For Inactive Nurses desiring to return to the field

Published

Specializes in Community Health Nurse.

I would like to hear from any nurse who has been out of the field of nursing for a time, and thinking about returning. I have been inactive for four years due to a medical sabbatical, but am now looking into becoming a Parish Nurse.

I have always maintained an active nursing license in some state since my medical sabbatical, and have kept my BCLS card up to date until this past month when it expired, but I am working on updating it now. I also let my PALS expire, and won't update that unless I return to work in pediatrics.

For any of you who have been out for awhile, and have successfully returned, how difficult was it for you to be hired, and how many of you took a RN refresher course before applying for a job? Did the refresher course teach you anything that you didn't already know, or would you recommend it to other nurses returning to the field?

Thanks for your input, nurses!;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Renee, I'm not yet a Nurse, only a student, but I had to reply and give you my support. I'm sure I'm speaking for other nurses already in the field who will welcome you back with open arms! You are so needed! Thanks for coming back, and may your future career provide you with continuous joy and much satisfaction!

I don't know much about parish nursing, could you explain? Would you work for one church, or several within the same denomination? What kind of hours would you have? Is this similar to home health? Would you be paid by the churches or is this mainly charity work you'd be doing?

At any rate, I applaud you!

Caroline

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community Health Nurse.

:) Thanks Caroline for your support. I will try to explain Parish Nursing to you tomorrow. It's very late here, and if I try to answer you tonight, I will just slur my sentences. :eek: I'll be back tomorrow. Hope you will too. Thanks for your patience with this old lady! :) Sleep peacefully now!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm a registered nurse since 1997 but i failed to work.I dont have any working experience in my chosen career since then, for i prefered to take care of my kids.This last fast few days, i realized that maybe this is the time to pursui my career as a nurse.But my question is this, I dont know where and how to start.I know my knowledge in nursing are not enough for it was almost 10 yrs having no experience at all.i dont know what to do,where to start and how? Ireally want to pursui my nursing career so please help me. I really need an opinion from u.THANK U!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I'm a registered nurse since 1997 but i failed to work.I dont have any working experience in my chosen career since then, for i prefered to take care of my kids.This last fast few days, i realized that maybe this is the time to pursui my career as a nurse.But my question is this, I dont know where and how to start.I know my knowledge in nursing are not enough for it was almost 10 yrs having no experience at all.i dont know what to do,where to start and how? Ireally want to pursui my nursing career so please help me. I really need an opinion from u.THANK U!!

there's actually no problem about that. apply for a job and with the proper orientation everything will just sink in, as i have said, in nursing, there's no turning back.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Here's what I've experienced. Its been quite humbling. I work in community health, have for the last 15 years. I decided I'd like to return to acute care. I applied at two different hospitals, both were completely disintrested because I'd been out of acute care for so long. No one said a word about just letting me go thru the new grad orientation, they were just plain were not intrested. My license is of course current as I am and have been without interuption employed as a nurse. So I'm taking a "nurse refresher" course, half theory, half free work in a hospital to get my skills current. The course was expensive and I don't need the theory portion, but what are you going to do? My refresher course is thru my local community college....there were lots of them listed online as well. Hopefully I will be viewed as more "worthy" once I complete the course. I would have thought, given the nursing shortage, that a hospital would be willing to orient a seasoned, employed nurse, but that wasn't my experience. Best of luck to you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am an inactive RN. My last job was way back late 80s as a clinic nurse. It was my choice to stop since my husband worked abroad to personally raise my 2 kids. Now that they are grown ups I decided to come back, took the IELTS and NCLEX-RN and passed. I enrolled myself as a post grad trainee in an acute hospital in Manila to prepare myself for a career in Florida once the retrogression is lifted.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/surg,Tele,PACU,ER,ICU,LTAC,HH,Neuro.
there's actually no problem about that. apply for a job and with the proper orientation everything will just sink in, as i have said, in nursing, there's no turning back.

I disagree. I have been a nurse since 1981 practiced till 2003. Stopped for four years and am now taking the refresher course. If you have been out of nursing for over four years you should contact your State Board of Nursing for suggestions. If you have not had any nursing experience since 1977 this is way too long. There have been huge jumps in medicine and bedside care in the last three decades. Most of the theorys from the 70's are still in use. I definitely think you need a refresher course and a few ceu's. Then find a job with an excellent preceptorship.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuro/Ortho/Adult ICU.

Wow, Rinestone, you are an inspiration. I just found this site because I had done the unforgiveable and let my license expire through a couple of moves and working in a different office environment. I want to retake the boards but am terrified. Did you take a prep class?

Is there anyone else who has had to retake the boards?

Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Wow, Rinestone, you are an inspiration. I just found this site because I had done the unforgiveable and let my license expire through a couple of moves and working in a different office environment. I want to retake the boards but am terrified. Did you take a prep class?

Is there anyone else who has had to retake the boards?

Thanks!

Hi Plantation Mom,

Yes, I went into a lot of preparations prior to taking up the NCLEX-RN. I enrolled myself to a review center, read the Mosby's Comprehensive Review of Nursing for NCLEX-RN and Saunders CD.Then I applied to take the exam at California Board of Nursing, took the exam in HongKong in August 2006 and passed! I'm now at the ICU and really like what I'm doing. I know you could also make it so go for it!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych, Med-Surg, ICU, CVA, Hospice.

I have been an RN for a long time. I quit for 2 years and started back without a problem. I advise you to contact your Nursing Board for help and to take a refresher course at your local college. There have been many changes in Nursing over the past 30 years. Ask the Education Director at the Hospital you want to work in about help with getting back your skills.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am also a registered nurse looking to go back into nursing. Have been a 'stay-at-homer' for 16 years (!!). I live in Ohio now, but have had licenses in Utah, Virginia, and Texas. And I did the unimaginable: let all licenses lapse. Now, I am paying for it!

I greatly need to take a refresher course before I go back to work but need an active license. So, I have chosen to reactivate my VA license (since they have the easiest requirements of the three states.) I need 15 hours of CE before I can apply for reinstatement of my VA license. Any advise? Also looking for input on refresher courses, preferable in Ohio. Thank you!!! (This is my 1st post and am excited to see if anybody can help)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion