[Southern_Male_Nurse]

I know how you feel. I have been out for awhile. I kept having this feeling in my gut and desire to get back into nursing for a while. I knew that I needed help and badly! Well, the local college is offering a refresher course this fall. I called and decided this was for me. It cost me $800 for it, I sure hope it is worth it. To be honest, I am a little scared about going back in - because of all of the things I have forgotten. But at the same time, I am excited. I am looking forward to it very much! It consist of 30 classes (phase I), with each being almost 4 hours long each. The clinical (phase II), I am not too sure how long. It starts this September (8th), I will post on it, if it will help anyone else that is in the same boat as I am: a little scared about going back in, but have that desire to get back on the floor.

[mskitty]

Just curious about this-I am taking care of my disabled son d/t a mva 2.5 yrs ago & am being paid by his estate (trust dept @ bank). I am doing some nursing so will this count for working? Also where do you find out about refresher courses-are they offered just in certain areas of Texas?
TIA

[avalon1946]

does anyone know what virginia law is as far as having to take a refresher course after so long not working. i retired a year ago but still keeping my license up. thanks

[iwanna]

I am an inactive LPN. I have not worked since June of 2004. I have sarcoidosis. My condition has been well controlled for the past year. I said that if I went a year with no hospitalizations that I would look into returning to work. So, that is where I am at now. I believe that I have some limitations and definitely would not be a floor nurse. I am on immunosuppresants. I have been thinking maybe perhaps returning to the last place I worked.(If they will have me) I left on good terms, but I don't know if there are would be any openings. It was a psychiatric hospital.
But, first I am trying to build up my strength by working out at a gym. Or, my other option is to check out working in a doctor's office. And, specifically, a specialist. In fact, that is what my primary doctor recommended. I have even contemplated on getting my RN since there are more opportunities for RNs. But, probably more for ones that have had hospital experience. I am limited there. I have only worked in LTC briefly, and then went to Behavioral Health. I have been trying to do some research on refresher courses in my local area. I haven't found any in my area, and they seem to be so expensive. I was thinking just a few hundred dollars.
Another option that I was looking at was returning to school for addiction counseling. I have pre-req courses that I took for my RN schooling.(but did not complete program and transferred into practical nursing) But, I am already 50 and believe it would take too much time.
I am still paying for my school loans.
I really need to return to work for financial reasons. My husband is 59 and his wages are low. He does not want me to return to nursing because he is worried about my health. But, I have been stable.
So, I am looking into refresher courses, but cannot even find any locally. My license was just up for renewal last year. So, it has only been on inactive status for a year. I want the refresher course for my own sake. I worked in Ohio, last. I live in Pennsylvania. So, I am not sure what state I would even work in. I know in Ohio that LPNs must have 24 CEUs. In PA there is no state requirement.
I really just need a quick brush up.
Sorry for all the typos. I cannot get my spellcheck to work.
Also, sorry for being such a long post.

[olderthandirt]

Has anyone checked about a refresher course online? I bet they offer them and clinicals could be done at a local hospital?

[olderthandirt]

Did you know that if you become disabled that you can be forgiven your student loans? Check into it. I am not sure if it can be done at anytime or when finishing at college, but I know that they caN BE FORGIVEN.

[Noot]

When I left my job at the hospital, I was in O.B. taking care of moms, newborns and scrubbing for C-Sections. As an LPN, I took and gave report, did my own assessments, meds and I.V.'s and generally ran my butt off. It has been over ten years and I still have dreams of getting behind on my charting and fear a sudden crash C-Section. I loved nursing so much that I have done the educational requirements to keep my license up, but after reading this thread ---I'm going to let it lapse next summer. All I have been doing is supporting some continuing education places and refusing to believe that I, too, am older than dirt. I could just cry!

[avalon1946]

i have been retired for over a year now and then come down with cancer. had pneumonia after that and then had to have radiation. the people i worked with just ignored me. but when i was there we got along and worked togeather. seems like since i retired no one wants to be bothered. why? like out of sight out of mind. i am so hurt by this.one girl i thought we are tight used me every chance she got and i got tired of her hurting me so i broke off the friendship.how do i get over all of this?

[Noot]

For Avalon 1946, The thing about former employees treating you differently after retirement is not just a nursing phenomenon, it happens in every job in the world. It's like pulling your hand out of a bucket of water --- the water fills in around the void and nothing has changed. I know I felt badly for a couple of years and warned my husband before he retired that you feel worthless. He had been the boss of a large company, so it took four years for him to accept that we are in a different place of life. I guess we should accept the change and start enjoying the freedom of retirement. I would tell you to stay away from your former job site. You always feel worse after seeing people who really don't care --- get out and find some new friends, ones that won't look at you for what you can do for them.

[LVNightingale]

I am a California LVN and let my license lapse due to staying home, having kids and doing transcription so I could be an at-home mommy. After that I helped in a medical office as needed and did medical office managing for one year, but didn't need my license for that and couldn't afford to keep renewing my license at the time. At any rate, I just contacted the Board of Vocational Nursing. They indicated that all I needed to do was to qualify for and take the NCLEX-PN exam. It's going to take me approximately three months to get everything done, at least from what I can figure. Fortunately transcription has kept my medical info current, but I am also looking at a refresher course in Garden Grove that looks good. I will most likely stay with clinic/office nursing.

Hope this helps!