ksanda1

I graduated from nursing school in Jan 07 and passed the NCLEX in March 07. I have not worked in the field due to my family committments. The great news is that I have an opportunity to start working again this summer and I am thrilled! Do you think I need a RN refresher course after 1+ year absent after graduation? If I find myself a hospital job that offers a thorough orientation program, I am sure I can pick it up again. Is LTC care facility a place to start as a new grad? Thanks for your help with these questions.

Please try Kaplan..I used it and received only 75 questions on the first try. Kaplan is not easy and it can be depressing at times. Also, I will do set amount of questions each day from Kaplan and somedays none at all. I used Saunders everyday. I did 100 questions each day and read the explanations over why I got it right or wrong. Hope this helps!

Thank you both for all the information. Let me clarify some more... My husband is not working in the military but a private firm in Tokyo. However, I already researched the non-military employee jobs that Laura suggested but just the location of the place was not realistic. Before we came, it was discussed that I could look for a job. I will follow up on a working visa thru his relocation agency as they are helping me with other necessary documents to get me settled here and will post another update. Very grateful for all the information. I really wanted to make sure that my 2 years will not hurt the start of a new career. One of my nursing friends who also graduated are having twins and is not working so I do see your point that situations do arise. Suzanne, regarding other jobs...the prinicpal of my children 's school was quite happy when I told her I just graduated and started talking about foreign doctors etc. Is this a possibility? I am also surrounded by a number of embassies. Again, I will follow up with another post on working visas. Sanda

I followed my husband to his new assignment in Japan 3 weeks ago and will be here for the next two years. The two kids are attending elementary school. The problem is I just graduated in May and passed the nclex. I have no experience. I turned down some offers before I left. So far I have signed up to do some CEUs online. Japanese gov't requires one to know their language and take a similar exam. That option is out of the question. Would I still be able to find a job in nursing when I return? How do I fill in the gaps in my resume? Any suggestions appreciated. Bored!