OLD RN of 58 needs career advice please!

[krisssy]

I have posted my situation before, so I am sorry if any of this is redundant. I am trying to get back into nursing, and I have continued to be confused. Any advice would be VERY much appreciated please.

I graduated from school with a BSN 35 years ago. I am 58 years old, but I look and feel very young. I worked as a school nurse teacher for two years when I first graduated. I then went into teaching and taught elementary school for 30 years. I did extremely well, and I have an MA and many post graduate credits in education. Four years ago, due to being cheated on and abandoned by my husband of 32 years, I had a nervous breakdown and was hospitalized. During that time, I watched what the psych. nurses did and became obsessed with the idea of returning to nursing. (I retired from teaching right after the nervous breakdown.) Throughout my whole ordeal with major depression, going back to nursing was the only thing that made me feel better. I took a refresher course in nursing. I loved it and did quite well considering my lack of experience and how long ago I graduated from nursing school. Although I was very interested in psych, I also enjoyed taking care of all different types of clients. I needed that refresher course to continue for a lot longer than 6 weeks. As soon as i was just beginning to get the hang of it, it was over. I was offered a job( nights-ortho), but I did not feel confident enough in my ability to take it. Since then, I have been through two surgeries for a prolapsed retun and then adhesions, and I am getting remarried next month. I am physically and mentally better, and I STILL want to return to nursing. I am currently registered in the state of NY.

I believe that I need more education before getting a job. i have looked into everything i can think of, and I just keep getting more and more confused. I have looked into MS programs in everything from psych to management. I know-how can I manage something i have no experience with? I have looked into online programs in particular, because I will be living in Fla. and NY within a year. I have looked into the Kaplan case management course, but I don't think anyone would hire me without floor experience. I have thought of taking another refresher course. I have thought I would like so many different specialties-psych., rehabilitation, long term care, pediatric psych., diabetus educator, case management, informatics etc.

The bottom line is that I am 58 years old, have experience with children, am an excellent teacher(was teacher of the year in 1996)am very organized and detail oriented, love paper work, love the computer, love to work hard, am very compassionate and loving and love to help people.. The only areas that I would find too stressful would be the ED, oncology and hospice care.

The advice I need is:

1. What kind of education would be good for me? How can I update myself? Would a nursing master's be ridiculous with no clinical experience? Would another refresher course help even though it would just be 6 weeks again? Are there any online courses that you think would benefit me?

2. What type of nursing do you think would be best for someone in my position and at my age?

3. Do you think I am TOO OLD and should give up my dream that I never fullfilled. Don't get me wrong-I loved my teaching career-I have just had enough and want to go back to nursing.

Any advice would be GREATLY APPRECIATED. If you think I am TOO OLD, please tell me. I need to know and make realistic decisions.

[krisssy]

Thank you all for bringing this thread up again. I had to read it from the beginning to remember it. Well you will all be interested to know that with everyone's help and suggestions, I finally made a decision. This will be a beginning, and I will see where it goes. I got accepted into an MS online Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner's Program. I start in Jan. I am so excited. I am just starting with one course for this semester, and I will speed it up a bit once I am comfortable. I am starting with Nursing Theory. I have my books, and I am ready to go. This particular program just added a pediatric and adolescent piece to it. I will certainly add that to my course schedule, so I can go into pediatric and adolescent psych if I choose to. We will see, but at least, I FINALLY MADE A DECISION TO START SOMEWHERE. I would love to hear from all of you and how you are doing and what you are doing. Krisssy

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

You're not too old! If I was you, I'd call the Human Resource departments of hospitals and see if they offer any programs for nurses who want to re-enter nursing. A hospital I worked at last year did that, and it was valuable to the hospital and to the returning nurses.

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

I have posted my situation before, so I am sorry if any of this is redundant. I am trying to get back into nursing, and I have continued to be confused. Any advice would be VERY much appreciated please

Krisssy, I am 50 y/o and totally worn out with med/surg and hospital nursing. I recently converted to home health and am finding it fantastic!

It might be something you should check into. I'm PRN and not expected to work weekends, holidays or to take any call. Good Luck!

[military spouse]

I think the best thing I can say to you right now is ...

You don't get anywhere until you make a decision.

