Success Returning to Nursing

I am in a similar situation only add a few more years! I am currently enrolled in a refresher course. I am following this thread with interest!

K

Hi, I am also in a similar situation. I graduated in 95 and did not go into Nursing, other than some PRN psych nursing. I worked in a Doctor's office in billing and management, then went into sales. I reactivated my license this past June and have yet to get a position in Nursing!!! I did just accept a temporary position with Mollen Immunization Clinics, administering flu shots. However, I need a FT job. Of course they want to pay me as if I'm 22 just out of Nursing school. This really gets my goat. It's the same in pharmaceutical sales. They want to pay you based on just that professions' experience. They don't take into account all of the other experience you have that definitely applies, especially in Nursing! Now I have to go back to the beginning again which kind of stinks. I don't know if they are just trying to low ball me due to the times or if it's really the way it is??

I don't know if you would count me as inactive, but I have been away from critical care for the last two years (still nursing, but doing something else) and I wonder if I actually need to go back for a refresher myself.

I too am returning to nursing (after staying home to raise my 5 kids). I just got back from my first refresher course class! I was nervous at first but many of the other class members were around my age (45-50) and one at least was 65! I'm in Fl and the instructor said that a majority of the nurses currently working in this area are over 45y.o. I think I will pick up and remember a lot with this course...I'm more concerned with accually finding a job when I'm done as most local hospitals here either aren't hiring or are looking for nurses with current experience. My timing isn't too good, I guess! I had worked on an GYN surgical floor but I don't know what area to look into now. Although I liked the specialty I was in before, I am not the same person I was and don't know if I'd be better suited for another area. I'm not sure I want to work in a hospital setting or something like Home Health. Guess I will have to see what is available when the course is done.

I took the Capscare refresher course and it was great!!!!! The instructor is awesome , the clinical experience was a great one too!!! It gave me back alot of confidence, I have been out of nursing for 25+ years and so many things have changed. But I feel like capscare gave me the tools I needed to be successful. I am presently waiting for my Fl license through endorsement, this process can take 30+ days.So you should definitely check out Capscare online course, I wish you much success in your present endeavor,please keep us updated if you need further info on capscare please feel free to contact me. I will follow this thread with great intrest.

Just thought I'd jump in here. I just finished my nurse refresher course in August and we all were told by the nursing recruiters at our job fair that no matter how much prior experience we had we would essentially be thought of as new grads. I can see the rationale here because alot of the people in my class had been away from nursing for 20 or more years and lets face it things are totally different now.

I am sure that they will consider your past experience in the interview but if you have been away for more than 10 years I think you should expect that they will treat you as a new grad. That's how it is here (MD) anyway.

it really is the way it is... I dont mean to sound mean, but you really do not have much nursing experience, and you time since academic, was lax, towards clinical applications, in the patient care areas, so they regard you as in-experienced. I understand, I was one told I would be started as a new grad, as I had been out a while, well I told them that was not appropriate, as I has at that time some 18yrs. actual clinical patient care experience. I took an administrative job at a different facility, three years ago, now the first place wants to pay me the "going rate. where all this is going, you might need to tuff it out for a year or so, and regroup and you may find the offers etc, more appropriate, LTC is all ways a place you can "cool your heels" and gain some time, and they so need the help. Good luck, it is just a temporafy frustration.

There is hope all!! I returned to nursing after 14 years. I was a work-at-home mom out of nursing raising my child too. I did keep my license through that time though, and I took a college refresher (no clinical included unfortunately) in December. It has taken me until now to get hired with many interview (even for non-bedside) rejections. It all led up to this...I got a position in a smaller hospital through knowing a friend who helped me get an interview. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity and grateful to be starting again. I am nervous as can be, but they say it will all come back. Reviewed some Ekg stuff which seemed to fit back in my brain quickly and so I am hoping the rest falls back together in time. Orientation starts this week - Good luck to all of you. Persistence is key - get all your BLS and refreshers going and get with your network of friends and previous coworkers. It helps to know people - to at least give you a shot at an interview. I was ready to give up when it happened to me...it will happen to you too!