Inactive RN wanting to return to practice... is it possible...?

[Buttercupkitten3]

Hi there...

I am an inactive RN wanting to return to practice after 5 years of being a stay-at-home mommy. I do have a current license, but I have absolutely no confidence in my skills, knowledge, or ability to get a nursing position. With this in mind, I have an appointment to meet with the dean of a local nursing school later on this week (my alma mater). What is the environment like for inexperienced RN's... pay... likelihood for employment... etc... I want to work for an acute care hospital and I do not have any intentions on working for an agency (I really got burned by one right before I left practice... a topic for an entire thread of its own...)

Thank you for reading my comments, and I will greatly appreciate any input that I receive.

Best wishes for a wonderful weekend, and smile often...

Kathryn

[Faeriewand, ASN, RN]

RN or LVN?

Yeah it's in Santee at the Health Occupations Center. It says its open to both RN's and LVN's who hold a current active CA license. It looks like there are eight weeks of theory and eight weeks of clinicals. The student attends four days a week. The cost is $300.

For those who live in East County San Diego the number is [phone]. You can get your CNA then your LVN. Or MA, EMT, ACLS, Intravenous therapy, all sorts of classes. Just thought I'd give this info for any interested. :)

They start registration tomorrow (Tues Aug 9) and I"m going first thing in the morning to start off for CNA. Then in November I will apply for the LVN school which will start August 2006.

[Marie-123]

Kathryn, I went thru returning from inactive status to active status after being a stay at home Mom for 7 years. First I went to take a CPR class at our local hospital to gain alittle knowledge and confidence. Then I renewed my Nursing Journals and began reading and reading. I shared all my steps to prepare at my first job interview and was hired out of a 2 inch stack of applicants. Remember Nursing is a revolving circle that even when in practice you are constantly using reference Books attending education from insevices, Nursing Journals and now we have the internet as a resource to keep up with forever changes in the medical world. I learn something new everyday that I go to work from fellow nurses, patients, and Doctors. So keep up. And this is my first post on this web site as I joined today! This is all new to me and exciting!!!!

Marie

[bydpond]

we have the same problem. am,too is NY licensed but i don't know if i can still be hired. don' think that you will have a hard time, once a nurse, always a nurse, and nursing is a way of life. so, i know that you can manage, good luck!

[tolovenursing247]

:monkeydance:"Alright everyone, I've been waiting for this" Have been nursing for many years. VA Medical Centers, Private Hospitals,

SNF's , Med, Tx and Charge Nurse, not mentioning Private Duty Homes In Care with Ventilators. Not the portables, but, MA-1's and Bear ll 's. Some of the nurses know what I am talking about. My point is, I will never forget my skills. However, with 7 years away from the medical profession I have abreast myself in Pharmo, A&P, with other nursing academics. Within 3 months I will turn 65, not ready to retire and looking forward completing my BSN in Gerontology in 2008. 2010 to 2012 with the children in collage, I will be nursing my peers. :heartbeat Or they will be nursing me:chair::redlight:

Tolovenursing247:monkeydance:

[rplnurse]

Northern California: Stay away from the hospital in Creasant City. They have no tollerence for older nurses or Gay nurses. They will dump you in the middle of the wilderness

[lisa41rn]

Oh Gosh! DO NOT WORRY! I was crazy when I graduated in 1997 and never worked for nearly eight years in nursing! I stayed home with my kids. I then wanted to get "back into" nursing when my youngest went to first grade....or was I ever in it to begin with?! I ended up taking an RN Re-entry course and they helped me with my skills. That same hospital hired me and I've been doing this for the past three years. I'm now in the float pool and go everywhere from med/surg to ICU. I really like it. I'm hoping to get my Masters as well. Don't worry about your skills. I was so afraid, but there are lots of nurses trying to get back into nursing and doing fine. Many have been out of nursing for 10 years or more! Good Luck!

[Miriam57RN]

Northern California: Stay away from the hospital in Creasant City. They have no tollerence for older nurses or Gay nurses. They will dump you in the middle of the wilderness

Yes, reentry experiences can differ markedly depending on where your first re-entry position is. I was home with my kids for 10 years (having moved out of state from family) and had a terrible experience with first reentry position which was in a large regional hospital that preferred hiring new grads. I had taken a Reentry/ Reinstatement course (included 120 classroom and 60 clinical hours on a M/S unit).

