Refresher programs: My licence has lapsed, ugh, retesting sounds challenging, advice?

[debbren]

Hi All,

After working as a Neonatal Nurse Practioner for 10 years I "retired", and have been living abroad for several years. I am really wanting to return to nursing and realized I must first get my licence back. Does anyone have advice on how they have chosen to study for the exam? Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. Being in Hong Kong, I have lots of free time, can do online course work, but have no availablity to do any clinical here. But for now I think the matter of preparing to retake an exam I havent taken in 25 years is a tad daunting!

Thank you and love the site....

[debbren]

Hello again,

It is so hard to believe in these days of dire nursing shortages (which I have seen first hand with my mother in the hospital!), that great nurses like you...with years of experience , are finding it difficult to get a job anywhere.

If you have been following this post, you know I too just got my licence back, so exciting...but my issue is now, I am living overseas...so although I have found some refresher courses, the timing is tough, not usually back in the states for 6 weeks at a time.

But for now just reviewing on my own...it really does come back. The highly tech. part of my old job, vents, CT placement, reviewing CT scans, xrays, that type of thing....no question can't do from a book!

The biggest advantage I feel I have now is , my three sons are all grown, no longer the pull of family needs as it used to be. Hard to go off to a 24 hour shift when you have ear infections brewing at home!

I too have a really supportive husband who has a busy career, so my future is just starting again! I actually am going to Haiti next week with my husbands team, and hope to be able to lend a hand....

Keep me posted on your progress, I will be rooting for you!

Best of luck to you....

[backinthesaddleRN]

Thanks for your kind words of support! Good Luck in Haiti and God Bless!

[honeysusanjohn]

hello to u all...i am jst a starter....n before starting i had to end evrything...aftr my graduation i jst worked for 3 years..n dos 3 years wer d hell of ma life i had to suffer evrything...i felt in d name of a noble profession i was among terrorist ..all backstabbing n politiking..OMG..i jst ran out for my life i say...but i really had only one intensioun to help d needy n dats y i took dis profession...

Bt now i feel really bad i have evryting by gods grace but dat emptyness,dat satisfaction i used to get wen d clients sply d granpas n grannies used to bless me evrytime dey saw me...n now i happened to see d abve posts... thanx ya all for inspiring me...god bless u all...i have decided to join sme hospital i wish GOD grant me ...n thanx for AN.

[egnj]

I just want to reinstatement my license to have it on my resume. Not planing on returning to clinical practice but I did spend a lot of time, energy and thousands of dollars to obtain a BSN. I had a active Virginia license but then moved back to NJ and was told by Virginia Nursing Board to change it to inactive. Bad advise. I have not problem retaking the NCLEX. But I believe we nurses need more advocates for our profession. CE and Reinstatement and renewal fee should not be costing up to $2000. Also, the reinstatement refresher class which I would enjoy taking is in North Jersey and I live in South Jersey. I wish we could all get together in NJ and ask for some help.

[Gammag03]

hi, 

I am late to read this discussion, but am in a very similar situation. Does anyone know what type of refresher course to take in Georgia? It has been 10 years since I graduated and I only took the NCLEX one time, and failed. I am planning on taking the NCLEX in Florida and applying of endorsement. I want to find a refresher course and also find a way to get clinical experience. Does anyone know the best way to get clinical experience to help with employment? Also, does anyone know where to find 'Suzannes plan?'

Thank you!!