FEATURE ARTICLE
Retired RNs: Perceptions of
Volunteering
Katherine C. Cocca-Bates, MSN, APRN, NP-C
Leslie Neal-Boylan, PhD, CRRN, APRN-BC, FNP
A qualitative study was done to explore the economic forces, with some nurses near retire-
perceptions of volunteering among retired ment age choosing to remain in the workforce
registered nurses (RNs) in Kansas. Partici- and some hospitals choosing to freeze hiring or
pants were volunteers in formal nursing roles change hiring patterns.4 In general, these new
or were using their nursing knowledge and staffing patterns result in an increase in demands
experience in non-nursing roles, such as on nurses’ time. Nurses in every health care
church work. Regardless of the type of volun- setting are being asked to provide increasingly
teer position, retired RNs reported that they complex care to greater numbers of patients.5
use what they have learned as nurses when Volunteers have been used to augment and
they volunteer. Volunteering benefits include enhance nursing care, for example, in delirium
enhanced self-worth, intellectual stimulation, prevention.6 Similarly, a variety of health care
reduced social isolation, and opportunities to organizations may utilize the clinical skills and
help others. Increased paperwork, new tech- knowledge of older, more experienced nurses
nology, difficulty finding nursing-specific vol- as volunteers. Some authors have suggested that
unteer opportunities, resistance from health older nurses can provide assistance to younger
care organizations, and a lack of respect for nurses, by both providing care at the bedside
what these nurses know are challenges and and contributing to the knowledge and clinical
barriers to volunteering. Retired RNs have ac- experience of younger or newer nurses.7,8 Re-
cumulated years of clinical nursing experi- tired registered nurses (RNs) can use their years
ence and can be helpful to employed nurses. of accumulated clinical expertise not only to help
Health care organizations should launch tar- health care facilities and nurses but also to en-
geted efforts to recruit and utilize retired RN hance their own quality of life.
volunteers. Health care professionals who The purpose of this study was to describe re-
care for older adults should recommend vol- search that explored the experience of retired
unteering as a healthful endeavor. (Geriatr RNs and their perceptions about volunteering.
Nurs 2011;32:96-105) A qualitative research design was utilized to bet-
ter understand the experience of these RNs.
Background Experience and Wisdom of Older Nurses
lder adults have much to gain from volun- By the time they retire, nurses have years of ac-
O teerism. Multiple changes affect older
adults as part of normal aging, but these
changes need not be problematic.1 Volunteering
cumulated clinical expertise that can be shared in
clinical settings.9 In a workplace setting, con-
cerns about physical and mental changes in older
employed nurses may affect how these nurses are
after retirement in a role that reflects one’s occu-
pation has the potential to allow for role continu- viewed in terms of safety or performance. How-
ity, which may reduce distress after retirement.1,2 ever, the experience and expertise of older
Changes in health, especially relating to chronic nurses can mitigate any changes in physical and
disease processes, are not uncommon in older mental functioning.10
adults. Self-reported health has been shown to
be improved after participating in volunteer ac- Volunteering among Health Professionals
tivities, even in older adults with multiple chronic
conditions.3 Health professionals of all types have a consid-
Patterns of nursing staffing in the United States erable amount of knowledge and skill to contrib-
are in a period of rapid change because of ute to volunteer roles. For retired physicians and
96 Geriatric Nursing, Volume 32, Number 2
, nurses, work in a community health clinic has In addition to the objective benefits, subjective
been presented as a volunteering option that al- benefits are noted as well. Compared with youn-
lows and encourages maintenance and improve- ger volunteers, older volunteers report greater
ment of clinical skill. A study of retired health perceived health improvements.21
professionals, including physicians and nurses, As a result of increased social engagement and
who volunteered in a community health clinic other factors, volunteering may provide a protec-
found high levels of satisfaction.11 Retired nurses tive benefit for mental health in older adults. In
(RNs and advanced practice nurses) volunteering a longitudinal sample, lower rates of participa-
in an academic nurse-run wellness center were tion in civic activities, including volunteering,
highly satisfied with their volunteering experi- were found to be associated with symptoms of
ences, which included providing health teaching depression in women, but not men.22 In contrast,
to older adults and mentoring student health volunteerism was associated with greater en-
professionals.8 gagement in other activities in a European sam-
Institutions that utilize the volunteer services ple.23 Although in one large longitudinal sample,
of retired health professionals may see a benefit volunteers and nonvolunteers were not found to
as well. The skills and wisdom of older, employed, have a statistically significant difference in the
nonvolunteer nurses have been described in the number of diagnosed illnesses, suggesting a
literature.12 Retired nurses in volunteer roles similar risk for mental health problems, volun-
have the potential to provide clinical services teers were less likely to report symptoms of
that working RNs may not have time to complete, depression.24
potentially saving organizations money.13,14 Volunteering can benefit older adults by pro-
Clinics or centers that are grant-funded or that viding a goal to focus on or a distraction from
serve uninsured or underinsured patients may other concerns. Older adults commonly experi-
also see a cost savings by utilizing retired health ence losses, including loss of identity in retire-
professionals to provide clinical services.8,11 ment2 and loss of loved ones.25 Although more
Concerns about malpractice have been identi- recent research has not found a link between vol-
fied as a barrier to volunteerism in health- unteerism and depression,26 Li (2007) found that
related settings among health professionals. older adults who volunteered several years after
Retired health care providers may feel that the being widowed were less likely to be depressed.27
cost of malpractice insurance is prohibitive.15 Al- Volunteering has been shown to provide a sense
though retired nurses are likely to prefer to carry of purpose to individuals who have suffered
their own malpractice coverage for volunteer ac- a loss in life.2
tivities, in some states, services that are provided The type of volunteerism in which an older
free of charge are exempt from liability.15,16 Fi- adult participates may have an impact on health.
