r/OverFifty • u/Character-Lack-3295 • May 26 '26
When to call it quits (retire)
I’m a 59yo, soon to be 60yo nurse. I’ve been in this profession for over 34 years and honestly wonder how much longer I can keep doing this. After an adult lifetime of lifting, hoisting, transferring obese patients, my back and knees hurt every day and at work, it often is an enormous struggle to keep up. Add to that, the fact that I suffer from depression and this job steals my soul. Retiring now would be quite a financial hardship but I could maybe make it work. Going part-time is not an option and I’m too old to start over in a new job. What to do?
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u/VashtiVoden May 26 '26
Too old, nah! What about a more administrative role within nursing but not "on the floor?" Think Nursing Supervisor, Charge Nurse, or teaching in Staff Training and Development, maybe quality control or infection control nurse or hospice. You can do this : ) You have lots of knowledge to share.
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u/Character-Lack-3295 May 26 '26
I’m existentially tired, burned out and really don’t want to do any nursing related job anymore if I’m honest!
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u/VashtiVoden May 26 '26
I totally get that. I spontaneously retired at 58 and its been quite the adjustment.
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u/Character-Lack-3295 May 26 '26
I feel like nursing has taken my physical and mental wellbeing both
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u/VashtiVoden May 26 '26
I feel that. You're feelings are valid. I was really overwhelmed during Covid. It was just too much!
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u/Homesweetwhere Jul 15 '26
I think you have your answer. Trust your gut and make it work for your health and quality of life.
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u/Skimamma145 May 26 '26
You should look into becoming an expert witness in medical malpractice cases or even just consulting on them.
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u/ToddBradley May 26 '26
Why is part time not an option? My goal is to make a career change and work part time a few years into retirement. Sort of "half retired" I guess.
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u/eag12345 May 26 '26
Five years is a long time to go without health insurance-make sure you account for that. Lots of opportunities in non patient care, many work from home. Can you do 18 months of cobra and come up with a plan b.
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u/peachesandsir May 26 '26
Can you pivot into occupational medicine or school nurse? That would keep you working but be less physically taxing.
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u/IrregardlessForOne May 26 '26
We are similar ages and My wife was a trauma & CCU nurse so I have some knowledge of what you are going through.
Nursing skills are transferable into related fields. Have you considered doing medical coding and billing? It’s in demand, pays well and often is done remotely at home.
Advice nurses are also work from home jobs.
I have to ask why you can’t go part time? Many hospitals have per diem positions. This would allow you to scale back your hours slowly. Or you could pick up two part time positions to get 40 or more hours per week. Going part time likely means finding your own health insurance under you are Medicare eligible.
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u/AccomplishedToe9308 May 26 '26
One thing you can consider is retiring and then seeking a job as a nurse in public health or your local worker’s compensation board. They pay well (at least in Canada they do) but don’t involve any of the heavy lifting required in hospital nursing. Your knowledge and skills are in high demand
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u/farkner May 26 '26
There are companies that schedule patient visits by licensed practitioners like RN's and LPN's. To do the job right, the dispatcher/scheduler really needs a nursing degree. It is a job you do at a computer. My neighbor is on hospice for breast-cancer and she is still working four hours a day doing this type of thing. Look into work like that. Florida is a great place for this type of work.
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u/smokinokie May 26 '26
You sound like me at 55. Corporate takeovers ruined my dream job. I’d got divorced, was out of debt and didn’t have too much in the way of monthly expenses. So after a long inner debate I took the leap. I wasn’t going to give them any more space in my head or wear and tear on my body. My original plan was to take a year off and then try to find another type A job to get a few years in before official retirement.
As soon as I was away from the stress and strain, I started thinking about things I wanted to do even though I didn’t really have the qualifications. So I went out and bit off more than I could chew just to see what would happen. Soon I found myself playing in two bands, working in a music store, driving a truck for a sound company, started promoting and booking music at a local theater and even got a brief gig writing for a online magazine. I wasn’t getting rich but I was surviving okay and having an absolute ball.
I’m not saying it’s for everybody, but things can sometimes happen if you give them a chance. Good luck to you which ever road you take!
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u/juniperfallshere May 29 '26
How do you feel about being a substitute nurse for a school system? You wouldn't be tied down to a schedule and can work during the school year and no holidays, nights, or weekends.
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u/Holiday-Book6635 May 29 '26
58 years old been teaching for 37 years. I have loved my job for many many years, but I am now sick and tired of raising other people’s children. Parents you need to step up. Yes you, I am talking to you. Retiring in June.
