I am about ready to throw in towel for nursing job

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Specializes in behavioral health.

I have reached a point where I am now depressed. I have been trying to return to nursing since Feb after a four year hiatus. I have chronic illness, but I am stabilized on meds and need plenty of rest. I am feeling as nobody wants me.:crying2: I have re-activated licenses in two states. My limitations are that I can only work PT, as I stated I need to give my body some ample down time. Twice in my past I have gone into exacerbation mode because I worked my way into FT; then FT with OT.

I spent money on interview CDs to study on how to have a great interview. I have gone back and reviewed my interviews and realize the mistakes that I have made. Honestly, every job I applied for I had very mixed feelings about. I am sure that my enthusiasm was not showing, simply because there was none.

My disability insurance company is going to cut me off because I have claimed that I was improved and ready to go back to work. However, I have not found anything, and it has been six months. They do not care if I can't find anything.

My only background in nursing is behavioral health. I looked into refresher courses and the only one in area is 83 miles from me. That is too long of a haul for me to commute. I checked out one online, but this course is not even recognized for approval by any one of my SBON.

I am ready to go back to my former employment(psych hospital) and ask if they would re-hire me back. My family is very unsupportive of this, saying that I will be working too much because I am pushover when it comes to saying NO.

My sister is trying to convince me to apply for this position in a neurologist's office, but it's FT. She says that I would have an excellent chance of getting it, if I used her name. She believes that PT in my former job would be worse than FT job in drs. office.

I am either going to call back my former DON and see if they will have me back. I left on good terms. And, my other alternative is to just forget about nursing altogether. I think it is time that I think about some training in another field, but I better hurry up as I am already 51.

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Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.

iwanna- have you considered looking at psych case management positions? They might all be full time, but they're desk jobs. Not sure if that would be something you could do.

Good luck to you. I hope you do find something that will work for you.

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Specializes in LTC, MDS, Education.

IWANNA,---Try the neurologist office job. Your sister knows you and knows the job. If it doesn't work out then go back to former job. 51 is NOT that old. Your maturity will be an asset in the office setting. Probably 5 days a week and no weekends. Let us know how it goes. :smokin:

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Here is my schedule for parttime working. Beginning shortly after the new year I do HEDIS chart audits I happend to have found some that can be done on line but when I lived in So. CA, I traveled all over So. CA doing them. These last ~ March-May. Sept -Nov I do flu shot clinics and throughout the whole year I do doctors office/clinic/hospital reviews for an insurance company.

Just enough to keep me busy but not running in circles.:up:

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Specializes in behavioral health.

Thanks for replies. I did not attempt the neurologist job. My dr. confirmed that I should only be working PT. I have just applied for flu shot clinic through MAXIM. Also, I was to have a phone interview with MedAssurant for doing chart abstractions. HR had contacted me and asked me if I was interested to give them a date & time for a phone interview. I expressed interest, and she asked me to send my resume. She had called me the day that I sent my resume. It was the day before our original scheduled interview. She left message on my phone for me to call her. When I called, I just received her voicemail. Then, I was stood up for our scheduled interview. I called her that day and left mesage on her voicemail. I never did hear back fom her. Perhaps, she decided that she was not interested since I have no chart review or coding experience. that is too bad because I believe that I was really looking forward to doing that job. It did involve some travel, but I think that I would like it. I was really in a funk from her not calling me for our scheduled interview.

My typing skills are sure improving from all of the cover letters and different resumes that I have been preparing. lol

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Iwanna, I know how you feel. I have been out of nursing for 10 years and am ready to get back. I had an interview at a hospital close to my home and they were really positive until they asked why I was off. I made the dumbest mistake, I told them that I had had cancer. Well, they started questioning me about my immune system and so on. I knew right then that I had goofed.:scrying: This hospital is within twenty minutes of my home and with gas prices so high I can't afford to travel to a larger town a little over an hour away. I don't know what to do. I have great references and they hire new grads. I have 10 years experience and am really getting disgusted. I am thinking about applying at wal-mart:bluecry1:

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Specializes in ICU, Trauma, ER, Peds, Family Practice.

Can you take an RN refresher course. This will show prespective employers that you have taken steps to return to work. This way you can work in a hospital in which they must have part time work. I have been a nurse for 4o years and the past 20 I have only worked part time and have even negoitated a full time postion to a part time. I guess it depends on the employer. I have seen many ads in my state for a behavioral nurse even in the health insurance industry doing utilization review. With your knowledge of behavorial health it would be a plus for the insurance companies. You can learn UR like the rest of us that have worked in the industry.

