HELP! Returning to hospital nursing after eight years!

[anniew]

I have been a nurse for 21 years and I have decided at the age of 44 I want to go back to med surg nursing.I left the hospital 8 years ago(after 13 years in one job) and went to a family practice office, then a pediatric office,and then for the past three years i was a school nurse.My longevity has been in the hospital and thats where I feel that I belong.I have an interview tommorow but after attending a job fair and talking to this nurse recruiter I get the feeling they would rather have a new grad then someone who as been away from the hospital for that long.Has anyone else been in the same boat? I am willing to relearn what I need to. I know somethings will come back but I dont want to look stupid when they think they are getting a seasoned nurse. HELP!!! Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!! Anne RN

[jjjoy, LPN]

Remember that no matter how many might prefer a new grad to a re-entry (at least to the hospital) nurse, you only need ONE person to give you a chance. I don't know if was you or someone else that I mentioned this to before, but if you can take a refresher course or some kind of med-surg review (some continuing education programs offer this) do that to show that you're serious about this change. Call some agencies and see if they might have something that could help you get your foot back into the inpatient environment.

Good luck!

[Sun*shine]

if this is what you want to do then it'll all work out. a refresher course, will give you a confidence boost in the area and impress your futue empoyees. i'm surprised new grads were preferred, i feel they always lean towards those individuals who have more experience in nursing. at the end of the day if this is what you really want and you're really suited to it (which of course you are!) then you'll find that the issue of you not being a new grad, well, hopefully won't be an issue at all!!

good luck!!! :balloons: