Bsn giving up

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Specializes in CTCU, cardiac office, preop/pacu.

:)Okay I'm an RN with a BSN. I worked 2-1/2 years in ICU and then 1 year in a large cardiology office after having a child. So I have 3-1/2 years experience and a BSN. I quit to be a work-at-home mom for about 13 years. I came home to raise my child, and now am able to return to my profession, but I can't get anywhere. I have the ability to do resource or part time...resource being 2-4 days a week and am available...I will give up my business at home (medical transcription which kept my head in medicine) the day I land a job.

I know I would need a refresher for hands on (versus case management etc) but recruiters just don't seem to want to do much, say much and don't seem really to care. I just don't feel like I am taken seriously and not sure what to do. I have attended health fairs, have a friend in the field, but I've been beat out through in-house employees and one who said I needed a year current experience for clinical documentation (I understand that one). I seriously am not interested in floor nursing but aren't there other options? Trying to find out local hospital refresher requirements to see if I can get into sam-day/opt surgery or something, pat. Just not sure where to turn, what to do, how to get back in and thinking they just aren't willing to take a chance on me which doesn't make sense? case manager position may be coming up which I'd like to apply for but I just wanted input as how those of you working felt...am I that far gone that it's pointless? I really do realize everything has changed, but I just want a chance. I didn't work eight years while working a full time job getting a degree for nothing....or did i?

thanks for your thoughts.

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After being out of the profession for 13 years, you probably have to suck it up and work the floor for a while. You just can't expect to be seen on the same level as someone who's been current all this time. Good luck.

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Specializes in CTCU, cardiac office, preop/pacu.

i figure as much. sorry didn't mean to be unclear about that. can't seem to get anywhere with it in general. thanks for your input :)

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Gotcha, I thought you just meant you couldn't find more critical positions. It must be frustrating to not even get anywhere with med/surg. Have you applied for a part time position on a med/surg floor? I can see being reluctant to hire you for resource or prn because of the lack of recent experience. Are there refresher courses in your area? I would think that would help. Good luck!

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Having been out of nursing for awhile but not as long as you, I would say the first problem with trying to get back in will be your part-time status. Typically a refresher course can be very intense but difficult part-time. Also, if a hospital is willing to put you through a refresher course, which from their vantage is paying your way until you can be valuable to them (not looking at it from your standpoint, simply pointing out possibly theirs so no offense intended), they may not feel it would be worth it for someone that will just work part-time.

Is there anyway you can do it full time for awhile? Some avenues to take: find a local smaller hospital if able willing to give you a LONG precept course evaluating your ability to eventually take a schedule on your own (which is what I did). Take basic courses in a local college hopefully able to find a refresher program. Call some hospitals and ask about their preceptor program then talk to the person over the program asking also about refresher courses.

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After several years of nursing I stayed home for 12 years to have and raise 4 children. Once the youngest was in school full days (1st grade) I took a nurse refresher course at my local community college. Part of the course was supervised clinicals in my local hospital. The course was 6 weeks long if I recall right. I not only got "refreshed" and my self confidence back, I was offered and took a floor position at that hospital which was offered to me before I even applied. So, why not try that route? Good luck!

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Specializes in CTCU, cardiac office, preop/pacu.

Michigoos - Yes, that's what I'm looking into. Have a hiring event with the hospital I worked for this week. Have a contact and planning on finding out what type refresher they have or require and going from there. It's possible they have one of their own. Last contact with recruiter said she was not sure depending on dept that hired? Odd. However, that does seem to be something I'm going to have to do quickly as time is getting away from me.

As Straydandelion mentioned, I need to possiby do FT - which I can do but before summer - just not sure I can after June so I really am trying to get moving on this as I don't know how long refresher is and how long orientation would be. I've been waiting on positions that opened but didn't (long story) and interviews etc since March! Now I have to be more proactive. So appreciate the input. Maybe I'm doubting myself in general since it's been so long! :wink2:

thx again.

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Last contact with recruiter said she was not sure depending on dept that hired?

A rough interpretation of the statement: the hospital/facillity has no refresher course and the recruiter will have to talk to different departments to see if they are willing for a long precept time (though just a guess))

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I would take a college nursing refresher course. THere are a lot of things that have changed in all these yrs. then i guess basically they may be able to hire you as like a new grad. good luck

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