I could really use some advice.

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Hi everyone.

I'm new to these boards and I'm not sure what to do. I'm looking for advice/suggestions. A bit of background: I became an RN in 2000, and shortly after became pregnant, and have been a stay home mom ever since. I realized during nursing school how demanding floor nursing is, and IMO way too much responsibility for the amount of pay you get. Personally, I feel I'm a wonderful nurse (great bedside especially), but I'm not sure if I have the stamina to handle all of the responsibilities placed on nurses.

I have two young children, who are my everything, and have loved being home with them. The problem is, I live in a large expensive city, and we can barely scrape by on my husband's salary. I'd love to work a couple of days a week, but know that I'd need to work more frequently for at least a year to get my skills back up. This means finding day care for my kids, which is also quite expensive. Hubby is really not for it and thinks we just need a better budget. I don't think this is possible. You can only stretch a certain amount of money so far, and then reality sets in...you just need more money!

I really don't want to do med-surg if I can avoid it. I found during school that this was probably the most thankless nursing job out there. I just received a flyer in the mail saying they will train RNs for rehab nursing, but that seems like a lot of lifting. I have an old injury to my back from when my mom was sick, and it tends to flair up with heavy lifting. My other option is just working in a store in the evenings. It won't be a lot of money, but it would help and there would be little stress involved. I guess I'm looking for something that isn't super stressful (aren't we all? lol!), because I want to keep the majority of my energy and time focused on my kids.

I'm curious if any of you have been in my situation, and what you decided to do. Any advice would really be appreciated.

Thank you,

Kim

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Have you considered a doctor's office? I work in an urgent care clinic and love it. The pay isn't as high, but the stress is much lower, I don't work graveyard shifts, and I'm home on the major holidays. Also, the nurses work out amongst themselves coverage to go to school plays, parent-teacher conferences, etc.

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Specializes in ER/ ICU.

Any union hospitals in your area? They usually pay better- better benefits too. You don't have to do med- surg. You have plenty of options. Do you have a current resume? Start sending them out and you will soon be overwhelmed w/ options.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Hospice, Home Health.

what about a school nurse? are your children of elementary school age? One of our nurses left to become a school nurse at her childs school...and you get a teachers retirement.....

linda

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Specializes in ICU, ED, Transport, Home Care, Mgmnt.

Check with your state board, you may have to enroll in a refresher course to be able to go back to work. After that you should be able to choose an area you would feel more comfortable in. Have you considered home care/private duty? There are a lot of special needs kids and adults that need caregivers.

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Thanks for your replies.

I have been considering different options, and looking through the nursing magazines for awhile now. It just seems that all the positions offered require a minimum year of floor nursing. I have considered a Dr's office, but I'm worried they won't train me, as I haven't used any skills for 6 years now.

I do have a good union hospital in my area, but they do require some floor nursing to start. I don't really have a nursing resume since I haven't worked in the field yet. A school nurse is great, too, but again, I'd think you'd have to be pretty up on your skills considering you are the only one there for the whole school? There is a saying in my area when you want to become a school nurse; "Who are you going to kill off to get that position?" lol! They are hard to come by.

I guess I'm scared to end up in a position where I carry a lot of responsibility (or I'm alone), but need ample time to feel competent. Does that make sense? I'm quite sensitive and worry about unintentionally hurting someone. It's a blessing and a curse! It's what makes me a good nurse, but tends to make me fearful of actually getting the job. Can anyone else relate?

All great suggestions, by the way. :)

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Check with your state board, you may have to enroll in a refresher course to be able to go back to work. After that you should be able to choose an area you would feel more comfortable in. Have you considered home care/private duty? There are a lot of special needs kids and adults that need caregivers.

I'm sorry I missed your post. That's a great suggestion about a refresher course. I'll look into that. I have thought about home care, but again, due to an old back injury, I'm a bit concerned about the lifting.

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How about an every other week-end RN at a nursing home? These ads are constantly in our local paper and from what I hear they usually involve supervision only and maybe the treatments.

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Specializes in Day Surgery/Infusion/ED.
I'm sorry I missed your post. That's a great suggestion about a refresher course. I'll look into that. I have thought about home care, but again, due to an old back injury, I'm a bit concerned about the lifting.

You have to have very solid clinical skills to do home care. Without any experience, and having been out of the loop for so long, I would not recommend home care. You have to be very confident in your assessment skills and be technically proficient. That takes experience, I'm afraid.

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Specializes in jack of all trades.

Check with any of the community colleges near you that have nursing programs. Sometimes they offer refresher courses or critical thinking courses. I did one in Pittsburgh a few years back that included clinical and theory for 240 hours. Loved it! Also if one isnt available sometimes the schools will allow you to sit in on thier med-surg theory for non-credit. Most of the positions mentioned above do require at least a years recent experience. Not sure of your state but here in Florida I was surprised at the amount of hospitals that were willing to precept me back into the field. I was out for a few years to raise children and out of on-hands nursing for 15 as I was doing case management and continuing education for nurses.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ER and ICU!!!.
I'm sorry I missed your post. That's a great suggestion about a refresher course. I'll look into that. I have thought about home care, but again, due to an old back injury, I'm a bit concerned about the lifting.

If you do pediatric HH, there is little lifting, or at least anymore than what your own kids would be. Good Luck.

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you have a lot of options but i agree that you will need a refresher course to be an asset to a workplace

check with dialysis units, adult day care, clinics, hh, hospice, health units

a lot of nurshing homes have places for weekend supervisors in which hands on work is usually not required

let employer know about your back problem and that you will need

assistance and/or lifts for pt that require lifitng

i know that you will find something, don't let that hard work of getting through school go to waste..world needs you

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