I graduated with a BSN 10 years ago, I've only now decided to become a Nurse.

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I graduated with a BSN class of 2008 and passed the NCLEX-RN later that year. I've never used my RN license since I was able to get a good job in the Real Estate industry and I have forgotten about working as a nurse since then. I just put my RN license inactive for many years. Fast forward now year 2017, I've left my job in the real estate earlier this year and have decided to pursue a job as a nurse in the hospital. Fortunately, I have just gotten hired at a hospital, and a 6-week orientation starts this coming October. Even with the 6-week orientation that I'll be having, I am very worried since I have ZERO professional nursing experience whatsoever apart from my clinicals back then ages ago(2008!!!). Thing is, I HAVE FORGOTTEN E...VERY...THING! ASSESSMENTS, CHARTING, INTERVENTIONS, BASIC NURSING FOUNDATIONS, AND ALL THE OTHER REALMS OF PATIENT CARE. I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF I CAN USE A FREAKING ACCUCHECK CORRECTLY! Really, it's been almost 10 years since I have done anything Nursing-related. I am very nervous despite the orientation period.

Anybody had this dilemma before??? How did you learn the ropes in Nursing after being sorely out-of-practice???

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Specializes in Ambulatory Case Management, Clinic, Psychiatry.

congrats on getting hired into the hospital with that much time off! what kind of a unit? you could see if there's a refresher course near you. in mass BC has a pricey one. or, read up -- buy a med/surg or whatever specialty you are in review book and study

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I'm surprised you were allowed to work with no experience after 10 years. We need to do a re entry program if we have worked

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

The hospital hired you after seeing your resume. They must expect that a 6 week orientation will be enough to bring you up to speed. When you updated your license from inactive to active, did the Board have any issue with the time gap? Oregon has a minimum practice requirement or a refresher course after a certain length of time. Other states have different requirements; some need a certain number of CEUs.

If you were able to activate your license and get hired by a hospital, the 6 weeks may be all you need. If after the 4 week mark or so you don't think it's working, then you can talk to your manager and decide what to do next. They may extend your orientation or recommend a refresher course. Congratulations and good luck.

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Hopefully six weeks will be enough, but I think that is a really short orientation for a new nurse. At the hospital I use to work at, orientation was 12 wks for new nurses. I left once for about 8 months after being there 2 1/2yrs and I still got a pretty decent orientation when I returned. Just try to make the most of it and learn everything you can.

I agree that you should try to reeducate yourself as well. Books, articles, you tube videos, podcasts etc. can be great ways to review skills and much more. This may give you a boost of confidence before you start orientation. Since you won't start until October you'll have plenty of time for some education.

Good luck!

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I had been out of practice for a couple years after I graduated from a BSN program and got licensed because I moved to the country where my family lived. I came back to the US and got a first nursing job. I struggled because I lost all of my clinical skills. I even did not remember how to empty a foley bag! Getting clinical skills back was not easy, but it was doable. I purchased Nursing books and studied in my free time. I feel attitude plays a big role.

I was required to take a refresher course for my lisensure, but I felt the course was not much helpful (programs vary though).

Good luck!

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Specializes in NICU.
The hospital hired you after seeing your resume. They must expect that a 6 week orientation will be enough to bring you up to speed.

Or they're desperate to fill the position and will take any warm body. No offense intended to OP, but I'd be leery of this whole situation.

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I had been out for just a few yrs..and how did I deal with it? I took a refresher course...theory and clinical......I figured it was the safe thing to do.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Yeeeahhhh, this concerns me more than a little bit. Six weeks orientation when you have been out of school for ten years and by your own admission have "forgotten everything" you learned then (which would be expected...nothing to be shamed by there)...sounds grossly inadequate to me. In these parts, even new grads straight out of school get eight weeks to six months depending on where they hire in at. You are going to be at risk and so are your patients. Get on YouTube and start looking at nursing school videos for basic nursing skills and gird your loins for battle. This is going to be hard on you at first. I am stunned, to be honest, that you got hired and question the ethics of the employer who hired you. Watch yourself and make sure you keep yourself and your patients safe.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

This is a scary situation. If I were the OP, I would be on alert for any other warning signs that this hospital is looking for a warm body, any warm body, to fill spaces. A 6 week orientation is just a drop in the bucket of everything that OP needs to practice safely for the first time.

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You have a lot of time between now and October to begin to prepare yourself. You have time to take a refresher course, study an illustrated nursing skills book, hit your other textbooks from school as well as your notes, watch YouTube videos, even to glean information from threads on this site. Prepare yourself for the fact that you will have homework each day after work and be willing to put forth the time and extra effort. You want to be successful on your first nursing job.

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Specializes in ICU; Telephone Triage Nurse.

It will come back to you - it's like riding a bicycle. Plus, they know you haven't worked ever as a nurse, yet they still hired you. If I recall correctly a 6 week orientation is what I got as a brand new grad - no where else ever gave me that much on the floor time under the wing of a preceptor - so it sounds like they are treating you as you are: a new grad.

Not to worry - since so much of the little things have likely changed since you graduated they know they need to get you up to speed in the current clinical setting, but the primary things have remained the same. Plus, I had to chuckle - you sound just like my own inner fears before I began my new grad orientation: {"Did I learn enough in school? What if I don't know what I'm doing? ..."}. We ALL feel that way our first nursing job - the only difference is you are going through it now instead of 2008. The anxiety you are feeling is normal.

If you need more orientation you can always ask for more training, but I think you'll do great! You completed a rigorous nursing program, and passed the NCLEX - neither easy accomplishments. I'd trust you to be my nurse, or care for one of my family members. Congrats on your new job!

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