need career direction

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Here is my story: I graduated college (RN) in 1996, then I did 1 year of LTC which I enjoyed. Then I took the OR course in 1997. In 1998-2005 I worked in an OR. I went from FT to PT then casual through the years as I had children.

I have beed doing my BScN and am on my last course. I have not worked for a year and I have not done anything but OR nursing since 1998. So I have lost a lot of skills.

I am thinking of working PT but due to scheduling and need for a change I do NOT want to do OR nursing. I want to do primarily nights (2/ week). Do you think it would be too hard for me to go back to LTC since I have not given an injection or insulin since 1998. I haven't done meds in that long either.

I feel like now I am only qualified to work OR. I was offered a job at CCAC but that was all day shifts and I don't want that.

Opinions???

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Why don't you take the med refresher course for nurses? Most colleges will offer in the evenings. Check out your colleges near you. Also, if you have a institution near you that offers nursing, they may allow you for a fee to sit in on clinical labs with the students for meds., etc...

Just a thought.

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Thanks for responding. I never even thought of the med refresher course. I didn't even know they had them. I will look into it.

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Hi Ajaxgirl,

I have lurked for a long time but your post made me sign up so that I could respond.

First of all, there seems to be a general sense in nursing that once you are in one area - that's it. You can't transfer your knowledge and I disagree completely. No one knows everything about a job until you are in it and that is why we have broad base of knowledge so that we can go into many different areas. You're just finishing your Bsc.Nursing? Then you've just reviewed many areas of nursing and you are more than ready for whatever area you want to pursue. Yes, you could take a pharmacology course but why? You pull out a pharmacology text and review it. And when you are on the job, keep learning. Keep asking questions and keep your knowledge current. Ask questions. Take workshops, courses, start an inservice program in your facility.

In other words, go for it. Apply for positions that look good and trust yourself that you will learn what you need to do that job competently. As for "losing skills" ... you may be rusty but I bet once you've been on a job for a while things will come right back.

So my career advice for you is: trust yourself. Take a chance and keep the spark of learning alive. Don't let anyone let you believe that you aren't capable of learning new skills (or remembering the old ones) and if they do, don't believe them ;-)

Good luck!

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Thank you, I agree that learning on the job is important. I just feel rusty. I know I would learn fast though and I have more knowledge and leadership skills than I did as a new grad. I could just review the basics such as insulin adminintsrtion and IM injections and pharmacology. The rest of the stuff would be fine.

Yes I am on my last course for my BScN and it will be done in April.

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I heard exactly what you said. I also feel the same way...

"Trapped" in paradise...

I think you would be fine in LTC! Go for it! Skills come back quicker than you know...

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