Retirement just another phase in life

by Donna
(Augusta, Mo USA)

Here I am 62 years old last year and working as an RN for 37 years in the same Hospital system. Then, it hit me oh my gosh I am the oldest person here on my shifts.

I had patients "not wanting to bother me" I could feel it, I knew I had reached my plateau. I truly loved being an RN and had several different positions over the years.

I had worked in Neurosurgery, Critical Care, Rehab, Nursing Supervision and Step down areas in the hospital. Little by little I saw our group dwindle from our early youth to "Senior RN".

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Waves
by: Donna, Augusta, Mo

Merry Christmas fellow ,single and retired RN.

You will figure it out, that's what he nurses do. It's been 3 years retired for me now. I am still keeping up with the old nurses group. We lunch. I planned a reunion 2 years ago and it was fun. We stay in touch with a Facebook group I started and I joined Pickle ball in my community this summer.

Relax and enjoy. You earned it. However, get off the couch.

Stay in contact would love to see how your next chapter turns out!!!
Another Retired RN
by: Anonymous

I had 42 years experience in various positions at several large teaching hospitals in the Houston area, when the community hospital I was working at hung pictures of nurses with decades of experience. Imagine my frustration when they wouldn't post my picture!

Although the captions never said so, they wanted to honor nurses whose experience was gained wholly at their facility. Hey, experience is experience, right? I could even argue my experience was more rounded (better) because I had such a variety of work experiences that could not be accomplished at a community hospital.

That and the glass ceiling I experienced due to my Associate's Degree caused me to seek another place of employment at age 62! I wanted to retire from a job I both enjoyed and felt respected. So I applied for and was offered a job with a not for profit hospice.

And I was right. I loved the work and had respect from my peers and supervisors. They valued my experience. I didn't enjoy the late hours driving all over Houston and charting till late, but I adjusted.

Then Hurricane Harvey flooded my home and I had to evacuate and live with family. The wreck I had trying to hurry to the last appointment put my car in the shop. I was not only homeless for 6 months living out of boxes, but also in a rental car for a month.

I hit my limit. It became clear to me that the contractor needed my constant physical presence in order to complete the work on my home. Being single, I had no one to meet with them at the site to make decisions or give directions. So I retired 18 months sooner than I had planned in order to get my home completed.

At first I was busy unpacking boxes and moving back into my house. There was never a dull moment. I love gardening and for the first time, I could totally immerse myself into spring fever planting. But when the heat arrived in May, I could no longer tolerate being outside. I was sick of unpacking boxes and to top it off, my cat of 14 years had to be put down due to cancer.

Boy! Was I depressed. The summer had zapped me of my momentum and I couldn't seem to find a new normal. Finally it became clear to me how some people die so quickly after they retire. They lose purpose and inactivity becomes a trap. It becomes harder and harder to get off the couch. Then when an event comes around that I really want to do, my weight gain and inactivity fight against me.

Well I don't have the answer yet. Weather has changed and I can venture back outside again, but it's physically more difficult. Christmas is near and my budget won't allow me to spoil my family like I used to so I've been busy making gifts. I certainly have the time! After the first of the year I'll figure this retirement thing out. I don't have a grand plan but that's OK. I've never been one to back away from a challenge!

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