hereagain

I haven't explored hospice yet. I have to first focus on getting ready for NCLEX. But I'm glad to hear that it may not be that competitive. Thanks. Thanks for that information and your perspective. It's very encouraging.

Obviously I would enter a re-orientation program. Some hospitals I have spoken to have programs specifically for returning nurses, similar to programs for new grads.

I have financial needs and must return to work after being retired for 23 years. Prior to that, I had always worked in a Level 1 Trauma/Medical Center. I was a trauma ICU nurse for several years, enjoyed/preferred 12 hour shifts, and loved the excitement. I was in my 30s then, and I did eventually burn out. My eye is on being back in a major hospital system. Every hospital I've looked at is interested in me after I reinstate my license, but they are clear that full time nightshift is the only option. Nightshift was tough for me even as a youngster! So I have concerns. I am interested in hospice but this is a highly competitive specialty and chances are slim to none that I could walk into ANY position, let alone hospice, without doing my time on nights somewhere. Wondering if I could suffer through a year of nightshift just to get a foot in the door. I'm a "young" 62, but . . . Any advice?

Back story: I was an RN for 12 years in a major teaching hospital, with ICU experience and ACLS certification. Then I worked 2 years for a large insurance company as a pre-authorization nurse. Then I moved overseas for several years and my license expired. I have been away from the bedside for 7 years. When my husband and I returned to the states, my old boss at the insurance company offered me a job similar to my old job, but I had to reinstate my license as a job requirement. I went to the time, trouble and expense to do that, only to find that the insurance company in the interim fell on hard times and the job was no longer available as they decided not to fill positions when nurses left. Grrrrr! I applied for several months to jobs at various hospitals and tried to call in my old contacts, but was informed that there was a hiring freeze in our city and there were NO jobs at either hospitals or SNFs, except for the usual full time night shift emergency room jobs . . . Several of my nursing buddies confirmed for me that this was not just a rumor, but a fact. I never even got a response to any of my applications. I called the American Red Cross and the public health dept. and free clinics looking for volunteer positions as I was told these could count toward keeping my license current, and was told by everyone I contacted that due to the hiring freeze/shortage of nursing positions, as well as all the new grads in the area, they were glutted with nurse volunteers who also needed hours to keep their licenses current, and therefore they didn't need any volunteers!!! This all happened last year. Since that time, we have added to our family and I now have infants to care for. That means I'm not open for night shifts and full time employment. I really feel desperate. What I want is to work part time in a non stressful environment, and positions like these were plentiful when I was last active in nursing, but not anymore, at least, not where I live (portland, oregon). My license is sure to expire again in another year because I will not have worked enough hours to keep it current. I do not plan to ever reinstate my license so if it goes, it goes. I'm out of a career. I was hoping that maybe there was some type of job that I could do from home or online. Someone mentioned doing workmen's comp intake forms for a national company, but I have no idea how to find out about that sort of thing. Do such jobs actually exist? I find this whole situations so bizarre. I was a good nurse and used to get stopped by managers in the corridors who would ask me if I wanted to come work in their department. Now I can't even get a moment face to face with a human being.

I was away from nursing for many years and my license expired. I did a re-entry program and reinstated my license July 2009. I have still not been able to find a job. I cannot work nightshift and do not wish to return to ICU due to my age, yet nightshift ICU seems to be all that's available out there! I was told by an HR person at one of the major hospitals that she was getting 300 applications for every opening they posted, and they weren't even looking at new grads or re-entry nurses like me. I have to log in 960 hours by the time my license comes up for renewal. Is the OSBN making exceptions for nurses in this situation, due to the lack of jobs? I don't want to have to go through another re-entry program just because I couldn't get enough hours.

"Give an abortion"??? How does one "give an abortion"? I'm stumped. Do you mean that she refused to assist the doctor while he performed a D&C procedure? Something doesn't sound right.

BrownEyes98, I think I know what article you are talking about -- was it with regard to research? I just spoke in person with the nurse recruiter at OHSU and she said the research grant was not translating into nursing positions and that they aren't hiring. The few positions they have open from time to time tend to get filled by inhouse people and are gone within a few days. She was nice as could be and tried to be helpful but basically conveyed that the situation is pretty bleak. I would most definitely not move up here without a firm job offer.

I had 15 years experience as an RN in a major teaching hospital and also worked a couple of years for an insurance company as an authorization nurse. I have been out of the field for 8 years and let my license expire. My husband and I thought we were in a position to retire. As it turns out, we have had some bad economic luck and we are both going to need to return to work. I have thought about reinstating my license, but that would take at least 4 months of extensive learning/clinical, plus costs a nice chunk of change. On top of that, I don't know if I am up for the hard work at my age. I am looking for ideas of career options for unlicensed nurses. I've thought of medical transcription, working as a chart analyst for a medical malpractice firm, or being a research assistant (though maybe only grad students in science get those jobs). Does anyone have any ideas for a job that I could train for quickly and that would pay more than minimum wage? Thanks!