SacSunshine

I suspect you're right, Marisette...even with all the surgical experience I have, they will still be looking for it to be "recent". But, I hate the thought of starting all over in something else...

I am an ADN RN, graduated 1980, worked steadily for 16 years. I worked OR for the last 8 years, but also worked ER, Public Heath and IV Therapy. In 1996 I started telephone triage nursing, which I did until 2001. Then, my MIL became ill, and I left work to care for her in our home. She did great, eventually moving into her own apartment, but I still had her as a "home visit patient". I did some other types of work...notary, web design...so my schedule was free to take her to dr appts, shopping, etc. We moved to TX and I took a refresher course, thinking she was better and I could go back to work. Then I had a rude awakening. No one wanted me. I had 20 years of varied nursing experience, but since I hadn't been in the hospital in 8 years, they weren't interested. I put in tons of applications, and got a few interviews, but no offers. And most wouldn't even talk to me. "Too long out of the field." In the meantime, my daughter has graduated from nursing school and is looking to get her BSN online. She wants me to do it with her. I'm not exactly opposed to that, BUT... How can I find out whether I will run into the same issue as a "new" BSN nurse? Will it matter that I just graduated from the BSN program, or will I still be considered "too long out of the field"? I don't want to spend $10K and 13 months, only to find out I'm in exactly the same position I am right now. Anyone? Thanks!

The reason you have had no responses is because we can't figure out how to get back in either. LOL I took a refresher course, and have 21 years of experience, but no BSN. No jobs. I have toyed with going for a lesser vocational course to get back in too, like surgical tech or ultrasound tech...but not sure I want to go back through A&P and all that to do it. But, since you have such specific training and are good at it/like it, I would say you might have a very good chance at getting a BSN and getting back in the field. I have done telephone triage and it's a business now, your calls are taped and timed and nitpicked. When it first started you were actually allowed to use your nursing skills. It's also very little to do with your field of choice, for the most part. Nurse practitioners are used in OB practices a lot. Also in Public Health. There are a lot of pregnancy/infant/child related programs in Public Health departments and unless you live in a very big urban area, you might not even have to have a BSN. I guess the best way to start is to look for a few places you might like to work, and then be bold and call their HR folks up and ask them what qualifications you'd need and the theoretical "If I had a BSN..." question. And I do think trying to get back in to your previous hospital is a great idea. Always easier to get another job when you already have one. Good luck!

Well, I did the refresher course in TX, got my license and guess what? They STILL don't want me. It is disheartening, especially when I remember nurses being out of the field with kids or whatever coming back after 20 years and orienting right next to me as new nurses. Being retrained by the hospitals. NOW my new grad RN [passed the boards too] daughter can't find a job because she's not a BSN...wth? There is NO nursing shortage. It's a complete lie.

LOL HEY!! I did NOT say that! :chuckle It is true for some though...they are very family oriented. One thing I noticed about TX, the money spent here is incredible. And there are at least 4 giant shopping malls within 10 miles [20 minutes drive] from me. Super everything...Target, Walmart, whatever. It's super. The kids have a lot of advantages. 16 year olds driving brand new Escalades and stuff. Now TX is considering raising the driving age to 18...anyway... But, in all honesty it has paid off for some of those kids...the ones with talent. One of the gold medal gymnasts in Bejing is from near here and trained in Plano...and another girl who won the all around gold in another Olympics is from Allen, TX. I have a neighbor who is one of those soccer moms, but her kid will likely have college paid for...by soccer...cool for her...talented kid. Anyway, there is a lot of opportunity here...and a LOT of hospitals. I have 2 huge ones within 2 miles of me and if I expand that radius the number goes up exponentially! Also, be aware...as an out of state nurse, you'll have to take a Jurisprudence test. There's another thread about that on here...since you currently work, I don't think you'll need to take the refresher class like I did. Good luck!

ok, my plan is to skim the 88 pages online and then start it as soon as i have 2 hours to sit and take it. from the tx bon website: "there are 50 items on the nursing jurisprudence examination (nje). you must correctly answer 75% of the questions to pass the nje. you will have two (2) hours to complete the nje. displayed in the upper right hand corner of the computer screen will be a digital clock and the question number so you can monitor your progress throughout the nje. you are permitted to access the board of nursing (bon) website and other resource material throughout the exam to locate the answers to questions. the nje will run in another window, thereby leaving this window open to access reference materials on the bon website. a passing result will be posted and recorded to the bon system when all 50 questions are answered and a minimum of 38 questions are answered correctly." it goes on to say "a failing result will be posted and recorded to the bon system if 13 or more of the 50 questions are answered incorrectly, or the exam is not completed in the allotted amount of time, or the connection to the exam is closed, terminated or lost. you may not reconnect to the test to return to the last question answered. you may, however, retake the exam after 7 business days have elapsed." there's the link again: http://www.bon.state.tx.us/olv/je.html :typing

I just took a refresher course in TX in order to get my license here. I have been out of the field a few years, so it's required. I will also have to take this test. The fee for my license is $200, which includes the Jurisprudence exam. The exam is online and unproctored...it's also open book, and you are given 2 hours to complete it, so I assume the questions will not be easy. But the rules and regs are online in .pdf format, and can be downloaded to your computer desktop...or printed, but it's an 88 page document. My understanding when I called the BON about it is that current nurses will be required to take it as they renew their licenses. So. Hope that helps. :typing

Guys... Isn't Allen is supposed to have an excellent school system? And I hear wonderful things about PISD...don't know about Frisco or McKinney, but everything in this area seems to be geared towards and focused on the kids and their sports and activities. Very kid oriented. I don't have kids that young, but the CCCCD has been decent to work with...

I moved from the Sac area a year ago and just finished a refresher course here in TX. I looked for a job a couple years ago and I was treated like I was less than human by the HR people. I had taken 5 years off to care for an ailing MIL...and I learned more than many nurses do on the job, about "the system", about body systems and things that can go wrong in them. But that doesn't count, so I was treated no better than a homeless person coming in for a free meal. Actually, I think they're treated better. I couldn't even get an interview. I have 21 years of experience in many different areas. But I was told it was because I had NO "recent" experience. What? Have I forgotten 21 years of my life? I asked if it would make me more employable if I took a refresher course. She was so rude. She said, "Although you’ve probably kept up with your CEUs, you haven’t been working as an RN in a facility or for a company for at least 5 years. I would recommend a refresher course before trying to apply for an RN position anywhere. I realize it’s tough to get started again." This was not even for a job that required any bedside or advanced nursing skills, which I have...lots. So, I called and asked around...do refresher courses help to get an interview...let alone a job? Well, my experience 2 years ago was no, not so much. Anyway, here in TX, an out of state nurse with no recent experience has to take a refresher just to get a license [it's like that in many states now], so I have no idea whether it will help me get a job here. Time will tell...I just sent all my paperwork last week and it's a mystery how long all of that could take. I gotta say, I don't feel too confident...but we shall see.