Oh, taking early retirement was soooo hard! Even after 7 years I still can't drive past where I worked without feeling a pang in my heart!
I too miss the mental stimulation, learning, just being with people and joking and figuring out tough situations. The satisfaction of actually doing a day's hard work and accomplishing something important. And not to brag, but after 25 yrs as an RN it seems like a huge waste of education and experience. Nurse friends and I have wished that we could do a Vulcan Mind Meld and pass on that experience to someone new in the field.
I gave up my license this year and that was a tough one too. It was like I gave away a huge part of my identity. Now that my hubbie has retired it is better because he can do things more often with me and my days aren't so empty.
I have been struck by how many nurses really seem to love their profession and don't want to leave. When we are forced to leave before our time we go through an intense grieving process. I wasn't ready to quit and I really had to bite my tongue when people would say how much I must love being retired. If they only knew!
I too miss the mental stimulation, learning, just being with people and joking and figuring out tough situations. The satisfaction of actually doing a day's hard work and accomplishing something important. And not to brag, but after 25 yrs as an RN it seems like a huge waste of education and experience. Nurse friends and I have wished that we could do a Vulcan Mind Meld and pass on that experience to someone new in the field.
I gave up my license this year and that was a tough one too. It was like I gave away a huge part of my identity. Now that my hubbie has retired it is better because he can do things more often with me and my days aren't so empty.
I have been struck by how many nurses really seem to love their profession and don't want to leave. When we are forced to leave before our time we go through an intense grieving process. I wasn't ready to quit and I really had to bite my tongue when people would say how much I must love being retired. If they only knew!
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