meanestmomever

My BSN is from 1981 and I haven't worked since having children in 1986! Our financial picture started changing a few years ago and I took a refresher at Avila. I guess that was its last class. The mistake I made, I think, was going back during my refresher clinicals to what I had originally loved... being where the "action was!" For me that was hearts... telemetry, CT stepdown, ICU/CCU. I quickly got scared off and haven't considered nursing again...until now... Financial picture continues to worsen, and the clincher was when I had to take a "test" on an application for a scrapbooking store: What type of adhesives do you use? Name 3 of the best-selling scrapbooking magazines. There were more along this line... Mind you, this was my first venture back into the Job World after 21 years as a Stay-at-Home mom! And they wanted me to work Mondays, and every other Sat & Sun.... for $7.50/hr. Suddenly I'm determined to utilize my degree somehow! So, first thing had to come to terms with my strengths and weaknesses TODAY. I do not have the drive that I did in 1981! I have enough stress at home right now with finances, husband with new job, 2 teenagers, 1 kid at college and a 10 year old. And we are all used to me being at home/on call. So, I just discovered Olathe Medical Center has a ton of clinic nursing positions. I didn't realize they were tied in to so many clinics. Anyway, I hope I can maybe EASE back into nursing. We'll see. My story may not be at all helpful for you... 8 years seems like nothing to me! I haven't researched re-entry programs recently, didn't know JCCC offered one now. Anount of time in clinical was very important for me. How do the on-line re-entries handle that? I do know that since I re-newed, re-entered, re-paid or whatever you call it for my KS license, and it once again expired, I have 5 years to catch up on ceus to get it current again. (Oh Jeeez.... In digging out my license to check when I completed the refresher I discovered I must have also renewed my MO license at that time. Let's see, it expired in 2003... I didn't even remember doing that! See why I wonder about nursing??? Well, I guess that just opened up the job market some more... now what do I have to do in MO?!?!?!) Anyway, I hope to get my ceus in an area I'll be working. I'm new to the site but found it helpful just to talk a.k.a. whine/complain to others. Good Luck and I'd be happy to share notes!

Thanks so much for your replies! A financial "expert" I listen to on the radio likes to talk about "Murphy moving into your back room" when times are bad. That's how it feels here! Please forgive the complaining. After completing nursing school I worked in several different areas of the hospital - med-surg, progressive care/telemetry, CT step-down, and ICU/CCU. I loved being where the action was and I wanted to be the best. When the kids came, I was able to "work from home" as they say... although 21 years ago that meant the paychecks had several big zeros! I'm so thankful for that. I took a refresher course 5 years ago when things started changing for my husband, in order to be prepared. I have to say it was a fairly good program with quite a bit of clinical time. I think the problem was that I returned to telemetry and ICU (during clinicals) without that same drive. I got scared off and felt like a failure. Since that time I have been fighting clinical depression. I found an excellent therapist, and with meds and some other techniques I do pretty well. Physically I need to lose about 75 lbs. and quit making excuses about exercising! The physical activity does help with the depression. I posted my question yesterday afternoon and last night while whining to my husband, (one of my better skills) I discovered I had not checked the job postings for one of the hospitals in our area. I couldn't believe it! They had 8-12 listings for clinic RNs! This is a reputable hospital... I had no idea they had so many clinics! Additionally, the scheduling options were all across the board! Now I feel very encouraged to talk to their HR dept! I think this could be a good fit. I appreciated your thoughts so much... Maybe Murphy fell asleep! Actually, I can't help but feel that there must have been some prayers said. Thank you all!

Well, guess the title of this thread sums it up... very lucky to have been at home with our 4 kids, ages 10-21...husband job change...need $$$...no confidence! Physically fit? No! Mentally fit? Depressed! Graduated magna cum laude eons ago... took a refresher 5 years ago... Scared me when I discovered during clinical I hadn't given meds all day! Was it my aging brain, or my depressed brain? Would I make another error like this and hurt someone? Any ideas on easing back in, or do I head to the local craft store for a job? Thanks in advance for any help!