Coming Out of Retirement to Embark on a New Career in Nursing

Retirement can be an enjoyable time in your life, but it can also be a time that you welcome and embrace change. Just because you have retired from a previous career or occupation, it does not mean that you cannot embark on something new. No matter what age you are, you still have the time and the opportunities available to embark on a new career path. A second, or even third career is perfectly acceptable, so what are you waiting for? What is holding you back from embarking on a new career?

​Why You Need to Step Out of Retirement

​Perhaps you retired earlier than you wanted to, or maybe you retired from a previous career or occupation because you were no longer getting the satisfaction or rewards that you needed. Whatever your reasons for retiring, it is essential to realize that they change, and you’re thinking changes too. Retirement can last a long time, and if you feel that you have more to offer, you will end up feeling like you have never realized your full potential. You need to step out of retirement to make a difference, and you need to embark on a new journey that is unfulfilled.

You Are Never too Old to Embark on a New Journey

Retirement can make you feel old, and it can age you unnecessarily. If you feel that you can add something (or bring something) to the world of nursing, then age is truly a number that must be overcome. Far too often, numbers are spun out negatively, and this can leave you feeling like you have to be in a career by a certain age, perhaps when you are in your 30’s or 40’s. However, this is simply not true, there is no upper age limit by which you must abide by when it comes to starting a new career such as nursing, and as a result, you are never too “old” to start on a new and exciting journey.

Planning For a New Journey

​Of course, you want to plan out your journey into nursing to ensure that it is successful and as smooth as possible. When you take time out to plan, you can ensure that you fit in everything you want to (and need to) within a timescale that works for you. Having a plan to follow can also give you more control and power over the route you are taking. It can also give you guidance and direction, perhaps for those times when you feel that you don’t know which direction to go in and why. To successfully plan for a new journey, you have to think about your end goal. What do you want to achieve, and by when? Once you have established what your end goal is, you can then begin working backwards to ensure success.

Your Experience and Knowledge is Valuable

Within nursing, experience is key, and it is valuable too. Whether you have personal experience or knowledge of nursing and healthcare, or whether you are a newbie, your life experience and life skills matter. Being able to speak to a wide variety of patients (of all ages) and being able to relate and empathize with patients and with what they are going through will help you become a successful nurse. Your life experience and your knowledge can come into use during everyday situations and scenarios when you are working, and it can also be useful too when you are studying for your nursing qualifications. Do not dismiss your previous experiences as they may help you push your new career forwards in the right direction.

​You Have a Great Skill Set

Over the years, you have built up a skill set that is hard to beat, and this is another reason why you need to embark on a new journey. Your skillset that has been developed and enhanced over several years will come into use within a nursing career. Skills such as great communication are essential, as too are the time-management skills you have acquired over time. Writing down and then breaking down your skillset will show you that you are well equipped to handle the roles and responsibilities that come with a nursing position.

​Those Within Nursing and Healthcare are In Demand

It is always nice to know that you are wanted, and within nursing and healthcare, you can be sure that this is true. With increasing population numbers comes increasing demand, and this is something that has never been clearer or truer. Populations growing and even living longer has meant that healthcare workers and nurses are in high demand. When you undertake a role that is highly in demand, you can be sure that you will be fairly compensated and remunerated for your efforts. Although nursing is not about the financial rewards, it is nice knowing that you are being fairly compensated for your time and efforts.

​Studying and Getting Qualified Can Be Enjoyable

Returning to education and gaining new skills and qualifications can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be daunting. Learning and education can be fun, rewarding, and enjoyable. There are lots of accelerated nursing programs online that you can undertake and complete quickly from the comfort of your own home around your existing commitments. Pushing yourself and absorbing a lot of new information can keep you feeling young, and it can keep you feeling focused too.

​You Can Make a Difference

​A new career in nursing is beneficial to you, but it will also be beneficial to others too. As a nursing professional, you will be aiding and assisting others within their care and rehabilitation. Having an impact on patients care and also having an impact on their lives will leave a lasting impact on your life and your journey too. Knowing that you can make a difference in the lives of others and being prepared to make a change will leave you feeling fulfilled in many ways.