Back to nursing after raising kiddos

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Hi, I am very new at this. I was wondering if there was anyone else like me that has taken a considerable amount of time away from clinical nursing to raise their kids and then decided to get back into it when they were old enough. That is basically my story, one child is 16 and one 9 and I have stretched not working as long as I can. Its time to get back in there now but have found it harder than I thought it would be.

I have thought about taking a nurse refresher course but really dont want to do that if I dont have to. Would love to work in this fairly new pain management center in my town and have an interview Friday with them. Does anyone have any advice for me before my interview?

Since it has been so long since Ive been in clinical nursing I dont have a lot of self confidence but think I could learn a new field if given the chance. I just might be kinda slow at first. do you think I have a chance?

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Welcome to allnurses.com! I moved your post to a more suitable Forum, where I am sure you will get some responses. I am sure that the Pain Management Forum at: https://allnurses.com/forums/186/ will also be helpful.

Good luck!

Suebird :p

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Specializes in Skilled.

Hi SDRN.

Do not worry about your time away. Raising 2 children is alot of clinical experience in itself. Be confident. Everything will come back to you.

After being out of nursing for many, many years.....I dove into skilled nursing and did fabulous. Once you are hired, ask questions as need be and wing it as you go. You will be great. It is wonderful you raised your own kids.

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Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.

Hi SDSRN,

Welcome to the site! I did the same thing......was a stay-at-home mom while my kids were younger and then went back to nursing. It is scary.....lots of changes since you last worked. But raising kids and all that goes with that is a very big (and important) job. I wouldn't trade the days I spent at home with my kids for anything. Did you do any volunteer work at the kids' schools....any PTA experience or anything similar. Volunteer experience is also valuable. And shuttling kids to their various activites takes alot of organizational skills. Don't sell yourself short.

Did you keep your nursing license active? Just curious. I don't know how it is in your state, but where I live, my license went inactive since I didn't work. So I had to take a refresher course in order to reactivate it.

Good luck!!!

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Many years ago I did the same thing. I stayed at home for 12 years until my youngest was in school. I chose to take a 6 week refresher course offered by a local community college since I was nervous that "I might have forgotten everything". I was delighted to discover that this wasn't true but the course did offer me the opportunity for hands-on experience with technology (think med pumps, compression boots, computer charting, etc) that hadn't existed when I had previously practiced nursing. The clinicals at our local hospital also gave me an inside track on a job when the nurses I worked with urged me to apply. I did and worked there happily for many years. Good luck Kathy

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Hello

I am happy that I am not alone...!!

I was out of nursing for 5 yrs..and being a house wife and mom.. Now its time for me also to go back and I did give the interview....Well..I got the job. That made me more confident...and I am sure I will be able to give you more tips once I start working....

Just remember...you are not alone...so many people go back to their carrer after a long break...

good luck..!!

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SDSRN,

You will do well! I promise! I've been there! I took approximately 14 years off to raise my children, was in the middle of a very nasty divorce and went back.I worked as a nurses' aid for two weeks and then did the nurse refresher course, which was a huge confidence builder because I realized I could have taught the course (except for the cardiac info that was actually new). I then did basic nurse orientation, then critical care classes and now happily work in CCU and precept students and new nurses! You will a much better nurse at this stage of your life because of all your life experiences. Good luck and keep us posted!

Melissa

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