nancial assistance for malpractice insurance One study found a greater positive effect on
can be sought through charitable organizations.17 health in individuals with ties to religious groups
Additionally, malpractice rates for volunteer or who were involved with informal volunteering
part-time work are less expensive than those than those who participated in formal volunteer-
for full-time work. ing activities;28 religious participation generally
affects health positively.29 Therefore, the type
of volunteering seemed to be the most important
Benefits of Volunteering for Older Adults
variable in this study.28 Similarly, a longitudinal
The literature suggests that, for older adults, study in Israel found that volunteers aged over
there are many positive aspects of volunteering. 60 involved in informal volunteering had lower
Volunteering has been shown to improve the rates of mortality than nonvolunteers.30 In con-
health of older adults and reduce mortality in trast, one study found that providing help with
myriad ways. Physical well-being may be im- tasks or formal volunteer activities was shown
proved by volunteering,18 especially in older to be associated with fewer depressive symptoms
adults with self-described fair health.3 Adverse than informal volunteerism such as providing
health outcomes such as hip fractures have been care for another person.31 Interestingly, formal
shown to be less likely in older adults who volun- volunteering is associated with higher levels of
teer,19 although some research has shown im- education,32 which is independently linked to
provements only after long-term volunteering.20 better health.33
Geriatric Nursing, Volume 32, Number 2 97
Retired RNs: Perceptions of
Volunteering
Katherine C. Cocca-Bates, MSN, APRN, NP-C
Leslie Neal-Boylan, PhD, CRRN, APRN-BC, FNP
A qualitative study was done to explore the economic forces, with some nurses near retire-
perceptions of volunteering among retired ment age choosing to remain in the workforce
registered nurses (RNs) in Kansas. Partici- and some hospitals choosing to freeze hiring or
pants were volunteers in formal nursing roles change hiring patterns.4 In general, these new
or were using their nursing knowledge and staffing patterns result in an increase in demands
experience in non-nursing roles, such as on nurses’ time. Nurses in every health care
church work. Regardless of the type of volun- setting are being asked to provide increasingly
teer position, retired RNs reported that they complex care to greater numbers of patients.5
use what they have learned as nurses when Volunteers have been used to augment and
they volunteer. Volunteering benefits include enhance nursing care, for example, in delirium
enhanced self-worth, intellectual stimulation, prevention.6 Similarly, a variety of health care
reduced social isolation, and opportunities to organizations may utilize the clinical skills and
help others. Increased paperwork, new tech- knowledge of older, more experienced nurses
nology, difficulty finding nursing-specific vol- as volunteers. Some authors have suggested that
unteer opportunities, resistance from health older nurses can provide assistance to younger
care organizations, and a lack of respect for nurses, by both providing care at the bedside
what these nurses know are challenges and and contributing to the knowledge and clinical
barriers to volunteering. Retired RNs have ac- experience of younger or newer nurses.7,8 Re-
cumulated years of clinical nursing experi- tired registered nurses (RNs) can use their years
ence and can be helpful to employed nurses. of accumulated clinical expertise not only to help
Health care organizations should launch tar- health care facilities and nurses but also to en-
geted efforts to recruit and utilize retired RN hance their own quality of life.
volunteers. Health care professionals who The purpose of this study was to describe re-
care for older adults should recommend vol- search that explored the experience of retired
unteering as a healthful endeavor. (Geriatr RNs and their perceptions about volunteering.
Nurs 2011;32:96-105) A qualitative research design was utilized to bet-
ter understand the experience of these RNs.
