Am I Crazy To Consider Going Back To Work?

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I’ve been out of clinical practice for 10 years. I got a call yesterday from a company that runs 38 nursing homes near me. The have had 17 positives and 2 deaths. They are hiring like crazy because they are creating COVID isolation units in the facilities that have positives. Basically hired me over the phone for a supervisory RN job. Said I would not have much direct care, primarily supervising LVN and CNA. They did promise PPE. The pay rate is very good. I don’t have to work but feel like I should. I am healthy and my husband is healthy. Am I crazy to take the risk if I don’t have to?

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Specializes in Tele RN on the West Coast.

It depends on your risk and stress tolerance. Maybe do a pro/con list, for instance:

Pro: Helping save lives, money for doing that life saving job, sense of pride in self for being willing to go above and beyond, having a job during this hard economic time, etc.

Cons: Worries for the life of any person in close contact, including yourself and kids. Will likely feel the need to isolate yourself from all contacts friends and family alike. If you don't the contacts may just stay away due to their own fears, which is understandable. Who knows for how long this will be. A constant feeling you have CV and are going to give it to a pt. or loved one (even if you have no symptoms). Eventual lack of proper PPE. Etc, you get the idea.

-The point being only you can make your own pro/con list and decide what is right for you. My choice to continue to work and my list of what matters is different from yours. I encourage you to carefully make this decision by considering all that you know and feel.

Good luck and stay safe in either choice you make.❤

-SW

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Specializes in Patient Safety Advocate; HAI Prevention.

I have been retired for 20 years (retired from clinical nursing at 50yoa) and I am 70 years old. I called my local medical center and asked if they had remote work for retired nurses. They loved the idea and I recruited 5 other retired nurses. We will do remote COVId 19 triage calls. At my age, and risk level, I would not go back to a clinical setting, no matter where it was, but we are all different and your choice is yours alone. Best wishes in whatever you choose.

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