For Inactive Nurses desiring to return to the field

Nurses Retired

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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!;)

:cry:hello everyone great post. I have been out of nursing or 3yrs now and became a stay at home mom. I have felt ready to go back to work partime no more than 20-24hrs a week. Well it turns out my local hospitals have turn me down do to cause effectiveness of the hospital. They rather train a new grad who will give them the full time position then me. I know I have only done nursing for 1yr since I graduated but still. I have the managing skills down.

It worries me because my kids are little and I don't want to do FT. I have always heard and still do that nursing is the best career because is soooooooooo flexible and you can work and be with your family too. Well I don't find that to be the case. I am very disapointed. I am willing to do Med/Surg again even thought I really want to do ICU or ER but now I am more lost than anything. any advice would be appreciated

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:cry:hello everyone great post. I have been out of nursing or 3yrs now and became a stay at home mom. I have felt ready to go back to work partime no more than 20-24hrs a week. Well it turns out my local hospitals have turn me down do to cause effectiveness of the hospital. They rather train a new grad who will give them the full time position then me. I know I have only done nursing for 1yr since I graduated but still. I have the managing skills down.

It worries me because my kids are little and I don't want to do FT. I have always heard and still do that nursing is the best career because is soooooooooo flexible and you can work and be with your family too. Well I don't find that to be the case. I am very disapointed. I am willing to do Med/Surg again even thought I really want to do ICU or ER but now I am more lost than anything. any advice would be appreciated

Can you work PRN?

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I tried going back PRN TOO but no luck. They say that I have been out of nursing too long that it would cause the hospital more money to train me when I will only be giving then a small amt of hrs. I am still looking around but it sucks to have to drive 1hr away from home when my local hospital I use to work at is only 15min away.

UH!

wish me luck

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Hello

I am a new member who needs some support. Need to take my NCLEX in Pennsylvania again because I let my license lapse---Stupid me!!! I know I have to get over that. Any suggestions. It has been 12 years since I worked in the field. Can't stand having this license lapse hanging over me!!!!! Thanks for any advice

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i admire anyone who is willig to go back to work after a extended time out of the field but nursing really does change a lot in a short time so a refresher course is a good idea, gives you some hands on experience and something on paper that you can present to an employer

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Thanks you CHATS..... that is a great idea! In the local hospital they told me if I was out 5yrs I would need a refresher course that the actual hospital gives.

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Hi, I thought it was just me!!! I have just finished the RN refresher course in my area (ct)...And to tell you the truth I thought it would be "easy" to return to nursing. NOT. I have heard all along how we "need nurses" etc...The "hospitals are just waiting for you" This is what I have found...There is no place for an experienced RN!! We seem to be even less desirable than the new grad. When I was on a busy med/surg unit in a major teaching hospital during my clinical for the nurse refresher I knew it would take some time to "learn" all the new equipment and become familiar with the new meds. However, I felt very comfortable and ready to care for the pt's. I am very discouraged at this point. Where does the experienced nurse wanting to return to work fit in?

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how many years have you been out? Have you found the refresher course to be helpul?

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Hi,

I've been out about 16 years. Yes, the refresher was VERY helpful. I think a refresher should be required if one is going back to acute care. Nursing is like riding a bike lol. The body and it's systems do not change.

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Specializes in Nurse Educator.

Hi,

I too have been out for about 15 years, have worked in human resources for my husband's company for a good part of that. I couldn't find an appropriate refresher course that fit into my schedule or was financially feasible. So I embarked on a self-study program to re-take the NCLEX exam as it is one of the options for getting your license back in NH.

Prior to being out of nursing, I worked full time for eight years in intermediate care/telemetry and was a full time charge nurse for four of those years, worked with the first cardiac catheterization patients we ever had at our hospital and got every certification I could get in my position there. During my "stay at home" time, I was raising children(like most of us!) and being a primary caregiver/case manager of sorts to both my parents and my mother-in-law.

However, after embarking on a job hunt that has spanned many different areas, from health informatics to applying at a health insurance company to applying for per diem cardiology positions, it seems that no one wants a nurse coming back. I too found that they prefer new grads. I went to a job fair and they looked at me like I had three heads and one recruiter even told me flat out, we don't want you unless you have recent clinical experience. It is very discouraging as I think my life experience would make me a better nurse. I truly do not desire to work on a med/surg floor at this point and just would like an opportunity in some area to get back in and use my experience.

It is good to know that others have dealt with these same issues. i am not sure where to go from here though.

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momma.. have you looked at taking a refresher course. I tired going back to work too and the nurse recruter told me if I am out one more yr I would have to take a refresher course. But the hospital has one. Maybe some of the hospitals in your area have one too.

I wish you luck as I too am trying to find a way to go back.

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Specializes in Peds/NICU.

I'm feeling frustrated as well trying to get back into hospital nursing. My last hospital job was in 1993, NICU. I'd like to return to Peds/Neonatal...I worked out patient peds from 1994-2001.

I took a refresher course from the local community college and it was free (they were offered a grant to fund the couse) with the exception of buying books. It was good and very helpful, however, I still can't get back in the door. Keep being told by HR dept that I need to start out in med surg again (don't want to do that!). I'm in an area where there are several large hospital systems and there are alot of peds openings posted on the hospital websites. Any ideas are greatly appreciated.

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