How can I get back to nursing?

[Marixa2013]

I've been an RN over two years now. I worked in critical care for over a year.I started to suffer from crippling anxiety and depression, which progressed for months, until I finally had to speak to HR about the process to seek help for new things that have been happening.

After seeing 3 docs, medication, therapy, a month of medical leave, my family, my doctors and I decided I take a few months off, so I resigned.

Being away from work had me defeated and I felt like a failure so I rushed back into a new job after a month, and decided during training it was too early to go back.

Both facilities were very different, and I feel like I jumped the gun and psyched myself out at the second facility. Both places would be willing to rehire me. Due to embarrassment and maybe slight PTSD, I'd don't care to go back to my old facility.

I know there are many departments I could go to; however, my problem is always after the interview. It has been more than 6 months since my last job, and even then, I left before training, and it wouldn't make much sense listing them on a resume anyway.

So with me trying to skim the major parts of the background, I'm trying to seek assistance in applying for jobs and landing them with a considerable gap in employment and 1 solid year of nursing. I feel like I'm in a grey area because I don't know how they would perceive me applying to a new nurse program, yet maybe not consistent and experienced enough to get hired. Can I go back to nursing? How should I start?

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

Welcome to Allnurses. We're glad you're here!

You have my sympathies. I battle mental illness myself and went through a lot of jobs before going on disability three years ago. I'd leave one job because of difficulties associated with my condition, then rush into the next one out of financial desperation, only to have the same thing happen there. I did this over and over again for two decades. Finally I gave up after losing my state surveyor job, and I've been out of practice since 2014.

I would advise you to take things slowly if you can. You won't qualify for new nurse positions because you do have experience, so you'll want to think outside the proverbial box in getting a new job. The most important question to ask yourself is: Do you really feel you're ready to try again? It sounds like your anxiety and depression aren't well controlled yet. Therapy and/or medication often need some time to be fully effective; the fact that you're still suffering is evidence that you may need more help before you'll be ready to go back to work as a nurse. It's nothing to be ashamed of---lots of nurses have these issues and do just fine once they're stable.

Let's say you're actually ready to go back. If you have connections with former co-workers and/or managers, you can use them to help you land your next job. Networking is a good way to find jobs. You can also try the online job-search resources like Indeed.com, and the employment office in your town is another good place to help you with your resume. In addition, they have a database of jobs, some of which are close to where you live and others which may require some commuting time.

I wish you luck in whatever you decide to do. It's not easy being a nurse and having anxiety and depression. Take care.

[amzyRN]

Have you tried meds? I would try not to be embarrassed, you'd be surprised about how many skeletons people have in their closet. I have anxiety and depression too, but I find my work soothes those things because it forces me to get out of my head. I work in ER, so I'm moving and thinking and doing most of the time. There's not the time to stop and ponder my existential despair. I perform well because someone's life is in my hands.

I think self-care, exercise (cardio) in particular and yoga help with depression and anxiety. A healthy diet, enough sleep too. You just have to take the bull by the horns and go for it. Life happens outside of our heads. What I would do is apply to many things and interview first at a job that I didn't really care if I didn't get for interview practice. It's all about practice, trial, and error, failure, and resilience. Whatever doesn't kill you will make you stronger if you can learn from it. You can do it, put yourself out there and shine!