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

Nurses General Nursing

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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???

Find some nursing podcasts and listen to them while you are doing whatever around the house, driving in the car, etc...Order a BLS book and read it cover to cover and go over scenarios and practice at home, talk through the steps out loud. Go to youtube to review basic nursing skills like Foley insertion, trachs, dressing changes, NGT placement, suctioning, setting up O2 even... Don't pull out a 2000 page nursing text book from 2008. Find a succinct, clinically relevant materials that won't get you lost in the weeds, sort to speak. I like medcram.com for short reviews of various conditions (longer if you purchase). icufaqs.org is an *excellent* resource for any nurse and the topics are broken down nicely (you can skip over swan management and things you won't be dealing with of course). If you need ACLS review then acts-algorithms.com is the best (and very affordable

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Find some nursing podcasts and listen to them while you are doing whatever around the house, driving in the car, etc...Order a BLS book and read it cover to cover and go over scenarios and practice at home, talk through the steps out loud. Go to youtube to review basic nursing skills like Foley insertion, trachs, dressing changes, NGT placement, suctioning, setting up O2 even... Don't pull out a 2000 page nursing text book from 2008. Find succinct, clinically relevant materials that won't get you lost in the weeds, sort to speak. I like medcram.com for short reviews of various conditions (longer if you purchase). icufaqs.org is an *excellent* resource for any nurse and the topics are broken down nicely (you can skip over swan management and things you won't be dealing with of course). If you need ACLS review then acls-algorithms.com is the best (and very affordable

Sorry; can't edit for some reason and I had typos and an auto correct of the acls website that made it incorrect. It's acls-algorithms.com.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, NURSING EDUCATION.

Refresher course...definitely the way to go. Do it before you start orientation. I would!

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As mentioned earlier I did a refresher..was 2 parts..theory, which I did online and then the clinical part, which was 1 weekend at the school lab amd 4 weekends on a Med-Surg floor. I probably could have skipped the theory part..and saved myself $900 and just reviewed the bodys systems on my own....The lab and hospital rotation was fairly helpful..mind you there was limits on what 1 could learn.....they only allowed us to chart some items....coul dnot pass meds without the prof beign there (even if 1 had an active license) but it got one back into the flow of things a bit......plus you got to see the hospital and see if it was a good place to work.

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I made a comment about this type of situation the other day. Seems as long as you have a bachelors, whether you have experience or not, you will get a job.

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Don't worry !! I am sure you will succeed!!! Everybody gets scare of the first job and nobody knows everything when they graduated !!! You will be a great nurse like everybody else ! I myself graduated in 1983 with BSN in Brazil and had worked 15 years at Hospital setting! I have been living in USA for 17 years and only now I am studying to take the NCLEX. And I am sure I will pass it. Because when is GODs time you get your blessings despite what the incredulous people say it. You go girl !!! God bless you !!!

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Good to know because I have BSN. Thanks í ½í¸Š

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Be careful with refresher courses. Online courses are usually just ATS type questions all over again which was pretty boring. Much better to listen to podcasts, watch youtube videos, revisit your college skils / SIM lab and get hands on with hospital pumps and newer type supplies. Find out what types of pumps, lifts, machines your new job will use and look those up. Also review basics / assessments / unit flow to your unit and find / create a brain to help you manage a full patient load so you will be ready to make the most of your few weeks (Which will fly by!)

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Specializes in Oncology.

We do 12 weeks orientation for new grads fresh from school and 6+ weeks for experienced RNs switching units. I'd be very weary. Find YouTube nursing skills videos from reputable sources to watch. See if the nurse educator at your job will let you take home certain supplies to practice with (is, sterile gloves, dressing change kits).

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hi @Discreet007. how did things work out for u? I am in the same situation now and i would love to hear about how ur experience was

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