When I started at this hospital, they were in the midst of a building project and many other changes. During orientation, I was with many different nurses (no preceptor) and was looked down upon as an older nurse. Has anyone noticed how even young nurses whiten their teeth to where they almost glow? Is this required now too?

The med system was computerized and they were switching to a new program - one that the nurses I 'followed' did not teach me (as they continued on old one), yet I was expected to know it when off of orientation and was called on the carpet about it when my percentage of use of this new program vs. the old one was not up to par as quickly as they wanted it to be. This was NOT a user friendly program and had hair pulling glitches. This percentage number (of use) was calculated for all staff and affected the (new) director's own review from above. I had been interviewed and hired before this unit director arrived for an 8 hr. day shift position - and most of the floor was on 12-hr. She wanted everyone on 12 hr., and found a way to get rid of me, hiring a new grad in my place. I felt like thrown out garbage - whereas all of my nursing experiences in the past were successful.

One day after leaving there (what a relief too) I saw a flyer up for a pediatric homecare agency opening up in our area. I'd worked acute care peds in the past and filed an application. I was hired the same day and have been working for them since. Last year I was given clinical manager responsibilities and also do direct care and visit cases. This summer I worked for a month at a camp for underprivileged children (many from foster and group homes) and found the work very satisfying and fulfilling. I love the kids, and plan to stick with peds...I'd worked acute care pediatrics in the past...but also love ambulatory care. Lots going on at this busy camp...a continuous stream of kids (and staff) with various needs to attend to at the health center.

Now I'm considering taking a school nursing course so I can work as a school nurse during the school year and a camp nurse during the summer. The college I graduated from with my BScN offers the school nursing course, only thing is it's out of state so I have to reinstate my NY license.

I will say it hasn't been an easy road re-entering - it takes time to rebuild your confidence, which can only come with experience and time. It takes time to know where you belong in the field, or where you want to be. I guess my motto would be, "Don't give up, there's a place for you out there" even if your first position doesn't work out. But be careful about where you go. I think a lot of it has to do with the employer and unit manager/director - some will give us a chance, others will not.

[leslymill]

I am taking a refresher Course right now from IALN. Idaho Alliance of Leaders in Nursing. A course approved by my State Board in Nevada. It costs more than the college, and it is on line. I have to find a local preceptor next week. That is the hard part.

[nreb]

Hi I have been an inactive RN since 1980 because I chose to stay at home and raise a family and since have worked in the family retail business. I am anxious to return to nursing , am not picky about where I work but want to feel like I am making a difference. Does anyone know of a good refresher course in the Cincinnati, Ohio area? Tri Health offerred one that ran from Sept through November but I do not know if they will offer another next year.Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thankyou. NREB

[leslymill]

http://www.nursing.ohio.gov/

I would contact the Ohio State Board. There are lots of refresher courses, but not all are approved by every State Board.

Might save them and you heart ache if you find out which ones they have already approved.

[marinemom07]

I returned to nursing after staying at home to raise my children for 12 years. I was a dialysis nurse previous to staying at home. I went back to work in dialysis for 4 years and was physically exhausted by the work. I switched to ICU nursing in May and could NOT be happier! It was quite an adjustment to go from outpatient care to an intensive care setting. I have found that it is kind of like riding a bike-if you were good at it, if you love what you do-it really comes back. Also a fabulous, intensive 6 week orientation program didn't hurt either. Now at 48 years of age I work nights in ICU and I love it. I never thought my life would take this turn!

[jlcole45]

I left nursing about 4 years ago mostly out of boredom and followed another career path which has turned out to be a lot more work and hours then I want in my life now at 45 yo.

So I to am looking very seriously at returning. It's good to hear your positive comments (marinemom07). Sometimes we need a break from it to realize it's not as bad as we thought and is some cases better!

I think it's just a matter of time before I completely transition back - got to figure out a graceful way of getting out of my current management job.