Still Nursing At 90 from Nevada!
Still Nursing At 90
(This story was taken from NurseTogether contributor Sue Heacock’s book “Inspiring the Inspirational: Words of Hope from Nurses to Nurses“.)
The other night, my husband and I were watching television when someone on a commercial stated something about retiring at age 90. I didn’t hear the rest of the dialogue because I was rolling on the floor and laughing too hard at the visual images I was getting of my own future. As a baby boomer that is not independently wealthy, I fully expect that the words, “I’m retired” will not be coming from my lips in this lifetime.
I have written in my newspaper column that I often wonder what my future will be. I love hospice nursing and feel a deep pull towards the sacred work I do every day. The advantage I have now is that I’m relatively healthy and feel motivated and excited about my daily work. So, as I gaze into my crystal ball to see what the future brings, this is what I see.
Here’s my ideal work day at age 90. I wake up each morning without an alarm clock. I don’t feel rushed, as my employer has assured me that my sleep is important so that my work day doesn’t include a lot of errors. I take my time getting ready and my hired cook has my breakfast ready for me, warm on the table. I leisurely enjoy my food and steaming cup of Joe with my sweetie (husband) who will be 92 when I’m 90. We do so love to be together!
My limousine driver knocks on the front door and announces that it’s time to get my day started. It’s now about 10:30 AM. I casually collect my notebook, nursing bag, and laptop computer (can’t do without it!) and he slowly escorts me and my walker to the curb. He kindly assists me into the limo and then my walker is placed in the storage area in the back. I give him the address of my first patient and off we go.
In between patient visits, I enjoy the peace of being inside the limo, with the windows all blacked out and my satellite radio emitting waves of beautiful music. I also like listening to my favorite talk radio hostess, Oprah. She’s about 80 now, you know, and still going strong. I especially love it when she features Dr. Oz (age 75 and doing radio shows just for the fun of it, since he’s independently wealthy) and Wayne Dyer (also my age and quite rich). They remind the baby boomers how we can improve our lives and live longer by eating right and thinking good thoughts.
As I reach each patient’s home, my limo driver helps me out with my walker, and he carries my notebook and laptop computer. Just think! I no longer have to carry these heavy items, and my employer (yep, the compassionate one!) urges me to take care not to lift them so my shoulders can heal from the multiple surgeries I’ve had to keep the joints moving. My employer had mentioned the term “wheelchair” to me several times, encouraging me to consider using one because he wants my knees to heal properly from my recent joint replacement. I really do not want to consider a wheelchair; because I’m pretty sure that will end my career as a hospice nurse (Did you know that most homes in our town are NOT wheelchair accessible?).
So, that’s the way I see it going for me. All these ideas raced through my mind the other night as I contemplated what it would be like to still be working at age 90. All the retirement money I’ve worked hard to save – will I have time to spend it? I think not, as I’ll be out seeing my patients, many of whom will be 20 or 30 years my junior! Keep your eyes peeled for my limo, with the magnetic signed plastered to the side, “Still Nursing at 90!”
Paula Schneider, RN, CHPN, MPH
Minden, Nevada
