Looking for advice

[MacB]

Just looking for any advice or thoughts here, all appreciated :)

Long story short: I graduated from nursing school 3 years ago, passed my boards, but had a lengthy depressive episode that submarined me psychologically and emotionally from finding a nursing job. I gave up after two years without any work experience. I have finally gotten back on my feet in the last few months and was pondering my options here with this license that I worked my orifice off for only to squander it.

My license is up for renewal in August- does it make any sense for me to work to renew it? Only need 24 CEs to do so. Part of me says 'don't let it lapse, CEs are easy.' I'm not sure how in the hell, though, I would find a job after essentially 3 years from school w/ no experience. Would a nurse refresher course be a way to accomplish this? My skills are no doubt rusty. Or would I still be SOL? Does or will maintaining this license prevent me from finding other healthcare related jobs, for example, as a lab assistant?

As for my desire to remain in nursing- it honestly depends on if the new work (refresher course, CEs) will pay off and I can realistically land a job. Thanks for your opinions and thoughts.

[elkpark]

Definitely maintain your license. I think a refresher course would be a good idea to make you more marketable. You might want to work on thinking up a vague-but-plausible explanation of how you spent the last three years, and practice (I mean literally, with friends or family) talking about that, answering questions you are likely to get in interviews, without getting flustered or defensive. If you want to make some reference to nonspecific "health issues" as the reason you have not been working, be sure to be clear that those are now resolved and will not be intering with your ability to work going forward.

Best wishes for your journey!

[MacB]

Thank you elkpark! I have been perusing this site since I posted this and have found some similar stories. I fully agree now, no need to let this lapse. Even if I decide to take a year to work on the bills and save for the refresher course this just makes too much sense. The refresher course sounds like a must, both for the resume and for my own piece of mind (I NEED the refresher on my skills to be confident again). Oh and I have been working, just not as an RN- half my problem (had a good paying non-nursing job during school and afterward).

Thanks for your advice, certainly going to use it!