Cindycin48

Hi, I am reaching out for advice on what I can do in my current situation. Warning, this is gonna be long, but I'll try to make it as short as possible. I have been a Medical Surgical nurse from 2015-2017 and I step away temporarily to work on my BSN full time (got BSN 2019) and help watch my sister's kids while she went to RN school. I went back to same hospital in 2020 for a few months to help out during Covid. I only stayed at the hospital for 4 months because I moved. I was going to apply for nursing jobs after I moved but my sister died from Covid and I completely shut down. I had to focus on my mental health and taking care of my sister's kids. After some time, I still did not go back because of the pandemic. My husband has asthma and I was terrified of him catching Covid. This was all before they came out with a vaccine. Anyway, I decided to stay home and work on my AGAC NP. I figured I would take MSN core classes and then go back to work after that. I have not worked as an acute care RN since Aug of 2020, and now I have this employment gap and I am in acute care NP Program. I reached out to a recruiter at a hospital I like to inquire about an RN position but the recruiter said they are looking for recent experience. I know I made a huge mistake not going back to bedside nursing sooner but I can't undo that now. I will start clinicals 16 weeks from today. I have been told that it is tough to work during clinical and not to work if I don't have to. Basically, I am having a hard time getting a nursing job because of my employment gap and I am nervous that I will not be able to find an acute care NP job if I don't go back to acute care RN. I feel stuck and don't know what to do. I would sincerely appreciate advice on how I can move forward. Please don't come at me with lecturing and criticism. I am already in a bad place and feel depressed and down about this.

Does anyone work at Endeavor Health in Elmhurst? I am ready to start applying for nursing positions, but I wanted to know what the interview process is like. How is the culture? Do you like working at this hospital? I want to apply to the progressive or step-down unit. Would greatly appreciate any information and advice you have:)

I was bullied so bad that I left nursing for four years. I had trouble articulating myself due to a medical reason I did not know about at the time, but now I am doing well with treatment. Bullies look for individuals who are weak in some way, and I was the perfect victim for them. I don't want to find a nursing job outside of the hospital setting because bedside nursing is my passion. Now, I am ready to return to the bedside, but I am not looking forward to the bullying which I know will happen because it comes with the territory. Sadly, bullying has become normalized. However, this time, I have confidence in myself and will keep a record if any bullying occurs. It is crazy how bullies are so good at manipulation. For example, I had a unit secretary befriend me so she could get personal information from me to use against me when the time came to bully me. She would not help me at all with anything and even messed with me using other coworkers as her little minions. I think she was just bored. I would find her doing her homework on the computer and surfing the Internet. The manager would join in on the fun, too. It would be great to find an anti-bully nursing club or something to educate nurses on how to deal with the various bullying tactics.

Hi, I took some time away from nursing due to unforeseen circumstances during Covid. I worked from 2015-2017 and then from Apr-Aug 2020. Anyway, I am looking for a hosptial that will be more willing to hire nurses returning to the bedside. I live near Oak Brook IL. Thank you:)

Anyone take the RN Refresher course at the COD? How was it?

Hi, I have been away from the bedside for four years. Does anyone know a hospital in the Dupage County area that will accept nurses returning to the bedside after a few years away? Do I need an RN Refresher course? I don't want to take the refresher course if employers don't acknowledge it as some experience. If I have to take a refresher course, does anyone know an online course that meets IL requirements? Thank you so much!

Hi, does anyone know if an RN Refresher course that is online for the didactic portion? I am from IL and I can't find one. I have been away from nursing for 4 years and I need a program that will get me back to the bedside quickly. Also, do I need a refresher course if it has been 4 years? Thank you:)

Chamberlain thread?

Hi, I am not sure why you said "Well, you didn't express any concern as to your clinical skills and adaptability to a new practice environment yet that is the most common failure point of new travelers". I said, "What is the best way to transition from staff nurse to travel nurse?" Well, that includes skills & adaptability; this would be the best way to transition. I do plan on traveling locally and per diem is a good idea. I would make sure that I am capable of "hitting the ground running" before I start traveling. I know that it will be a learning curve in the beginning but I am determined to make it work. Thank you for your input:)

I want to be a travel nurse but I am a bit nervous leaving my staff nursing job for the unknown. I am concerned about the financial aspect of it. Going from a biweekly paycheck to maybe getting a paycheck if I find a travel assignment that comes through. What is the best way to transition from staff nurse to travel nurse?

Hi, I have been away from nursing since August 2020. I know that I need to work for a year before I can travel. I do have previous experience in Med Surg and some in Tele. I do need more experience in Tele to feel competent. For those nurses who travel, what specialty seems to be high in demand? And what state is the best to work in? Thank you ?

Hi, I live in IL and I want to work in AZ as well. Do I apply for an AZ endorsement? I do not want to transfer my license because I am not moving to AZ. I just want to travel and work there.

I am not a new graduate and looking for a residency program to transition into the hospital. Does this exist? Just curious why hospitals don't have this type of program. I would like to apply to Mayo but I have been away from the beside since Aug 2020.

I contacted my state representative and within a week my license was renewed! Thank you!

Hi, I have been taking classes online to get my MSN, and during this time I accidentally missed renewing my RN license. I sent in all the paperwork and fees, and everything reached Springfield IL by April 1, 2023. It is Sept 4 and I am still waiting for my license to be renewed. Has anyone else experienced this problem? I need to return to work, and I am so stressed out about this. I don't know what to do. I called several times asking about it and they keep telling me they are working on it.