colleagues working longer'
Financial worries aren't only affecting surgical facility leaders' day-to-
day affairs — they're also having a major impact on the graying work-
force's retirement plans. The issue is an important one, as our survey
shows most of those currently leading surgical facilities are at the
cusp of retirement. When given age ranges from under 30 to over 80,
about half of both ASC and hospital leaders are between 50 and 60
years old, and say that the ideal age to retire is between 65 and 70.
Just because that's their ideal age to retire doesn't mean they think
it's going to happen. Roughly 28% of both hospital and ASC facility
leaders say they will likely delay their retirement for various reasons,
although concerns over finances and health insurance stand out.
"I would love to retire now, but cannot financially," admits one
director of nursing. "Can't afford it," says one ASC materials manager
from Arizona.
Health insurance is one of their biggest concerns. Several respon-
dents say they wish there were a cheap option for supplemental insur-
ance for nurses at age 62 to make retirement more feasible.
"Many of us would retire earlier and open up positions for new nurs-
es (if health insurance would be provided for nurses after they
retire)," said Deborah Reynolds, RN, center leader of the GI
Endoscopy Center at Middletown, Ohio.
"It is unfortunate that so many nurses, who have given their entire
adult lives to provide care to patients, do not have healthcare cover-
age as part of their retirement packages or at least some supplemental
options," adds one respondent.
"I see so many of my colleagues working longer just due to the cost of
health insurance and the fear of not having enough for medications," says
Nancy Carter, RN, BA, CNOR, administrator of The Regional Eye Surgery
Center in Kingsport, Tenn. "I think it's sad that people that have worked 30
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O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | January 2015