Flu season is coming up you can sign up with an agency and start giving shots on a part time basis. This is a good way to network and see how much your body can take. I hope these suggestions have helped. Dont give up it is hard to look at your options when you have been out of the field. Look on line and see what is happening in your area. One thing about interviewing is smile and you have to sell youself and your skills and the type of professional person you are. Write down your strengths. Many interviewers will ask what your weak points are. You can tell them you dont focus on your weak points and you focus on your strong points and they the become stronger.

Best of luck

Judy(paddle lady):yeah:

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Specializes in behavioral health.

paddlelady,

Thanks for your reply. I don't have the correct nursing initials for UR, as I am an LPN not an RN. However, I have registered for the refresher course that is a distance from me. I have contacted my vocational rehab consultant from my disability insurance. And, they have agreed with my plan for refresher course and will pay for it. Also, they will pay for my rooming and transportation expenses while I am in school. But, now I am just praying that this class still goes through as scheduled. I was only the fifth person to register at this community college. They told me when I registered there was a possibility that it may get cancelled if they do not get enough of students. The course is $1300, my insurance company has already paid for course. I have all my ducks in a row for this class, I can only rely on prayer at this point.

My current plan is to take refresher course, then to apply for an agency/HH/private duty position. My dr. suggested that I get an agency position and HH. Also, I have applied through Maxim for flu shot clinic, but I have not heard from them, yet. I am waiting to see if this course goes through, if not, then I will step some other plans.

I really appreciate your response. I have decided not to throw in the towel, yet. I still have some fight in me. Thanks for your interview advice.

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I was out of work for 1 year due to Bipolar II (stress, stress,and more stress at my old job).I also left on good terms and did not go back. I was able to get a part time job. I gave my limits, no nights, less than 30 hours/week.

I am sure you will find a comfort zone. Sounds like you are doing all the right things. I love working with Voc. Rehab. They have great resources and help you believe you are worthy of hire.:loveya:

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Can you take an RN refresher course. This will show prespective employers that you have taken steps to return to work. This way you can work in a hospital in which they must have part time work. I have been a nurse for 4o years and the past 20 I have only worked part time and have even negoitated a full time postion to a part time. I guess it depends on the employer. I have seen many ads in my state for a behavioral nurse even in the health insurance industry doing utilization review. With your knowledge of behavorial health it would be a plus for the insurance companies. You can learn UR like the rest of us that have worked in the industry.

Flu season is coming up you can sign up with an agency and start giving shots on a part time basis. This is a good way to network and see how much your body can take. I hope these suggestions have helped. Dont give up it is hard to look at your options when you have been out of the field. Look on line and see what is happening in your area. One thing about interviewing is smile and you have to sell youself and your skills and the type of professional person you are. Write down your strengths. Many interviewers will ask what your weak points are. You can tell them you dont focus on your weak points and you focus on your strong points and they the become stronger.

Best of luck

Judy(paddle lady):yeah:

I am running into the same roadblock trying to get back to bedside nursing. I have 25 years of Critical Care experience, my BSN, I attend the AACNs Critical Care symposium every year and earn 30 to 40 CEUs at each one. I have kept my license active, and I am always current in BLS and ACLS. I think that it is a bunch of horse hockey that an experienced nurse who has been away work for a few years, should have to PAY for a refresher course to prove that we can safely work. Of course, all of the schools of nursing who sponser these refresher courses, make a ton of $$$ charging older nurses for these classes. Here in Spokane, ICNE want almost $2000 for one.

Do all of the new grads that they hire instead of us have to pay for their 6 month orientations? I don't think so. So why should I? Do you know what this is called? It is called age discrimination. After I got turned down from the last job that I applied for, I contacted the EEOC and filed a formal complaint. I have kept all of the want ads from the Sunday papers where they are screamng for nurses, and then turn me down for a job. This is with the statement that "most jobs open to new grads"!. Really. Who, coincidently, would accept a rate of pay of half of what me, and experienced nurse would. I have drawn the battle line, and I will keep you posted as to what goes on. JMHO, and my NY $0.02.

Lindarn, RN, BSN. CCRN

Spokane, Washington

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Specializes in clinical pathways - ED, home infusion, IT, lab.

Don't give up...your fellow clinicians need you!

I'd DEFINITELY contact old DON, if only for low pressure "informational interview" & feedback on your resume if she's not hiring or you don't like the area she leads. Maybe take her for coffee? Would @ least B good 4 th networking. Defin. wouldnt hurt, & can start making friends out there.

NEVER mention personal health issues. I've been back&forth to work and home many times & hiring people are FINE with "I was home with my family for a while but now I'm ready and really excited to get back to nursing." They really only want to talk about how you can do the job they have open right now. Best Wishes!

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A lot of places here hire per diem, or split one shift into two jobs to avoid paying bennies.

Could you do a couple of per diem shifts a week?

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