Retiring From a Nursing Career Many nurses work for a hospital for many years, making them eligible for an early retirement. The problem is, after years of hard work and dedication, retirement may get old. So what are the options, or are there any options? Taking a Break Taking an extended vacation can be a gift for a retiring nurse. All of those years of working long hours, and helping others have finally paid off in the form of retirement. Perhaps just taking some time to yourself would be a great idea. Take an extended vacation, or just sleep whenever you decide to. Enjoy the day, start a hobby that you never had time to do before. It's all of your time now, spend it as you like. Related: Facts on Fungal or Yeast Infections Volunteer Services There are an endless number of places that would appreciate the expertise of a nurse to volunteer their services. There are clinics that treat uninsured, or underinsured patients, and they primarily staff with volunteers, each working one or two days per week. There are also schools, and other events that look for volunteers, so if working a small amount of time on your own schedule sounds appealing, you would make a great volunteer. Returning To Work Patty was a registered nurse, and worked at the same hospital for 28 years. The hospital offered a retirement plan for employees that worked 25 years or longer, so, when Patty’s husband retired, she also retired. There were going away parties, and happy retirement parties, there was enough to keep Patty really busy her first couple of months away from work. Patty and her husband went on a vacation, and then started making plans for the future. The next month Patty caught up on things she had put off for some time, and her husband spent his days playing golf and gardening. Patty had been retired for 3 months, and she was literally searching for something to occupy her time with. Four months retired, and according to Patty, she was so bored she was tearing things up just to have something to repair. Patty decided, something had to change, so she started exploring her options. She found an agency that hired RN’s to cover vacation days, etc for other nurses. Patty signed up and it worked perfect for her. She could call in Friday and give her available days the following week, and most of the time they had a job for her when she wanted to work. This turned out to be a great option for a nurse that was not quite ready to retire completely.
Freelance Nursing Consultant Freelance nurse consultants are becoming more popular in the digital world we live in. Nurse consultants may serve on a committee, or advisory board, there are numerous positions of this type of job. Some freelance nursing jobs are done via phone, such as a call in line or chat application. Related: Language Barriers in Communication Retiring should not symbolize the end of a career, but rather the best is yet to come. If you miss work, continue to do something, either voluntarily, or paid, depending on your preference. Nurses are always in demand, and if you have retired from a regular job, don't overlook the fact that you have an abundance of knowledge to offer an organization, why not share it? Statistics (annually)Retiring Nurses (average) -33,000 Retiring Nurses that continue to work, volunteer or other- 7,500 Average Age Nurses Retire- 64 Currently the ratio of retiring nurses and new student nurses entering the workforce, are fairly equal, however it can fluctuate year to year. The average age of retirement among the general workforce has risen over the years and is currently 70 years of age. Because most medical facilities have a good benefit package, it enables hospital workers to often retire well before the average age of other retirees. Before considering retirement, make sure you have taken health care coverage into consideration. The cost of an insurance plan other than a Medicare supplement plan can be very expensive, and should be figured into your lifestyle plan. If you have plans following retirement, it may be a great move, but if you don't, think about what you will do in your free time. You may decide that you don't actually want all of that free time after all. Related: International Nurses Association Please follow us on Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest and Twitter