Background Experience and Wisdom of Older Nurses
lder adults have much to gain from volun- By the time they retire, nurses have years of ac-
O teerism. Multiple changes affect older
adults as part of normal aging, but these
changes need not be problematic.1 Volunteering
cumulated clinical expertise that can be shared in
clinical settings.9 In a workplace setting, con-
cerns about physical and mental changes in older
employed nurses may affect how these nurses are
after retirement in a role that reflects one’s occu-
pation has the potential to allow for role continu- viewed in terms of safety or performance. How-
ity, which may reduce distress after retirement.1,2 ever, the experience and expertise of older
Changes in health, especially relating to chronic nurses can mitigate any changes in physical and
disease processes, are not uncommon in older mental functioning.10
adults. Self-reported health has been shown to
be improved after participating in volunteer ac- Volunteering among Health Professionals
tivities, even in older adults with multiple chronic
conditions.3 Health professionals of all types have a consid-
Patterns of nursing staffing in the United States erable amount of knowledge and skill to contrib-
are in a period of rapid change because of ute to volunteer roles. For retired physicians and
96 Geriatric Nursing, Volume 32, Number 2
, nurses, work in a community health clinic has In addition to the objective benefits, subjective
been presented as a volunteering option that al- benefits are noted as well. Compared with youn-
lows and encourages maintenance and improve- ger volunteers, older volunteers report greater
ment of clinical skill. A study of retired health perceived health improvements.21
professionals, including physicians and nurses, As a result of increased social engagement and
who volunteered in a community health clinic other factors, volunteering may provide a protec-
found high levels of satisfaction.11 Retired nurses tive benefit for mental health in older adults. In
(RNs and advanced practice nurses) volunteering a longitudinal sample, lower rates of participa-
in an academic nurse-run wellness center were tion in civic activities, including volunteering,
highly satisfied with their volunteering experi- were found to be associated with symptoms of
ences, which included providing health teaching depression in women, but not men.22 In contrast,
to older adults and mentoring student health volunteerism was associated with greater en-
professionals.8 gagement in other activities in a European sam-
Institutions that utilize the volunteer services ple.23 Although in one large longitudinal sample,
of retired health professionals may see a benefit volunteers and nonvolunteers were not found to
as well. The skills and wisdom of older, employed, have a statistically significant difference in the
nonvolunteer nurses have been described in the number of diagnosed illnesses, suggesting a
literature.12 Retired nurses in volunteer roles similar risk for mental health problems, volun-
have the potential to provide clinical services teers were less likely to report symptoms of
that working RNs may not have time to complete, depression.24
potentially saving organizations money.13,14 Volunteering can benefit older adults by pro-
Clinics or centers that are grant-funded or that viding a goal to focus on or a distraction from
serve uninsured or underinsured patients may other concerns. Older adults commonly experi-
also see a cost savings by utilizing retired health ence losses, including loss of identity in retire-
professionals to provide clinical services.8,11 ment2 and loss of loved ones.25 Although more
Concerns about malpractice have been identi- recent research has not found a link between vol-
fied as a barrier to volunteerism in health- unteerism and depression,26 Li (2007) found that
related settings among health professionals. older adults who volunteered several years after
Retired health care providers may feel that the being widowed were less likely to be depressed.27
cost of malpractice insurance is prohibitive.15 Al- Volunteering has been shown to provide a sense
though retired nurses are likely to prefer to carry of purpose to individuals who have suffered
their own malpractice coverage for volunteer ac- a loss in life.2
tivities, in some states, services that are provided The type of volunteerism in which an older
free of charge are exempt from liability.15,16 Fi- adult participates may have an impact on health.
nancial assistance for malpractice insurance One study found a greater positive effect on
can be sought through charitable organizations.17 health in individuals with ties to religious groups
Additionally, malpractice rates for volunteer or who were involved with informal volunteering
part-time work are less expensive than those than those who participated in formal volunteer-
for full-time work. ing activities;28 religious participation generally
affects health positively.29 Therefore, the type
of volunteering seemed to be the most important
Benefits of Volunteering for Older Adults
variable in this study.28 Similarly, a longitudinal
The literature suggests that, for older adults, study in Israel found that volunteers aged over
there are many positive aspects of volunteering. 60 involved in informal volunteering had lower
Volunteering has been shown to improve the rates of mortality than nonvolunteers.30 In con-
health of older adults and reduce mortality in trast, one study found that providing help with
myriad ways. Physical well-being may be im- tasks or formal volunteer activities was shown
proved by volunteering,18 especially in older to be associated with fewer depressive symptoms
adults with self-described fair health.3 Adverse than informal volunteerism such as providing
health outcomes such as hip fractures have been care for another person.31 Interestingly, formal
shown to be less likely in older adults who volun- volunteering is associated with higher levels of
teer,19 although some research has shown im- education,32 which is independently linked to
provements only after long-term volunteering.20 better health.33
Geriatric Nursing, Volume 32, Number 2 97
