Can I take a break from nursing and come back later without issue?

[Snowbird17]

A little background.

I have been in the ICU for over 7 years and recently found out I was pregnant with my second child. It was a surprise but we are truly thrilled. Sadly, I was all set to start an anesthesia program this Fall and had to back out. I was already very dissatisfied at work, but that was a big blow. I dropped to PRN and have been looking for something outside of the ICU that is also located closer to the house we are in the process of buying. Insult to injury, the census has been very low for months and I find I am getting cancelled or floated to the Step-down unit. Recently, they have started to float us to tele too.

I am strongly considering taking a break to be a fulltime Mommy and revisiting nursing the end of next year or even later. I ended up on bedrest in my last pregnancy and really don't want the stress of work, no matter how few days a month.

Is this a career killer? Should I keep my foot in the door where I am employed now and work the minimum until I deliver?

I am obviously showing and doubt it will be possible to find a job at this point.

Anyone out there who has taken a break from nursing and came back later without issue?

At this point, becoming a CRNA is not feasible with our family situation. I really can't imagine being in a progrma with two small children. Therefore, I am really ready to get out of the ICU altogether. So not only will I be coming back with a big employment gap, but all I have is ICU experience.

Similar Stories? Suggestions?

[Dixielee, BSN, RN]

I think it boils down to family. Do you look at nursing as a job or as a career? I've done it for 38 years and it has always been my job. My family is what defines me, not my job. If you truly want to persue anesthesia school, there will be time later. You have one shot at getting it right for your family. I have taken breaks over the years when I needed to be home more for my children. I was in an FNP program when my daughter left for college and my son started having problems at school. I dropped out of the program and devoted my time to getting my son straightened out. My thinking was that I could go to school anytime, but my son needed me most at that very moment, and I dare not miss it.

In the long run, you probably would be better served to stay minimally PRN just to make it easier when and if you want to return to work full time. The longer you are out, the harder it is to get back in the groove and who knows what the future economy will hold. If you worked one 8 hour shift per month, or even pay period, you would stay current with your BLS, changes in equipment, trends, etc. without sacrificing your family.

You can still read nursing journals, take online classes for CEU's, keep your license current, etc. while devoting yourself primarily to your family.

Good luck with your pregnancy, and may your family enjoy a long, loving and enriching life together. Consider yourself blessd.

[Good Morning, Gil]

If you're burnt out in the ICU and want a change, then go for it, though you probably won't be able to do this realistically until after the birth of your child. Technically, you should be able to do an internal transfer now, and there's nothing wrong with doing so if you know that you will be coming back after the baby is born. If you go to another unit, they will give you a week or two or three of orientation time, and if you're about to have the baby, then it's only fair to return after baby is born.

If you're not planning on coming back and planning on being a full time mom, then it might be best to stay in the ICU for now. It's really up to you, though. If you do plan on staying in the hospital, then transfer to another unit.

If you ever have plans on becoming a CRNA in the future, you will need recent ICU experience. It's not like your years won't count on the application, but they're going to want recent experience. It sounds like you're not planning on going in the next few years, so I say, it's time to say goodbye to ICU. You sound burnt out. Dialysis nursing would be good for a pregnant gal, I would think...they sometimes get to sit for long periods of time, especially since they have to watch the machine, and it seems low stress.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

Some state have minimum practice hours per year, I believe. So best to check that out before quiting entirely. And at least minimal working will greatly ease your way back in.

[tnbutterfly - Mary, BSN]

Moved to Nursing Career Advice for more response. Good luck with your decision.