Advice, please.

TNRNMAN · Sep 28, 2005

I want to re-enter hospital nursing after being out for 17 years. I had 7 years hospital experience when I left (med-surg, ortho-neuro, neuro rehab). I've done some community type nursing since then, but have been raising a family the past 11 years. I've kept up my RN license and took the refresher course a year ago. So.....I'm thinking maybe a tele unit would be helpful to work awhile, and possibly ICU or PACU in the future. I have no idea how I will look to the recruiters, but I was a good nurse once and am willing to learn what I need to learn to do this. I've been reading some of the posts here about tele units, and they seem, well, scary. Could I do this? What would I really expect of a tele unit? Anything good to say about tele units, too? :)

I have worked tele units for years and I think they are great the national standard seems to be around 6 to 1 patient to nurse, that is not too bad depending on what type of patient can be admitted on the floor, if they are cardiac patients they are okay as long as you are not trying to manage a bunch of drips. Most would say go back to the med-surg floor, I think if you tele skills are updated, then you will be fine. I am thinking for you it will be like riding a bike. GO FOR IT. Good Luck. :)

SandraJean · Sep 28, 2005

I don't have tele skills at this point. I'm thinking that I'll need a pretty good orientation since I know a lot has changed since I've worked in in the hospital. How much of an orientation do you think I might get starting on a tele unit?

Anagray, BSN · Sep 29, 2005

Congrats on making a new change in your career! you are right, the equipment has changed, the drugs are there that you probably never even heard of ( like I never heard of Flolan until last year - 5 000$ per vial), the approach has probably changed too, but you know what - you have a very unique quality : broad spectrum of knowlege that will help you so much, I think. Each hospital has an orientation and I am sure that most hospitals will put you through their own tele/critical care classess regardless of whether you are a newbee, a nurse changing specialty or experienced nurse from another facility.

As long as you feel that you are interested in learning, you are going to do really well. In the worst case you can always step back, but I'm sure you'll be fine. You will learn tele well within 6 months or so - this is definitely not as hard as doing a good job raising a family for years!

best of luck to you!

SandraJean · Sep 29, 2005

Thank you for your kind words.