You seem to be paralyzed in trying to make a decision because you are looking for the "best choice" right now. There might not be a "best choice" right now. There may be only choices -- not of which is perfect. You may have to simply pick one, give it try, and then alter your path based on how it goes, understanding that the first choice you make might not work out as well as you hope.

You need to pick a specialty for yourself and then talk to the people who do hiring for that type of job. See if they will hire you (probably as a beginner-level nurse) as you are now. If not, ask them what you would have to do to get hired. You may have to take a job that is not your first choice at first and/or work a schedule that is not your first choice, but you need to start putting one foot in front of the other and simply get a job that will get you started. After 6 months to a year, you will have the experience you need to move on to whatever better suits your fancy.

If you will be moving within a year, it is probably best to focus on getting a job in your new locale. Use the time in your old home to perhaps take another refresher course ... or take a single relevant class as a special student at a local college (sometimes possible) ... or do some relevant volunteer work. But you could be talking with people in your new locale now and learning from them what they would like you to in order for them to hire you.

With your background in education ... have you thought about non-RN jobs in a children's hospital? We have school teachers who work with the kids in the hospital rather than in the school environment. We also have a Child Life department that provides invaluable service to children helping them cope with their illnesses and hospitalization. You may need only a class or two to get the qualifications you would need to qualify for those jobs -- maybe none at all. Talk to the local children's hospital and listen to what they have to say.

But most of all ... just make a decision and give it a try. Then, based on your experience with that first decision, keep moving forward.

Good luck,

llg

That is such a great idea! I've worked behavioral health with adolescents (RTC and acute) and there seems to always be a need for teachers that are able to deal with the kids. That might allow you to work in a psych setting without the challenges of going back to nursing. Good luck!

[mccmaeve]

Find a Career Counselor. A professional, Career counselor who knows the job market in your area, (wherever you plan to live). This person will help you narrow down what skills you have, and what jobs you like, dislike etc. You have a vast experiences, and only you, with the help of a competent, paid professional will find the answers. Good Luck-you will do well!!!

[purplemania, BSN, RN]

I too am 58 and left pedi nursing to work in Education/staff development. You would be a perfect candidate. You could probably get a job in the Ed dept of a hospital while you work on MSN. I would NOT go back to school until I had clear understanding of what to do with another degree. You may not need it at all with your background, unless you teach at university level. Teaching in a pedi hosp sounds perfect. Call various education depts and talk to nurses there. Be aware their time may be precious so keep your questions concise & to the point. they don't need to know all your personal stuff. Congrats on upcoming marriage!

[krisssy]

I too am 58 and left pedi nursing to work in Education/staff development. You would be a perfect candidate. You could probably get a job in the Ed dept of a hospital while you work on MSN. I would NOT go back to school until I had clear understanding of what to do with another degree. You may not need it at all with your background, unless you teach at university level. Teaching in a pedi hosp sounds perfect. Call various education depts and talk to nurses there. Be aware their time may be precious so keep your questions concise & to the point. they don't need to know all your personal stuff. Congrats on upcoming marriage!

What exactly do you mean by teach in a pedi hospital? I have no experience in hospital nursing. My experience is in teaching children in school and as a school nurse teacher. Thanks Krisssy

[mees65]

I am also an older RN. I have not worked in nursing for 24 years. I empathize with you and even find comfort knowing someone else is agonizing over what direction to take. I have been researching the nursing field for at least a year. I think 11 g had great advice about taking action. Friends and family are tired of hearing me talk about it...they want action.

I also want flexibility and would like to start out in a part time position. I interviewed for a recovery room nurse in a surgery center last week. I asked the Director of nurses if I could shadow the head nurse to see if I would be comfortable in the unit and to get a feel for working in a "fast pace" area. I am doing that on Wednesday to see what I think. I am very nervous because I have not had a refresher course. I cannot find one in the Palm Desert area. I am also nervous about taking the BLS (Basic Life Support) and ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) classes that are required to work in the area. I am very grateful that I have the internet to answer all my questions re the material.

I think it is important to spend some time in the area before one invests a lot of time and money in taking classes.

I also looked into working in a LTHC facility in skilled nursing. The patient ratio is higher than in the hospital and I was overwhelmed when I heard the job description.

I find it very helpful to read the replies on this web site.

Good luck,

Meese