Considering a return to nursing

[strange_jayne]

I worked as an ER nurse for over 10 years; I have been "out" of nursing for 7 years. Before I left nursing, I got divorced, moved, and had a few per diem/part time jobs of which only one was a really good fit. I worked at four local hospitals after getting divorced/moving. At the first hospital my preceptor really didn't like me, and I wasn't even there long enough to complete my orientation, so I resigned...a school mate's suggestion - she thought they were going to ASK for my resigination and that I'd better resign on my own first...BUT...I am the "outspoken" type and sent copies of my very nasty resignation to everyone - the CEO, Head Nurse, Human Resources, etc. The hospital was into "mandatory overtime" - they called it an on-call sign-up sheet. They were also into "salaried" positions for some of their nurses - so if you worked beyond whatever you'd consider "full-time", oh well, you weren't getting any extra pay.

At the second job another nurse with less experience than me, with NO current CPR, and NO current ACLS was getting $8.00 an hour more per hour than I. I asked around and found out EVERYONE who worked there was being paid at vastly different rates. I was on "orientation" and turned in my "immediate" resignation the next day - and of course, hand-carried my nasty resignation letter to every department, including the CEO's office.

Hospital #3 worked out while they had per diem work. Everyone seemed to get along, I did my holidays as required, no one complained about me, I did not complain about them - they just ran out of ER per diem work after taking on more full-time staff: newbies fresh out of school for the ER. So I got a non-nursing job as an office temp - until THAT job ended.

Hospital #4: Per diem in the ER once again. Nice people; nice little community hospital. I got along with EVERYONE - even the doctors other nurses complained about...UNTIL one doc said the "F" word to me. I kept working that day, even though I KNEW NO ONE deserved that kind of abuse. I was trying to help another nurse and got yelled at because I didn't drop my pen in the middle of signing out an ER patient AMA.

The next day, the hospital cancelled ME. On the third day, I got called into the head nurse's office where I told "my side" of the story. Bottom line is I sent a very nasty letter to the CEO and everyone concerned about what happened and made it clear I would not return to work until they did something about it. My head nurse resigned and got replaced by the "little snitch" who made sure she told the head nurse and anyone else who mattered about what happened regarding the "F" word incident - even though the snitch wasn't a witness. Oh yes, the doc HAD done that sort of thing before - my Head Nurse made sure to tell me that in her office. Poetic justice won out in the end - the snitch lost her "Head Nurse" position to the hospital's nurse recruiter!

So why am I thinking of returning to nursing???? Steady work and decent pay. I am tired of looking for work and getting jobs that end when the work runs out.

I am wondering just how difficult it will be to get back in; the refresher course stuff just doesn't make sense - I worked at a number of places that hired fresh grads for ER & ICU positions. Sometimes I'm paranoid that my name is on some kind of do not hire "blacklist". I honestly wouldn't mind trying to get back into hospital #1 - they do have postings for ER right now. Unfortunately my CPR & ACLS ran out long ago.

Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated; otherwise I may have practice saying, "welcome to Walmart", or "would you like fries with that"?

[RN1989]

Depends on how badly you REALLY want to be a nurse. Nothing has changed for the better. I still see scenarios like yours played out everywhere. In fact, I've had similar because I refuse to be treated like crap and I tend to open my mouth. Last night I happened to find a copy of my resignation from a facility that I think DID blacklist me with Group One in TX. That resignation was a scathing rendition of the unsafe level of care at that facility which ultimately made the CNO look bad (I was management). It would have been more politically correct to simply resign without a reason and thank them for the opportunity to work there. But I just couldn't stand by without getting the issues recorded somewhere (besides the JCAHO and DHHS reports that I filed).

So, if you think you can suck it up and work no matter what and not be so verbal about the issues, you probably have a good shot at getting a job that you are willing to keep. That is how most nurses keep their jobs - they ignore the issues, gripe about them at home, and never say a word.

Since you are experienced, you may find difficulty getting a position. After all, facilities prefer newbies that aren't verbal about the issues and will settle for low pay. In that case, I would recommend that you take a refresher course anyway, just to make yourself look like you are serious about returning to work. One of the reasons that they could use against you for not hiring is that you have been out too long. Of course I doubt with your history that would be the real reason. If you take a refresher course then they CANNOT use that type of excuse. They will have to be a little more creative.

You will definitely need to get your BLS and ACLS back before you go job hunting to be more marketable. Us experienced and verbal nurses need all the help we can get.

Good luck on whatever you decide.

[showbizrn]

:oornt:

HEAR YE! HEAR YE!

WHEN I RESIGN

EVERYONE MUST KNOW!!!

(kidding)

Seriously,

I'd say why not return to nursing?

You've certainly invested enough "chill-out time" in other occupations

So come-on back

In fact,

:wlcmblks:

WELCOME BACK TO NURSING!!!

I'd keep away from your previous employers, though.

Just my

[Larry77, RN]

Sounds like you may be better off doing agency per diem again because you shouldn't be as involved with the issues of each dept. and if you don't like one hospital just don't go back.

All of the issues you stated do sound awfully familiar however...this is not an easy job and management is not on our side no matter how many free coffees they give us.

You could take a CEN review course just to make sure you remember all you should, would be a lot better than a nursing refresher class.

Good luck!

[strange_jayne]

Thanks for your replies; taking a CEN refresher course is a GREAT idea! I checked out a few links on google - it looks like the courses are for one day - that doesn't seem like a whole lot of time.

I am not too keen on the per diem/agency stuff. I have seen agency and per diem get too many "patient dump" assignments while regular staff sits at the nurses station - not that they really have time to do that, they just do. I do try very hard NOT to get involved in politics.

I DID work agency at hospital #2 on their telemetry floor - since I was an "RN" they had me signing off an LPN's work and being responsible for her assessments - ME - first time there and sight unseen. At another hospital I was working ER through agency - first time there too - taking care of my patients and giving "dinner" breaks to their staff - I never got a "break" - not that I expected one - I DID get to go pee ONCE. At the end of my 3-11 shift I thought I was getting caught up when I was pulled aside and told, "we have two patients en route; the medics are intubating one now, and the other is having an MI - don't worry, you won't get BOTH...". Gosh, golly, gee, thanks! I already had a psych patient try to escape on me that night which caused some havoc - he got stopped by security. It was a weird night; I went back once more and decided they were short staffed (and hence needed agency help) for a reason.

[psynurs]

go back in, but take it slow....get your feet wet.....try something new...there are so many options out there without the hospital politics....clinics, dr. office, home health..etc. well, you know

I was out for a few years and went back and tried psych....i loved it and am still doing that. just a suggestion....

[Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN]

My advice, never burn your bridges. Nursing has changed in the time you have been out. A good place will require you to have a long orientation. Expect to be treat like a new graduate ( and expect a new graduate pay).

Why not try a less intense nursing setting? Long term care or home health?