Descriptive study of the transition from employment to retirement for women

Most of the research on work and retirement has been conducted with men. However, as more women enter the labor force, it is increasingly probable that the nurse in any setting will encounter women making the transition from employment to retirement. Because of the dearth of information available, nurses lack a knowledge base for dealing with these women. At the most basic level, no attempts have been made to identify how women define and evaluate themselves in relation to work and what the experience of retirement means. This exploratory/descriptive study was designed to describe and explore the process of retirement for women. Forty-seven retired women and 13 employed women were interviewed. Content analysis of the interviews constituted data analysis. The phenomenon of retirement was examined in the context of the women's professional and personal life. Included in the data analysis were a demographic profile; cataclysmic and personal changes experienced; general patterns and types of employment; reasons for seeking employment; problems associated with employment; constituents of a good job; reasons for retiring; attitudes toward and preparation for retirement; problems associated with retirement; health changes; measures taken to preserve health; hindrances and help to adjustment to retirement; and relocation after retirement. This study has raised a host of questions. Two concepts particularly important for the future direction this line of research should take are: a) identifying optimal preparation to minimize problems experienced by women making the transition to retirement, and b) developing a plan to integrate concepts nurses can use to assist the women in this transition throughout nursing education and practice.