After Nursing: Is There Life Out There?

No matter what you do or where you go, you will always be a nurse at heart........caring and compassionate as always......because that is YOU!!!!!!!!You still have a lot to offer.

Quote from VivaLasViejasI look forward to your responses. (Friendly reminder: they do need to be in reasonably good taste, of course.) Thanks!

Oh yeah.......an expert witness would be great!!!!!! You have more than enough experience...........

How about teaching cnas in clinical a or classroom. My mom has adn, no longer cares to work in bedside and found this job to be less stress physically and mentally. She loves it!!! Telephonic nursing ? You have paid your dues. I empathize with you.

Viva, so sorry to hear you're dealing with this and that conditions haven't improved fast enough for corporate to give things their seal of approval. I haven't known you long, but have you thought about counseling or something in the mental health field? Perhaps something that involves you assisting nurses who deal with mental health issues? I've always thought your honest introspection and passion for representing a population of the nursing profession that is frequently marginalized, ignored and ostracized are an great contributions to the profession. I'd hate to see you leave.

Viva.....God only knows I would be a millionaire if I had the answer. I'm with GrnTea....I can't give the one door closes and another opens either and you know why.I think you should do the expert witness stuff....take GrnTea up on her offer. I am so sorry, so sorry you are dealing with this....who knew that after spending a lifetime doing one thing we would find ourselves without pensions and benefits....considered un-useable by our own peers and undesirable for hire. Young nurses ageism is alive and well in nursing!!!!!Well...((HUGS)) friend....tomorrow is another day and this too shall pass....

How about working at a clinic. Or as a school nurse. Or adolescent psych as a case manager? Or case management anywhere? Or as a nurse in a halfway house that has a day program to teach there, or med management? But I also love the idea of teaching CNA/Medical Assistant or even an LPN class or 2. Or even first aid, CPR in a local community college? There are some community colleges that have evening classes for adults--a class or series of lectures on caring and planning for your elderly parent? Or lectures on health ed at high schools? You could also try your local CPS branch to teach parenting skills--with medical fragile kids, how to take care of children, babies. Another thought would be to take a lactation consultant class and through home health do well baby visits and lactation consulting. Could also tie in with pre-natal birthing classes. Women's health clinic. Teach some classes at your local EMT school, as a number of even EMT basics need certifications on giving some meds (nebs and epi-pens). And to be totally hog wild, as an RN in some states you can comp the EMT exam, and just take the practical exam to be an EMT. Outpatient infusion clinic. Same day surgery pre-op nurse. HIV/Hep C testing facility with education and counseling. A nurse for a construction company or employee health. OK, I am out of ideas LOLOLOLBest wishes and much love Viva!-J

If it were ME... if there were any, ANY possible way that I could do it and actually live on the pay...I'd get a job working the cash register at one of my favorite retail outlets. Either Starbucks orMichaels. So stress free, so fun... *sigh*... if there were any way, heck I'd do that right NOW.You've been through a lot, paid your dues, IS there any way you could afford to take a job such as what I've described above?

I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you, Viva. You and your situation will certainly remain in my thoughts and prayers.Unless a person is wealthy with substantial assets, the time of upper middle-age (mid 50s to early 60s) is the most precarious because you're too young to qualify for Medicare and Social Security if you're caught without a job. Also, it can be harder to find a suitable job in upper middle age due to unconscious bias against 'older' applicants.

Quote from VivaLasViejasI knew it was too good to last forever.Today, in a meeting with my company's regional director of operations and the corporate nurse consultant, my Executive Director and I learned that we will both probably be let go if our building doesn't pass our re-survey next month

Quote from TheCommuterAlso, it can be harder to find a suitable job in upper middle age due to unconscious bias against 'older' applicants.

My heart goes out to middle age nurses who are too young to retire but experience ageism. If this is what I have to experience 30 years from now, then I rather have no part of it. My preceptor has been a nurse for 30 plus years and have a ADN. She runs circles around the 20 something BSNs in the floor, she said the day she is forced to get her BSN, she'll retire... I don't blame her. However, what happens whe you don't have that option and you still need bennies and income for the family. I don't expect any middle age nurse to go from making a decent income to being a walmart greeter. I stick to my original advice: Viva, find a job in teaching. My mother did a three day "train the trainer course", she has a few contracts and makes 45/hr. She loves it. School nursing is an idea except the pay may not be great. Grntea, had an excellent idea as well!My prayers and thoughts are with you.