Out of work 4 yrs ?

[RNOTODAY, BSN, RN]

Hi!

I have about 10 years total OR experience. I’ve been an R.N. for 17 years...my license is active . here’s my issue: I’ve been out of work for what is approaching the 4 th year ( ? I hate writing it ) I am ready , & I want and desperately NEED to return to FT work in the OR. I am aware that typically, RNs who have been out of work this long are advised to take a R.N. Refresher course.,Now I’d have no problem doing this:,except, they are geared toward medical / surgical FLOOR/ UNIT nursing, so I’m thinking , will this even be WORTH it? I mean , you know that those areas and the OR couldn’t be any more different ??‍♀️Do any of you know a nurse who came back to the OR, after taking one of these

” generic” courses? Would an OR manager even see any value in it?? Any and all info you can give me to put me in the right direction BACK to the OR would help so much.. I’d be so grateful-,you have no idea how I miss the OR ( or how broke I am ?) I even miss....CALL. Yes. I miss it THAT BAD.

Thanks in advance!

[brighidh]

I'm in the OR.

A) how long you've been out of the OR won't mean anything to the right OR manager because it's hard to get OR nurses. I know my place of employment would take that nurse and put her through at least a 3 month orientation and they'd be glad to do it. In fact, there would likely be competition to get you on board if you lived in an area with multiple hospitals.

Next.... I think the bigger issue will be about why you're out of the OR. Were you injured? Sick? Taking a break? Family issues? If your reason for being out looks likes something that is a liability for the facility or likely to happen again, you're less of a safe bet and there will be more hesitation.

thanks -- B

[catsmeow1972, BSN, RN]

I’m sort of having the same issue. I had some major life issues that resulted in me having a 5 year dance with my state’s delightful ?? interpretation of a professional assistance program. That unwarranted nightmare from hades is soon to be over (only a few more months) thank the diety of your choosing.

Nonetheless, I’ve been out of nursing for 18 months and out of the OR for just over 2 years. (I made a stab at floor nursing, thinking that maybe my OR days were over. Yeah, no. Once an OR nurse, always an OR nurse)

I am in an area where there are MANY places to choose from and in my recent spate of applications, all have said “no, thank you.” I am convinced that it has to do with the wart of the program contract more than anything. Nobody wants to deal with that garbage. I can’t say as I blame them. But people look at that and turn and run without understanding the details.

It certainly isn’t qualifications. I have my BSN and my CNOR. I also scrub. I was trained in a Level I trauma center. I do it all (except CVOR, but if you want to teach me..?)

So far as why, and concern for liability?.....Its been years since said ‘issues.’ Enough damage has been done. If I’m so hard to get....maybe the ‘no, not interested’ will change in a few months when that wart is gone.

[favoritemumsy]

I have been out for 16 years and have had multiple job offers in OR. No refresher needed. Have 14 years OR experience. Most employers are happy to have experience even if it’s been awhile.