RenRN

For sure. I’m under no illusion whatsoever that I can just slip right back into the profession with as little experience as I have and as long ago as it was! This question was really just about any really big-picture shifts in the profession since then. It’s interesting to see so many people say EMR, and someone mentioned scanning meds. We had both those systems in place where I worked (a NICU in a big metropolis). I hated EMR too! Thanks, everyone!

Of course! Hands-on practice will definitely be the bigger focus and concentration. I’m just *curious* about anything that’s had a really big impact on the profession as a whole in the last 15-20 years—if anything.

Thanks. Yep, I’m taking my time to explore the idea. When I went into nursing before, it was through an accelerated BSN program and I really think everything about how I went into it before was just too rushed. According to the BON where I live, all I need is a nurse refresher course (it does involve clinical hours). But I know myself a lot better now than I did then, and I know better than to rush back in with only the refresher course. Hence the reading and researching and exploring on my own first (including rejoining Allnurses to talk to currently employed nurses!). And I know 15-20 years is a long time. The world, in general, is so different now than it was then! I know the technologies, tools and practices/skills will have changed. I’m guess I’m mostly asking here about things like structural and organizational changes—like the implementation of RRTs etc.—and any big-picture trends. Thank you!

Hello, all. I made a career switch from magazine editing to nursing back in 2003. I left and went back to editing in 2004. There were a lot of reasons for switching back, both personal and professional. I am glad to say that I did provide safe and effective care during my short time as a nurse. It just wasn’t the right fit for me at that stage in my life. But now I’m at a point where I’m thinking of returning to nursing. I went and bought some nursing textbooks at a used books store, so I could start brushing up at my own pace before deciding if I want to enroll in a nurse refresher program. I’ve just started reading a med-surg textbook last updated in 2013, and it talks about the IHI’s 100,000 Lives Campaign to save patient lives, launched in 2004, and about the (2006-2008?) initiative to create Rapid Response Teams/Medical Emergency Teams. This got me wondering about what has changed in nursing since 2004. I’d love to hear from nurses who’ve been in the profession for 20+ years: Have there been any really big changes in the last 15-16 years, things that have changed what it’s like to work as a nurse? Thanks!