Is there Hope for me after 21 yrs???

[Momtotjmatt]

Hi, I am 49 yrs old and wanted to go back to work after finding out that my hubby is forced to retire early at 50 yrs. old. My kids are still in middle school and worries that there is not enough money coming in. I am not sure where to go with my work experience, and not sure what job title I should be applying. I graduated since 1988 from the Phils. Worked as an OR Nurse for 4 yrs, 1 year Home Health Care and Medical Rep in Anesthesia for 4 yrs. After I moved to AZ in 2001, my husband & I decided that I would not work so I could focus with my 2 boys.

I feel intimidated going back to bed side Nursing or even an OR tech. with the stress levels & probably new instruments & meds. What is my best chance to get a job that is Nursing related ? Medical Assistant is my first choice but I still need a Refresher course and certification. I certainly don't know where to go and really need your advice.

[Oh'Ello, BSN, RN]

You'd probably be a shoe-in to be a surgical instrument tech since you have OR nurse experience. They are the people that prepare the trays, sterilize the equipment for the OR. Where I live its a pretty good paying job, not as much as nursing but its skilled work that doesn't require a specific degree and you could definitely make a living of it.

[BeachsideRN, ASN]

Yes, I did. I need refresher course which would take 6 months to 1 yr., shadowing , take CGFNS and NCLEX exams. It's an uphill battle for sure.

I feel sad letting my Nursing career go.

If nursing of where your heart is this is where I would start.

[nursel56]

You'd probably be a shoe-in to be a surgical instrument tech since you have OR nurse experience.

I was thinking the same thing.

momtotjmatt-- there are ever increasing numbers of specialized tech jobs compared to years ago. Surgical tech as Oh'Ello mentioned seems like a great avenue to explore. Some require training plus a certifiction, some just on-the-job training, and various requirements that differ from one state to the next.

From my prior research I've found that information and guidelines on these jobs is often found in the Public Health category or the Medical Board category on your state's official website. If you check out the for-profit schools, be very careful to verify the claims they make.

I left nursing when my kids were little, returned, although in my case I kept my license on "inactive" so I didn't need to re-take the NCLEX. I discovered that yes, there are many new meds, new technologies and especially new acronyms. I found the hardest thing to learn initially was the thing that never left completely. That being how you observe, assess and the critical thinking process.

Wishing you all the best!

[dishes, BSN, RN]

If you feel intimidated by an OR tech position and think a MA position is the right job for you, carefully scrutinize the MA job market in your area. You can find out about the real job market from people who currently work as MAs, physicians and medical clinic managers who hire MAs. Do not rely on MA schools for job market advice, as their goal is to recruit students to their programs.

[missourinurse2b, BSN, RN]

Tele tech, phlebotomist or unit clerk, to begin with. Not that much physical effort as CNA, sometimes can be trained on the job and pays not much but still more than minimal wage.

Then - see how things are going. Where I live, community college ASN costs less than 6-months university refresher.

Not that much physical effort as a CNA??? Have you worked as a CNA, because I have and it certainly isn't easy!

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

Not that much physical effort as a CNA??? Have you worked as a CNA, because I have and it certainly isn't easy!

I know! Maybe if you're a CNA in the Twilight Zone or something like that...

[Julius Seizure]

Not that much physical effort as a CNA??? Have you worked as a CNA, because I have and it certainly isn't easy!

I think that poster might have meant that those other jobs are "not AS much physical effort as CNA."

[missourinurse2b, BSN, RN]

well that is possible. I just know the CNAs have tough jobs and it's very hard. Guess I am quick to defend them.

[MissNurs2016]

Sure, you probably need to do a refresher program to reactivate your license. Contact your local university. Good luck!

[middleagednurse]

Maybe be a hospital receptionist? Or activity director at a SNF? Or go back to school to become an LPN?

[RUmedic]

Yes, I did. I need refresher course which would take 6 months to 1 yr., shadowing , take CGFNS and NCLEX exams. It's an uphill battle for sure.

I feel sad letting my Nursing career go.

Are you still in AZ? If so their BON accepts transcript evaluations from ERES, which is a FAR better organization as opposed to CGFNS.

ERES is in California and would get your transcripts evaluations done right and quickly for the board.

I am not sure why they'd request 6 months for the refresher course but as far as shadowing is concerned, you can make an arrangement with an educator at a local hospital and they'll let you do it. You would observe but would not touch a patient.

A refresher course in FLA is 90 days by comparison. I have done one since my graduation was in the 90-s.

It may not be as bad as you project it to be. You are not too old to go back to nursing!

[LessValuableNinja]

Yes, I did. I need refresher course which would take 6 months to 1 yr., shadowing , take CGFNS and NCLEX exams. It's an uphill battle for sure.

I feel sad letting my Nursing career go.

This is a faster option than any career that will result in similar wages. Recommend taking the refresher course which will not only result in a license (according to your research?), but as the name implies, refresh you. It sounds like you also need some increased confidence in your skills, which a refresher course will help with. Anything (that I'm aware of) that would result in similar pay is at least two years of school, some many more years of school. Seems like the path of least resistance is a refresher course for you.