Hi all!
Currently expecting my fourth child in September. I have 3 aged 6 and under. Finished my RN-to-BSN online last year, but I didn't work until one year after finishing my RN degree (my youngest was born one week after graduation, so I stayed home with her until she was a year old). I worked June to Sept last year but I didn't make it off of orientation before having to quit - childcare issues, plus the unit I worked for gave me a bad orientation and the nurse:pt ratio was unsafe for the acuity level (stepdown telemetry 6:1 - even 7:1 for a few weeks!). I felt that my license was on the line and wasn't willing to take that risk basically. I left the hospital on good terms and have since been considered for employment there again, but decided it best to wait due to the pregnancy.
Basically, I'm looking for some advice. My license doesn't need renewal until May of next year, but I'm not sure if the board of nursing is aware of my 4 months of working. Or does orientation not count towards working hours?
Anyway, the baby is due this September and I tend to want to stay home with babies for at least the first year. What can I do to stay in the game? I'll have to do some refresher courses, it seems, before I go back to work.
I have considered post-graduate studies because I tend to be a chronic degree seeker... I have been in college for about 8 or 9 academic years, all told (a BA in anthropology). I like to learn and I'm very detail-oriented. I don't think I would be a good academic teacher, but I do like teaching patients.
Is the thought of working towards an NP too far-fetched? I know this much from the work experience I do have (even before nursing school - I worked as a CNA): I tend strongly towards end of life care, and I connect particularly well with oncology patients. I also appreciate the knowledge and critical thinking in cardiac nursing. Basically, anything that requires a challenge, or anything that involves delicate existential holistic care. I am very detail-oriented and I tend to do things "by the books" - I find it very stressful when I see people cutting corners because I think of all the potential implications for the patient (part of the reason I couldn't really handle the unit I was on as a fresh new grad).
The reason why I'm asking about this is because I really miss the world of nursing. I love raising my children but I know that nursing is my secondary calling and I'm anticipating getting back out there one of these days!
If you made it this far into my post, you deserve a medal or something ?
Looking forward to hearing any thoughts or recommendations!
Just a word of advice, when you do go back to work, especially if it is a few years from now...go to a refresher course. Your BON likely requires CNEs. It isn't enough. Many things can change clinically in just a short time. I worked with a very nice woman who had been raising kids for 15 years, but had worked in postpartum for 10 years prior. So much of the charting had changed. Patient teaching, and acuity were different. She had not been responsible for newborn nursing care in the past. We had to let her go. She was crushed. Her needs for orientation were greater than a new grad. Most refresher programs are going to be med-surg oriented, but it will help with charting and organization. There are many online programs. If you don't use it, you lose it. Doing a refresher will give you an edge. If you want to be with your kids right now, that is great. If and when you return to the bedside, make sure you are prepared to give you the best chance for success.
Theoretically speaking, even I do not think going straight into an NP Program and then job is ideal without nursing experience. Going from the student role to floor nursing taught me that there is an extraordinary learning curve to be a good nurse, no matter how wonderful your grades were in school. But I was asking to get a feel for others' opinions on that matter. Thanks for sharing! Since I don't have a definite end goal (although palliative care and/or hospice are definitely on my radar), NP would certainly not be the way to go at this point in my journey. Maybe one day when I've got both feet into clinical practice and know where my "niche" is. Also, perhaps not!
Having a few children has taught me that sometimes life laughs at our best-laid plans, anyway ?
I recently finished NP school as a veteran RN with 14 years of experience behind me and only my pups to care for. I still barely had time to take care of myself and them with classwork, clinic hours, studying and taking care of myself/them/the house. I had to drop from working my 3 12s on weekends (Fri-Sun) to PRN and then quit because the workplace became a disaster zone where we were getting hurt regularly. One of my peers had a baby during the program and it was rough for her. I can't imagine having 3 under 6 to care for, considering you will need solid childcare plans for your clinic hours. Working as an NP isn't any less demanding, either, and the hours aren't exactly any less. Depending on your contract, you can even end up pulling call.
CCCNurse1987
1 Post
Just a word of advice, when you do go back to work, especially if it is a few years from now...go to a refresher course. Your BON likely requires CNEs. It isn't enough. Many things can change clinically in just a short time. I worked with a very nice woman who had been raising kids for 15 years, but had worked in postpartum for 10 years prior. So much of the charting had changed. Patient teaching, and acuity were different. She had not been responsible for newborn nursing care in the past. We had to let her go. She was crushed. Her needs for orientation were greater than a new grad. Most refresher programs are going to be med-surg oriented, but it will help with charting and organization. There are many online programs. If you don't use it, you lose it. Doing a refresher will give you an edge. If you want to be with your kids right now, that is great. If and when you return to the bedside, make sure you are prepared to give you the best chance for success.