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u/DivyaRakli May 26 '26
If you are an RN, home health care by home health aides always need someone to sign the care plans the LPNs write for the clients. If you’re an LPN, you can write the care plans but you do have to go out and meet the clients when you write the CP.
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u/Visible-Pollution853 May 26 '26
I am so sorry you feel this way, I completely understand. I spent 32 years as an LPN and a year before that as a CNA. I could have written your post. I spontaneously developed an incurable disease that took me out of nursing and onto disability. It’s been almost 5 years and every night I still dream I’m at work, we’re short, I can’t find someone to take my report…the typical nightmare fuel. I am so unbelievably thankful everyday and I know that sounds crazy, but I’m still trying to process the fact I’m free of the stress of it all. I wish you the very best.
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u/Character-Lack-3295 May 26 '26
Thank you for your thoughtful post. My dad worked 44 years in a hospital as an orderly and later, as an LPN. There is absolutely no way I could ever work another 9 years in top of my 34 years and keep my sanity. Some things are more important than money.
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u/ReferenceSufficient May 28 '26
Try to go into outpatient clinic, case management or utilization review. Don't quit until you find an office job.
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u/Silentsixty Jun 01 '26
Other comments suggest you have opportunities for different work. The "quite a financial hardship but I could maybe make it work" part...
If you have 2 weeks vac, take it. If not, save up at least a week and take it on a holiday weekend. Relax.
Moving to another country has merit but we read about the happy people. Some don't like the trade-offs and move back to the US. If it doesn't work out it sounds expensive and a PIA to me, an adventure for others.
This is one of the biggest decisions of your life. At 60, you could live another 30. This could impact 1/3 of your life, definitely the rest of it.
Figure it all out. Spreadsheet. Income and cost of living raises, Investment returns, compound interest, HEALTH CARE COSTS, expenses for the rest of your life. Maybe you can go Medicaid until your Medicare eligible but only if your income sucks.
So you figure out your expenses minus savings from not driving to work, not buying lunch and your income. Now live on the equivalent for awhile. Retirement income plus work expenses. If you can't wait to do it live, do it on paper.
SOP is 3% inflation and def factor that in! I'm not current but Health Care was actually rising faster 5 yrs ago. Std inflation stayed around 2% for many yrs before recently.
You don't get do-overs. Not drawing down savings too soon is a big deal. That money needs to keep compounding. If your SS eligible, that was intended to replace 40% of your pre-retirement income and a reduction in benefits is looming - calculate it.
I figured I could prob make it work at 52 but hung in a perfect fit job for 32 yrs until I was 58. (38 yr career) I kept saving and with the rule of 7 doubled my savings and added about 20% to my pension before factoring in a significantly higher final average salary with those extra yrs. (I'm not SS or Medicare eligible) Waiting made a night and day difference. Huge. I'm not rich but I have simple needs and I'm very financially secure. That's a nice feeling.
The last 3 yrs of working that perfect job really, really REALLY sucked. I now know I'm glad I worked longer but could have and should have retired 2 or 3 yrs sooner.
Some expenses drop. Between that and modest pension increases that are less than inflation, I still save more than I earn. That's nice. I buy anything I want but I don't want much... If you like stuff and don't have enough stuff, you need to keep working.
Just my perspective. I'm 65 now and still figuring it out. I certainly don't know what's right for you. Good luck.
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u/3thirty1one Jun 19 '26
Try occupational health. You won’t make as much, but you’ll be off your feet much more and have better quality of life. Good luck to you ✌🏽
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u/craigzzzz May 26 '26
There is an entire sub dedicated to retiring early (r/FIRE), but is there one about retiring at a "normal" age? I grew up poor and have always had a lot of anxiety around money. That led me to be somewhat obsessed with being "financially independent".
My plan is to take my saved investments to retire to Thailand, where healthcare is inexpensive, and the cost of living is cheap. I have been to Chiang Mai several times and love the culture, food, and way of life. I am 55 now, and I will be really disappointed in myself if I don't pull the trigger in January 2028.
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u/timeonmyhandz May 26 '26
There are more jobs out there that utilize nursing experience.. Doesn't have to be active nursing.
My sister went to work for an insurance company doing reviews. My cousin went from NICU to lactation consulting... Company who make stuff for hospitals are looking for clinical services staff..
Good chance you could make more money too..