Anyone know about hiring RN refreshers who have had years of previous experience?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Nov 23, 2011

Moved to the Nursing Career Advice forum for more responses.

westieluv · Nov 23, 2011

I have been an RN since 1990. I worked inpatient Med/Surg from 1990-1993, then took four years off to be home with our kids, then went back to the same hospital and worked per diem from 1997-2001, then worked per diem for an agency from 2001-2002, then stayed home again from 2002-2010. When I wanted to go back to work in 2010, the field had been somewhat flooded with new nurses, and I wasn't having any luck getting responses when I applied for inpatient Med/Surg positions except for an occasional "thank you for applying but we are seeking candidates with more recent experience" rejection letter. I took an online RN refresher course and kept applying for jobs. Shortly after completing the refresher course, I got hired as a contingent nurse in an inpatient hospice facility, then moved to the hospice's on-call department and did home visits during the off hours. After about a year of that, I applied for an inpatient Med/Surg position again and this time I got the job. I am now doing that job per diem and working as an intake nurse at hospice as well.

I hope that wasn't too long and drawn out, but I guess I meant for it to answer your question that yes, you can find work again after being out of the workforce and taking a refresher course.

Good luck! :)