I've Been Gone Awhile...Advice Please on Getting My Groove Back

[SunnyPupRN]

In 2009, I survived an assault, albeit with a TBI. At the time I was working Acute Psych/Subs Abuse and Women's Stress. I do not have much memory of the incident, and to make a long story short, someone called the police, who later told me that I told them I am a nurse, I'm just tired, I need rest and that I declined medical attention. Not knowing I had a TBI, I was not in the condition to make these decisions, but I started being disoriented, unable to focus or sometimes even form proper sentences. I went to my boss, who thought I was having a psych issue, and she sent me to the psych crisis unit. I think I stayed a day.Later the TBI was dx'd.

I ultimately lost my job and house, and was homeless. I crawled out of that pit and have an apartment, but I don't want to stay on disability income...and it's just not enough. I've improved greatly, although I have horrible anxiety and my sense of left and right is confused, as well as mild weakness on my right side. My biggest 'handicap' is the anxiety - I have been considered 'disabled' since 2012...but out of work for a solid five years.

I NEED to earn income. This is a survival matter. I've kept up with CEU's. I tried volunteering as a way to segue back to nursing and felt overwhelmed and incompetent [not because I am, but because lack of confidence.]

I read a thread on here about another poster from my area [ Pensacola] who tried to find a RN refresher course. The thread is quite old.

Please, is there anyone who knows of a refresher course in the area I could take to help me regain confidence? Even just phlebotomy? I'm willing to go back to work as an MA or phleb just to get my feet wet, but I'm really out of synch with nursing. Ultimately, I think returning to the Psych specialty won't be an option, I will need part time work in an office.

Sorry for the long post.

[No Stars In My Eyes]

My goodness, you've been through so much! I wish I had some help to offer to you. I just wanted to acknowledge your struggles and tell you I am sorry you had to go through all of that. You do sound like you've come a long way,as well, so you have a good bit of grit and strength.

I wish you all the best!

[Libby1987]

I apologize for my curiosity but how was this not a workers comp case with settlement/re-training?

[SunnyPupRN]

Thank you for your very kind words. I appreciate, even if you don't have advice.

[SunnyPupRN]

No need to apologize. I'm an open book about this, or I wouldn't have posted the details that leave me feeling, well, I guess ashamed is the word...because I feel like a failure.

I don't know much about worker's comp. Doesn't the injury have to happen at work? Mine occured in a parking lot, off time.

My supervisor verbally gave me a leave of absence. My boss told me I could come back when I was ready, but when I talked to HR, the manager there said something about too many absences. I took it to mean that my LOA wasn't official - that my time away had just been counted as absence. It's probably better that I didn't go back to that environment, it wasn't really supportive. I hope this answers your question.