LPN wanting to return to field after 3 years

[iwanna]

I am 50 yrs. old and have been on LTD and SSDI since June 2004. I have minimal background experience, as I have not started nursing until I was 40. My chronic illness(Sarcoidosis) has interfered with my working. Inititally, my last job, I was out on STD, then returned after 120 days. I worked from 2/04 to 6/04. I began to have exacerbations of my illness. I was hospitalized several times through 8/06. Since, August 2006, I have managed to stay out of hospital. I believe that my condition is stabilized on meds. And, financially I need to return to work. I have consulted my local OVR and filled out the application to qualify for vocational counseling. Then I wondered if I would just be able to return back to the psych hospital that I worked at. I know that I would need to brush up on things. I would love to take a refresher course, but it is so expensive and not offered locally. Would taking CEU's on internet be sufficient? My nursing experience is mainly in behavioral health. I worked in a drug rehab for 18 mos. and a psych hospital for 4 years. The only other nursing job that I have had was a very short stint at a nursing home. It was way too physically demanding for me, and I only worked there for 3 months. Being an LPN, I am quite limited locally as far as jobs. They only seem to be in nursing homes. The only other option would be to return to psych hopital that I worked before.(if they would even have me) I left on very good terms. In fact, the DON had tears in his eyes when I gave him my letter of resignation. And, he wanted to know what he could do to get me to stay. But, I told him nothing, and that my health was fading. So, my question is about the length of time that I've been out. Do I need a refresher course, or just CEUs on internet?

Also, I put my license in inactive status last year, when it was up for renewal. I did not believe that I would ever return to nursing. But, I was pleased with my wages where I worked. And, I would only work per diem or PT. Since, I am already 50, I don't see me going into any other field at this point. The only way I could get into other area, is through RN. I don't think my health would allow me to get through the clinicals. I know, because I started out to be an RN, and I was almost done. I failed my last course in my junior year. The clinicals were overwhelming and exhausting for me.

I do like the psych field. And, I prefer the substance abuse field, but the facility that I worked at closed. We have no inpatient facilites locally. I like these two area because they are close to me. I have a brother who is a non-functional schizophrenic. And, my daughter is a hard core opiate addict, currently on methadone.

Okay, I have babbled on enough. I used to blame it on ADD, but I notice my elderly mother doing it. I guess that I am just like her. I go all the way around the block to just go next door.

[Thunderwolf, MSN, RN]

It seems like you aware that you may need some brushing up to do since being out. CEU's are fine if they 1) meet the requirement to activate your license 2) meet your own learning needs to help you transition back into your interest, psych nursing....or more specifically, drug and alcohol. And lastly, you may wish to interview a bit in order to learn more about what the facility(s) requires now/expect and have to offer you with regard to orientation and training. This may also provide some additional and valuable feedback that you may need in your decisions.

My best to you,

Wolfie