[cheerfuldoer]

I would like to hear from any nurse who has been out of the field of nursing for a time, and thinking about returning. I have been inactive for four years due to a medical sabbatical, but am now looking into becoming a Parish Nurse.

I have always maintained an active nursing license in some state since my medical sabbatical, and have kept my BCLS card up to date until this past month when it expired, but I am working on updating it now. I also let my PALS expire, and won't update that unless I return to work in pediatrics.

For any of you who have been out for awhile, and have successfully returned, how difficult was it for you to be hired, and how many of you took a RN refresher course before applying for a job? Did the refresher course teach you anything that you didn't already know, or would you recommend it to other nurses returning to the field?

Thanks for your input, nurses!

[CarolineRn]

Renee, I'm not yet a Nurse, only a student, but I had to reply and give you my support. I'm sure I'm speaking for other nurses already in the field who will welcome you back with open arms! You are so needed! Thanks for coming back, and may your future career provide you with continuous joy and much satisfaction!

I don't know much about parish nursing, could you explain? Would you work for one church, or several within the same denomination? What kind of hours would you have? Is this similar to home health? Would you be paid by the churches or is this mainly charity work you'd be doing?

At any rate, I applaud you!

Caroline

[cheerfuldoer]

Thanks Caroline for your support. I will try to explain Parish Nursing to you tomorrow. It's very late here, and if I try to answer you tonight, I will just slur my sentences. I'll be back tomorrow. Hope you will too. Thanks for your patience with this old lady! Sleep peacefully now!

[rejoice]

I'm a registered nurse since 1997 but i failed to work.I dont have any working experience in my chosen career since then, for i prefered to take care of my kids.This last fast few days, i realized that maybe this is the time to pursui my career as a nurse.But my question is this, I dont know where and how to start.I know my knowledge in nursing are not enough for it was almost 10 yrs having no experience at all.i dont know what to do,where to start and how? Ireally want to pursui my nursing career so please help me. I really need an opinion from u.THANK U!!

[bydpond]

Originally Posted by rejoice

I'm a registered nurse since 1997 but i failed to work.I dont have any working experience in my chosen career since then, for i prefered to take care of my kids.This last fast few days, i realized that maybe this is the time to pursui my career as a nurse.But my question is this, I dont know where and how to start.I know my knowledge in nursing are not enough for it was almost 10 yrs having no experience at all.i dont know what to do,where to start and how? Ireally want to pursui my nursing career so please help me. I really need an opinion from u.THANK U!!

there's actually no problem about that. apply for a job and with the proper orientation everything will just sink in, as i have said, in nursing, there's no turning back.

[ScooterNurse]

Here's what I've experienced. Its been quite humbling. I work in community health, have for the last 15 years. I decided I'd like to return to acute care. I applied at two different hospitals, both were completely disintrested because I'd been out of acute care for so long. No one said a word about just letting me go thru the new grad orientation, they were just plain were not intrested. My license is of course current as I am and have been without interuption employed as a nurse. So I'm taking a "nurse refresher" course, half theory, half free work in a hospital to get my skills current. The course was expensive and I don't need the theory portion, but what are you going to do? My refresher course is thru my local community college....there were lots of them listed online as well. Hopefully I will be viewed as more "worthy" once I complete the course. I would have thought, given the nursing shortage, that a hospital would be willing to orient a seasoned, employed nurse, but that wasn't my experience. Best of luck to you!

[Rinestone]

I am an inactive RN. My last job was way back late 80s as a clinic nurse. It was my choice to stop since my husband worked abroad to personally raise my 2 kids. Now that they are grown ups I decided to come back, took the IELTS and NCLEX-RN and passed. I enrolled myself as a post grad trainee in an acute hospital in Manila to prepare myself for a career in Florida once the retrogression is lifted.

[leslymill]

Originally Posted by bydpond

there's actually no problem about that. apply for a job and with the proper orientation everything will just sink in, as i have said, in nursing, there's no turning back.

I disagree. I have been a nurse since 1981 practiced till 2003. Stopped for four years and am now taking the refresher course. If you have been out of nursing for over four years you should contact your State Board of Nursing for suggestions. If you have not had any nursing experience since 1977 this is way too long. There have been huge jumps in medicine and bedside care in the last three decades. Most of the theorys from the 70's are still in use. I definitely think you need a refresher course and a few ceu's. Then find a job with an excellent preceptorship.

[Plantation mom]

Wow, Rinestone, you are an inspiration. I just found this site because I had done the unforgiveable and let my license expire through a couple of moves and working in a different office environment. I want to retake the boards but am terrified. Did you take a prep class?
Is there anyone else who has had to retake the boards?
Thanks!

[Rinestone]

Originally Posted by Plantation mom

Wow, Rinestone, you are an inspiration. I just found this site because I had done the unforgiveable and let my license expire through a couple of moves and working in a different office environment. I want to retake the boards but am terrified. Did you take a prep class?
Is there anyone else who has had to retake the boards?
Thanks!

Hi Plantation Mom,
Yes, I went into a lot of preparations prior to taking up the NCLEX-RN. I enrolled myself to a review center, read the Mosby's Comprehensive Review of Nursing for NCLEX-RN and Saunders CD.Then I applied to take the exam at California Board of Nursing, took the exam in HongKong in August 2006 and passed! I'm now at the ICU and really like what I'm doing. I know you could also make it so go for it!