Jon-O

I’ve decided to hang on to my license now. If the hospital pushes us to pick up shifts, I’ll push back to get some training first. If it comes to it, I’ll retire it, but hopefully it won’t go that far.

I've been a licensed RN since December of 2001. I've always been a Pediatric nurse, and specialized in Pediatric Oncology. After moving to an area where I could not continue Peds Oncology nursing, I took a job in Nursing Informatics. Since then, I've taken a position as an interface analyst and I no longer need my nursing license for my job. I have no adult nursing experience, I don't have an active BLS nor active ACLS status. I haven't had nursing orientation at my current facility, and I have not established skills competency at this organization. Recently, in response to Hurricane Ida and COVID, I was forced to sign up to work on Med/Surg. I was totally uncomfortable, having not taken care of a patient since 2009 and no adult care since nursing school. The Med/Surg unit did not offer me an orientation and could not guarantee that I would not have a patient load when I arrived. Luckily, I got my shifts covered by someone else, but now I'm left in a bad spot. If I keep my license active, my hospital could press me into what I consider an unsafe assignment. If I retire or inactivate my license, I will lose flexibility should I need to reinstate my license for another position. My hospital does not have a Pediatric unit, so offering my service there is out of the question. I am so hesitant to retire my license, but I don't see another option. What would you do?