healthy and strong, but I know that all of us will not. We need to be prepared for the, "What if ..."

Thanks again for the reference.

llg

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

Unfortunately, for a lot of us, the "what if..." funds have evaporated into thin air. With the government churning out paper bills with reckless abandon, and an unimaginable debt accumulating at an exponential rate (which SOMEONE will have to repay, SOMEDAY), we now run the risk of hyperinflation (such as occurred in the Weimar Republic) or increased taxation eating up what remains of our assets.

I personally believe in being proactive. I also believe in the power of prayer. I ask God for enduring good health and the ability to work for a long, long time. I am seeking to improve my health and be in tip-top physical shape. I also am doing my best to remain current in my clinical skills and certifications and seek out new avenues and opportunities. That said, I don't control my future, but He does. I know ultimately my life is in His hands. He who takes care of the sparrow also takes care of His children. Not much of a safety net exists any more for those unplanned health problems, or being unable to work, and if we are counting on the government to take care of us in our old age, we may be sadly disappointed.

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

In terms of being proactive in health, career, and fiscal matters, this is great:

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Jack Lalanne, BTW, is my geriatric hero!

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

I got started too late in life to be able to even THINK of retirement.........graduated from nursing school at age 38, spent every dime I made (and still do), and never learned how to be smart about money. I expect to be working in some capacity for the rest of my days; trouble is, the few people in my family who have survived their 50s and 60s went on to develop dementia in their 70s. Sure hope I can break THAT mold!!:uhoh21:

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

This is just an aside, but Newt Gingrich recently stated that all this unfathomable government spending will result in $114,000 extra taxes for each person to pay. And this is just to cover the interest on all this borrowed money. Hence, my point about what remains of our assets now being threatened by all this out-of-control and fiscally irresponsible government spending.

http://www.foxnews.com/search-results/m/22210517/newt-gingrich-unplugged.htm

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

The workforce as a whole is aging, and life expectancy has increased dramatically. It may not be sustainable for society in the near future to support large numbers of elders during decades of retirement. Many Boomers are not prepared in terms of "nest egg" savings and pensions to adequately cover their living expenses during retirement years. Social Security was originally meant to only supplement retirement income and is not sufficient for funding anything other than a "bare-bones" existence.

Not surprisingly, up to 80% of Boomers plan to continue to work in some capacity after the traditional retirement age of 65. Work life extension is one solution and barriers to continued employment of seniors are being removed. Mandatory retirement was abolished in 1986 and, in 2000, the earnings penalty was removed from Social Security.

Productive aging is defined by Caro, Bass, and Chen (2010) as "any activity by an older individual that produces goods or services, or develops the capacity to produce them, whether they are to be paid for or not" (p. 410). The notion of productive aging directly challenges the pervasive societal stereotypes of elders as being frail and dependent, rigid, or unable to learn new things. Obstacles to productive aging include institutional ageism, labor market conditions, cultural lag, unattractive volunteer/ employment assignments, and lack of interest by older people in community service and post-retirement employment opportunities.

According to Bower and Sadler (2009), ways to plan for "Third Age" career strategies include: preparing a life portfolio, taking an honest inventory of one's strengths and weaknesses, evaluating one's needs, preparing oneself for the future, building networks, being flexible, and developing a support system.

References

Bower, F. L., & Sadler, W. A. (2009). Why retire? Career strategies for Third Age nurses. Indianapolis, IN: Sigma Theta Tau.

Caro, F. G., Bass, S. A., & Chen, Y. (2010). Achieving a productive aging society. In H. R. Moody (Ed.) Aging: Concepts and controversies (6th ed., pp. 409-413). Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge Press.

[llg, PhD, RN]

Caro, F. G., Bass, S. A., & Chen, Y. (2010). Achieving a productive aging society. In H. R. Moody (Ed.) Aging: Concepts and controversies (6th ed., pp. 409-413). Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge Press.

Note the 2010 publication date (both in the reference list and within the text). Are you seeing galleys of a yet-to-be published book? :wink2:

I think it is great that some people are able to work after the age of 65 -- and wouldn't mind working part time during that time of life myself. I just happen to personally know a lot of people who developed health problems in their 50's and 60's that made it very difficult or impossible for them to work much beyond age 60. We can't prevent all cancers. We can't prevent all arthitis ... and all heart disease ... and all kidney disease ... etc.

The fact that the "average" age at death is increasing does not mean that everyone is healthy and strong in their 60's. While it's great for those whose health allows them to work in their 60's and 70's ... everyone needs a "fallback plan" that will fulfill their basic needs should they be one of those people whose health does not allow them to do so.

What is that saying about the gods laughing at those who make plans, believing that they can control the future? And then there is always, "Pride goeth before a fall." I'm hoping for the best -- sufficient health to be active and employed part time until my mid-to-late 60's. But I do my financial planning with an eye on the possibility that I might not be so lucky.