How hard is it to get back into nursing?

[anotherneonurse]

I am considering stepping out of the proffession for a few years to take care of my babies. I will want to go back after the kids are in school. I am worried about keeping up my liscence and things. I would love to hear from people that have done this. Was it hard to get a job after? The area I live in doesn't have a nursing shortage because we have so many nursing schools nearby.

[CHATSDALE]

most states have regs about the amount of time you can stay out and hold on to your license

check with your bon, if you have several nursing schools there you will probably have access to a refresher course when you do decide to go back to work, you may feel more comfortable doing this anyway

skills can get rustly before you know it

good luck

[RNperdiem, RN]

Do you need to drop out completely? I have young children and work per diem.

I worked as little as 4 hours a week when my sons were young babies. I worked in the same hospital that I worked full time previously.

The skills never disappeared, I kept some income coming in, kept something of my own outside of household concerns, and gave my husband a chance to do real childcare(don't call it babysitting). Nursing kept my own small problems in perspective.

Consider per diem. You pick your own schedule.

[sharann, BSN, RN]

I think you are fantastic to take care of your babies and if you can mange to do so without working or as rnperdiem said, work perdiem at most, go for it.

Our babies come first. This is not a debate about mother who need to work to put food on the table. You are asking about re-entering. I think you will not have that much of a problem. Ask around your hospital. Do what is right for your family. The babies are only babies once. After that you turn around and your son is borrowing your earrings and your daughter is borrowing your husbands shirts!

[TX_ICU_RN]

I am going back next month after just over 4 years out. I filled out online apps over a weekend and had three job interviews lined up in less than a week (one called me Monday morning as soon as she got my app). The amazing thing is that all my experience is pedi...and the job I am going to is adult ICU. I love peds, but don't want to drive very far to get to work (I live in DFW right in between the two children's hospitals in the area)...and also ready to try something new. Not only did I get a job 5 minutes from my house, but the offer the nurse manager gave me was significantly more than I was expecting.