Refresher/Re-entry

[DogWmn]

Hi everyone, I was an LPN for 19 years, left due to burn out and now I'm trying to return for several reasons, the economy (unemployed going on 18 months ), no one will hire a 59 year old as an Admin type (yah age discrimination but the DOL sez it's impossible to prove :angthts:, I want to return to a solid profession that I can continue part time once I hit my "golden years" (mine won't be golden more like copper as in pennies ).

I'd love to hear from those of you who are considering, have or are doing a refresher/re-entry program. How is it going? What were/are your experiences? Are you doing an on-line/clinical or a class room/clinical? What worked/works for you? Your thoughts on the whole process.

Any instructors of these programs please chime in. Or anyone who's worked with or is working with or mentored someone. I'm trying to gather as much info as possible.

I've recently completed required CE's to re-activate my license in another state and don't feel they were enough for me to safely practice again and want to create my own self-study course. I've purchased Foundations and Adult Health Nursing by Christensen & Kockrow along with it's companion Virtual Clinical Excursion and Study Guide. Also, a new Taber's, mine was of the 1971 vintage a true classic but worthless...LOL. My short term goal is to update myself as much as possible with book learning. My hopefully not so long term goal is to move to a state I can take a refresher course in, if and when my property sells (anyone want 10+ acres in NE GA ). My long term goal is to again become a proficient working nurse.

Thanks in advance for any responses

[Sunrise2009]

Inform yourself about all aspects of your re-entry program.

Particularly, I am referring to the clinical components. In my case,

there were lengthy delays in getting any clinical arranged - they

seemed to have difficulty finding preceptors, then they would claim that

they had all of the "other" students who needed preceptors (so I, doing

the distance learning program - sort of got lost in their shuffle).

Find out what you can about clinical arrangements, preceptor arrangements,

preceptor training, back up plan if preceptor becomes ill or is unexpectedly

called away (this is what happened in my case - and the school had no

replacements - more delays, restart the clinical, etc.).

I wish you success.