Have you taken the RN Refresher Course at FCCJ North Campus in Jacksonville?

[tashby40]

Hi,

I hope someone out here can be encouraging. I live in Middleburg, FLorida and attended an RN Career Fair today---not to get a job yet, but just to learn about the hospital. I am taking the FCCJ Refresher course and am really enjoying it. I have not practiced for 25 years. As a new grad in 1982, I worked on a general/med surg floor the first year, then floated to all units the next year. After a couple years of hospital experience, I was hired with a wonderful Home Health agency and enjoyed that for 2 years. The last position I held as a nurse was at Blue Cross Blue Shield as a Utilization Review nurse. I worked there a couple years. I then stayed home to raise my 4 children. I am now ready to re-enter the workforce after approx. 25 years away from clinicals. The nurses today, said the they want "current nurses" and basically brushed me off. One of the recruiters made a really awful expression and said "ewww...." I felt like crawling under the table and felt very disrespected. I was a very good nurse before and know I can be again. Are there any nurses reading this forum from the Jacksonville or Orange Park areas in Florida that can be of encouragement? I would so love to hear from you!

Thank you so much!

tashby40

[jemrn56]

I am not from the Jacksonville area (live in Lake County) but I can certainly relate to your situation. I've been out of acute care settings since 1993; took a refresher course last summer and just landed a position in the hospital setting. I didn't start applying until Feb 08. It's been a very frustrating process. I'm a peds nurse and was told by one hospital that I needed to get a yr of M/S again. Many of my classmates in the refresher course accepted jobs at Hospice, a few went to acute care settings. The position I just accepted is specifically for RNs wanting to re-entry into acute care; its a 12 week orientation into different areas of the hospital and I can spend all of it in Peds. I really didn't even need the refresher course for this position but I too enjoyed the refresher course. All I can say is keep plugging along; I wish you the best!

[tashby40]

Jemrn56,

Thank you so much for your encouragement. I have been so downhearted these last couple days. My husband keeps telling me, "Something's going to happen, honey, I just know it!" I don't look forward to the rejection. It's funny, I have never worried about interviews, but now I'm nervous. I have a friend at my church who trains RN's into the acute, critical care at St.Vincent's in Jacksonville. She told me to put my name in and she would put a strong word in for me. I'm going to look into it! I'm only 46 years old and know I have many good nursing years left in me. If I would have known how important it was to keep my feet in nursing, I would have. I never let my license lapse so that I could rejoin the work force when I'm ready.

Thanks again, Jemrn56 for taking the time to respond!

tashby40

[islandgirlz]

I am also RN living in the Jacksonville area having moved here last year from out of state. Did you find the refresher course would help using computer med sheets and charting? Clinically I am up to date but have found hospitals and long term care EXPECT proficiency in those two area with as little as two weeks clinical orientation. Because of that my experience with acute care here has been very discouraging.

A RN I met said Hospice here is a much more laid back and caring place to work.

[jabrn56]

THe hospital should include computer training during the nurses orientation. I don't think a refresher course would be beneficial if your clinical skills are up to date. If you have some computer skills highlight those on an interview; it wouldn't take long for you to adjust to computer charting.