Old NICU RN needs advice on re-entering workforce

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Hi All,

I hope someone can direct me. I worked 15 years with babies (all aspects-teaching hospitals to rural). I stopped to help husband with his business and raise 4 kids. I did work prn for the school nurse during my hospital hiatus. It is now 15 years, later, and I desperately want to return to my first love. I have re-activated license, NRP, and take BLSN this week.

I live outside the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and there are quite a few hospitals with NICU's.

My question is....Do you think I can rehire without going through the RN Refresher Course? I have no desire to work with adults and haven't since nursing school. I have no problem and would welcome a Refresher Course on Neonates but would probably spaz out if I had to do adults. Any ideas?

Also, most of these big hospitals, you apply online. It seems the old nurse recruiter is a thing of the past. Should I try to call and ask to speak to head of Unit with my questions...or will that be wrong.

:bowingpurI thank you for any feedback you can give me.

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Specializes in NICU, Nursery.

With your qualifications why not try graduate school? Maybe you can earn a few units and this would be an advantage, you could end up in a supervisory position. Or become an NP. That way, you could earn some refresher course but still stay in neonatology where your heart lies.

good luck! :)

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Specializes in NICU.

If you re-activated your license, then I don't see why you should have to go through a refresher course.

The way they would handle this situation on my unit would be to offer you a 12-week orientation (like a new grad) or however long you think you'd need to get back into the swing of things.

I would go ahead and apply online and if you don't hear from a nurse recruiter in a couple days, then I would call.

Good luck to you!

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