Job Search Tips :Nursing Tops List of Best Jobs for Retirees
Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2009
With life expectancy pushing ever-closer to 80 and many Americans living healthy lives into their 90s, more Americans are working longer. It’s not unusual for retirees to work well into their mid-70s and beyond these days, and the impetus is only partially financial. It can be hard to fill those 20 years or more after retirement with satisfying activities. Working makes for a more vital life, provides mental and social stimulation, and gives people a sense of purpose. Retirement is no longer an end, but a new beginning for many Americans. It’s an opportunity to explore long-held passions, give back to the community, or try new avenues of fulfillment. For nurses who have taken a hiatus from the profession to raise children or care for loved ones, it can be an opportunity to renew their professional commitment or explore new avenues in healthcare.
Nursing and healthcare jobs top most employment counselors’ lists of “best jobs” these days. Nursing, followed by healthcare technician and healthcare administration, are the top three jobs on AARP job guru Bob Skladany’s list of “20 best jobs to have in retirement.” With nurses in short supply and the nation’s most populous generation – aging Baby Boomers – expected to swell over the next several decades, nursing and healthcare will remain strong employment choices into the future.
More than nine million Americans age 65 and older required long-term care in 2007, according to a 2008 MetLife survey. By 2030, the American Hospital Association expects six in every 10 seniors to be managing more than one chronic disease. Community nursing, home care and hospice needs in particular are growing, opening new, more flexible job opportunities for nurses. Many re-entry nurses are finding desirable part-time and flexible-schedule nursing positions through nurse staffing agencies like Maxim Healthcare Services.
The following appeared in an issue of Maxim’s nursing eNewsletter, Nursing Now. To receive news in your e-mail inbox each month, sign up today.