Away from bedside for 6 years

[maseymom]

Hi all! I know similar threads have been started but I didn't find one that was exactly like my situation. I graduated in 2007 and worked as a NICU nurse for 2 years. Then I got into case management and did that for 4 years. Two years ago, I quit my case management job to stay home with my child. I am now ready to go back to work and I'm wondering if I will get hired in a hospital. I technically have been out of nursing for 2 years, but out of bedside nursing for 6 years now. I'm in FL and the BON website states you should take a refresher course after 5 years of "not having practiced". But I wonder if they consider case management "practice" or if that's just strictly clinical/bedside. Anyone have a similar situation or any advice? I would be willing to take a refresher course, but I really hope I have a decent chance of getting hired. Thanks!

[Dranger]

You will need to do a refresher course....most likely on your own dime. I highly doubt a hospital will hire a nurse with 2 years of experience that has been out of it that long.

Let's be honest case management is not clinical practice, would you feel comfortable back on the floor tomorrow by yourself?

[maseymom]

Thank you for responding, Dranger. But actually, yesterday I applied for a position in a hospital and I got a call back today. No, case management is not clinical practice, but as a new grad, we went into a hospital and learned on site with orientation. Several RN's that work in local hospitals here tell me that their hospitals will hire an RN with experience (even if they've been away from the bedside for a while) over a new grad.