Nurses who haven't been doing acute care

llg, PhD, RN · Mar 21, 2006

I don't know if it is "usual," but it is very common. New grads are generably very teachable and prepared to do what it takes to succeed. They are familiar with today's environment, having recently been in the hospital as a student and having recently studied the current health care climate.

Nurses who have been out of the hospital for a period of years often have not kept up with the changes that have occurred in recent years -- both in terms of clinical care and in terms of "climate." They may expect things to be like they were the last time they worked in a hospital and expect to be able to slip right back into their old level of expertise without having to change a lot of the ways they do things and look at things. Sometimes, they have unrealistic expectations and really struggle with "reality shock" when they try to adjust to a world they thought they knew -- but really don't. Many "older" nurses are also not happy with the changes in nursing and are thereful unhappy with their new jobs. They may also be unhappy with having to "start at the bottom again" and re-learn their old profession ... as well as with not having the benefits of seniority they gave up when they left. So, they can be unhappy employees.

Of course, that's not true for everybody -- and I am writing in very broad generalizations here. As we all know, it really depends on the individual person and the particular situation. But it is often more difficult for the nurse who has been out of the hospital for a number of years to come back than it is for a new grad to become competant.

llg

SFCardiacRN · Mar 21, 2006

New grads don't have bad habits. We prefer them in the OR over RN's experienced in other fields.

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Mar 21, 2006

Having never worked acute care as a nurse, I find it to be very true. The hospitals want nothing to do with you. I have heard from several nurses who had been out of acute care and took refresher courses that they experienced the same total lack of interest.

jen42 · Mar 21, 2006

Jeez! Well, I hope *somebody* will hire me...

llg, PhD, RN · Mar 21, 2006

Jeez! Well, I hope *somebody* will hire me...

Oh ... you'll probably find a job ... but you might have to really make an effort to "sell" yourself and what you have to offer. You'll need to convince a potential employer that you HAVE kept up with changes in the nursing profession and that you ARE prepared to do what it will take to succeed. As I said in my post, there are people who come back to hospital nursing after being away for a while and who succeed. You'll just have to present yourself as being one of them.

Also, you might have to make a few compromises in the position you take. It may not be your first choice ... and/or it may not offer the perfect schedule, etc. Then, after you have been successful in that job for a while, you will have a lot more opportunities open up for you.

You might want to look for a job that includes a strong orientation program -- one that will give you an orientation similar to what a new grad would receive.

Good luck,

llg

Mijourney · Mar 24, 2006

I agree that nurses that haven't been doing acute care in years are a tough sell. But, I feel that there are those nurses who have worked in a variety of settings that are open to change. I'm one of them. While I'm not in an acute care setting at this time, if I were to go back, I would be optimistic about learning new technology and new techniques of direct patient care. I review my trade journals when I have a chance and am aware that things are not like they use to be. What I would expect from an acute care employer if I had to go back is that they allow me the same time for acclimating to my new environment as a new grad. This includes the refresher course.

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Mar 25, 2006

Hey, Jen. With no disrespect intended to anyone, the picture painted here seems a little too gloomy for my taste.

Please don't think of yourself as "un-hirable." You're 28, and I take it a nurse that has practiced in an alternative role outside the hospital.

You've got a lot to offer: Bring out the strength of your schooling, your learning in practice, any professional associations you've made, life experiences, accomplishments, growing communication skills, positive attitude, present and future career goals, etc. I could go on but you get the idea.

Your professional career is in its infancy... and not dead or dying!

Good luck!

flasandy42 · Mar 25, 2006

>>>

i think it would be really difficult to go back to nursing without some kind of refresher course. there have been so many changes in charting, paperwork, various machines, techniques and job descriptions. i've only been out of hospital nursing two years and there is so much i've already forgotten. :eek:

llg, PhD, RN · Mar 25, 2006

I should have included in my previous posts that I have done it (somewhat). I have been away from acute care a couple of times in my career and been able to "come back."

The first time was when I was out of the hospital completely for 2.5 years (except for a little clinical time) while I got my MSN. Part of my CNS role after I graduated included working as a staff nurse occasionally and I was able to do it.

10 years later, when I got my PhD, I was totally out of the hospital for a 7 full years -- then returned to the Neonatal ICU in a CNS/educator role. While I never had to function fully in that role as a staff nurse, I did do some staff nursing as part of my orientation. After about 3 weeks of orienting as a staff nurse, I started to settle in again. I never got completely re-oriented to the staff nurse role because I had to get to work on my CNS projects -- but I could see that if I had gotten a full orientation, I could have done it.

It is possible -- but not easy.

llg

johnson0424 · Mar 27, 2006

you just described what i am going through. i am a nurse w/ 5 yrs experience. i spent 1 1/2 yrs in the hospital (med surg) and 3 1/2 in LTC in management and now b/c of FNP school i am trying to get more clinical and would love to go to the ER but guess what? they wont take me they say i need to go back to to med surg 1st then transfer...i think it is crazy. they were saying they wanted nurses w/experience in acute care but then a new grad walks up and they talk to her like she has 20 yrs...it makes me ill!!!

linda scottish nurse · Mar 27, 2006

that just sounds so down heartening