rednails

There is hope all!! I returned to nursing after 14 years. I was a work-at-home mom out of nursing raising my child too. I did keep my license through that time though, and I took a college refresher (no clinical included unfortunately) in December. It has taken me until now to get hired with many interview (even for non-bedside) rejections. It all led up to this...I got a position in a smaller hospital through knowing a friend who helped me get an interview. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity and grateful to be starting again. I am nervous as can be, but they say it will all come back. Reviewed some Ekg stuff which seemed to fit back in my brain quickly and so I am hoping the rest falls back together in time. Orientation starts this week - :yeah:Good luck to all of you. Persistence is key - get all your BLS and refreshers going and get with your network of friends and previous coworkers. It helps to know people - to at least give you a shot at an interview. I was ready to give up when it happened to me...it will happen to you too!

MUSIC :) I have been running most of my life but menopause has pushed me into the couch, lol. Tiredness has set in, but I do still manage it just not always as often as I used to. I find mornings are better for me so I try to get moving in the morning after a cup of coffee of course. I too got an ipod as a gift , and it's the best thing ever for motivation. It has a Nike tracking program with a thing for my shoe - forget what it's called. Then my ipod tells how far I've gone, how fast I'm going, etc. Programs music to play, a boosting song for the last leg of the run, etc. It's wonderful motivation. That and the pick of music help immensely. Good luck. Let me know if you start logging your miles! I am always looking for another motivator too!

I am an RN who did transcription in the hospital to put myself through nursing school. It paid my entire tuition for a BSN. I then spent a few years nursing before getting pregnant and have my first child. I then realized I could stay at home with my son (which was my only reason for leaving nursing) and do transcription...it was an up and coming new idea at the time. I took the leap and have been doing it for about 12 years caring for my family. I kept my degree/license active and now want to return to nursing and am having one heck of a time. I wish you well...I should have stayed resource or something - but I'm persistent and hopeful that I can regain my career in nursing. anway - I already knew transcription so I bought a computer and convinced a small local company to hire me (at the time was a nurse in an office). It was a tough start and the money was high and low depending on work flow. The learning curve can be high if you don't know accents. I luckily do and have experience so it wasn't too bad. I am an independent contractor and thus make my own hours, and I take time off when needed. However, there are no benefits...no insurance..no paid time off...nothing. You are at home and on your own and it was fun for a while. I am at the point of boredom, but I type a lot of different things...cardio, urinary, gi, variety. The work can be slow when docs are all on vacation or weather is bad and offices and hospitals do less...You listen to the dictation of various speakers. Some are English speaking and you would think they were from Mars. Some speak Chinese and speak clearer than the English speaking! While they dictate they ..use "the facilities", talk to their wife, watch a movie and converse with others, wait for their flight at the airport, drive in a car with radio full blast and window open, eat crackers or chips, slurp on a drink, chew gum and smack mouth it, snort and birp and gag noises, and so many unmentionable things. It's not pretty but it's a living that is supportive of a family life. If you are blessed as I have been to have a client who is pretty steady, the work is good. After you take out your own taxes which includes social security (all of it- whereas an employer pays half) it's not quite what you think you would make, but it's pretty good. I don't mean to sound depressing, it worked wonderfully for me for a long time. Good luck to you. Hope I gave you info and with you success!

Michigoos - Yes, that's what I'm looking into. Have a hiring event with the hospital I worked for this week. Have a contact and planning on finding out what type refresher they have or require and going from there. It's possible they have one of their own. Last contact with recruiter said she was not sure depending on dept that hired? Odd. However, that does seem to be something I'm going to have to do quickly as time is getting away from me. As Straydandelion mentioned, I need to possiby do FT - which I can do but before summer - just not sure I can after June so I really am trying to get moving on this as I don't know how long refresher is and how long orientation would be. I've been waiting on positions that opened but didn't (long story) and interviews etc since March! Now I have to be more proactive. So appreciate the input. Maybe I'm doubting myself in general since it's been so long! :wink2: thx again.

i figure as much. sorry didn't mean to be unclear about that. can't seem to get anywhere with it in general. thanks for your input :)

:)Okay I'm an RN with a BSN. I worked 2-1/2 years in ICU and then 1 year in a large cardiology office after having a child. So I have 3-1/2 years experience and a BSN. I quit to be a work-at-home mom for about 13 years. I came home to raise my child, and now am able to return to my profession, but I can't get anywhere. I have the ability to do resource or part time...resource being 2-4 days a week and am available...I will give up my business at home (medical transcription which kept my head in medicine) the day I land a job. I know I would need a refresher for hands on (versus case management etc) but recruiters just don't seem to want to do much, say much and don't seem really to care. I just don't feel like I am taken seriously and not sure what to do. I have attended health fairs, have a friend in the field, but I've been beat out through in-house employees and one who said I needed a year current experience for clinical documentation (I understand that one). I seriously am not interested in floor nursing but aren't there other options? Trying to find out local hospital refresher requirements to see if I can get into sam-day/opt surgery or something, pat. Just not sure where to turn, what to do, how to get back in and thinking they just aren't willing to take a chance on me which doesn't make sense? case manager position may be coming up which I'd like to apply for but I just wanted input as how those of you working felt...am I that far gone that it's pointless? I really do realize everything has changed, but I just want a chance. I didn't work eight years while working a full time job getting a degree for nothing....or did i? thanks for your thoughts.

Thanks so much madmominavan. Very much appreciate the input. It does sound really intersting and totally different. I'm looking forward to the possibility. I just heard about a resource position possibly opening up through a friend (she loves being a CM) who's referring me. Hoping someone will take a chance on me that way (resource)! lol. Position is hospital based. I did find out too they require you to take the test within a certain amount of time..two years? I'll keep researching the net too. Thanks again. God's timing, but I'm excited with the possibility!

I have been a out of nursing for 10 years to raise my child. A friend, also a CM, informed me of the CM option, and it does sound interesting. I am no longer interested in bedside. I have a BSN but only ICU experience of about 3 years and then a couple outside the hospital setting. I am stressed about not being able to get back in after all these years and wondered if anyone had any thoughts. I have been doing transcription for all these years so my brain has been in medicine but not in nursing :) I'm quick to learn etc. I managed to get hired ICU right out of school so I'm hoping that works in my favor too. Am i wishful thinking? Anyone had to reenter the field after a leave of so long?