JustKaren2

OnEaglesWings, Our scenarios are almost exactly the same. I was gone from nursing for 15 years and had 10 years experience before leaving the field. I took a refresher program (also had to retake boards) and have been back to work as an RN for a little over one year now. I would say it took about 6 months for me to really feel confident once again. Some things have changed (the equipment and so, so many new meds), but the patients are the same. My refresher program was not on-line and the clinicals were invaluable to me in terms of confidence-boosting. The moral support from my fellow students was awesome! Our program was very small with only 7 students because the hospitals quit hiring directly from the program due to the economy (no hospitals want to spend $$$ on training)...However, 5 of the 7 students found jobs. Of the two that didn't find jobs, one didn't really Want to find a job ... she was torn between staying home with her kids and working. So I would say that what you are attempting can definitely be done. If I did it, anyone can! I was absolutely terrified! I have to say that it WAS very difficult for every one of the students to find jobs ... because we didn't fit a category of hiring ... so few positions with many vying for the same one. It took a lot of persistence and, for some of us, settling for less than desirable jobs in order to regain experience. But we did it...and so can you! Good luck! P.S. By the way, I work acute care telemetry ... but my first job after the program was a temporary job in an outpatient clinic. Connections I made there got me my current job.

Thanks, Sally...you're the best! When I look back on this thread, it brings back how frightened I was (I had forgotten). For those of you considering returning, I hope you find encouragement in my story. My life has totally changed since I entered that refresher program. Heck! I might even get married to a man introduced to me by a friend I met in the program. It's all so surreal. If I did it, anyone can do it.

perbd: Thanks for asking :) I am actually doing very well and I have come a long way. Perhaps I still have to look up things and ask more questions then the 'seasoned' nurses, I could still use a little more work on my organization skills, and the 12-hr shifts kill me!, but I actually feel like I'm a pretty good nurse, so I am very thankful that I was given the opportunity to return. My anxiety level is through the roof when they float me to ICU, though! When I feel overwhelmed, it helps me to know that even the nurses that I admire very much feel overwhelmed at times. I think it is a good thing that you feel "a nervous wreck" ... that means you care and that you will look things up and ask questions instead of pretending you know it all. Thanks for asking about me :)

Hi Tina, I can relate to everything you are saying (I was away from the bedside for 18 years!!! ) Your skills WILL come back to you.... Try to take every single opportunity available to practice. Let other nurses on the floor know that you would like to start any IV's for them...but don't let the patients know that you are anything but confident. For me, I find that taking my time in finding the best vein possible is one of the most important things. Then go for it! You will develop the feel very quickly. Remember, even the best most experienced nurses sometimes cannot start an IV on that patient on that day. Just keep trying and don't beat yourself up. You will get it!! I've been back at the bedside for about 3 months and now I can get most of them. You will get it! Remember, thoughts become things.

Yes, I think it is possible to get a hospital position ... but I would try to get "any" RN position that you can in the meantime. I am older than you , had been completely out of nursing for 15 years and away from hospital nursing for 18 years, took a very good refresher program (10 weeks), but couldn't get anyone interested in hiring me. You and I? we just don't fit "the mold" and the economy has not been on our side (plenty of nurses out there!)... But I kept applying anyway. I think the first job (just 6 months ago) was about timing ... a temporary job in an out-patient clinic. But the old adage about it being easier to find a job when you already have one is true. The hospital job that I have now was about timing also, I think, and because I was successfully employed and therefore somehow looked more desirable. Right place at the right time. Obviously, good interview skills and references come in to play...but you already have that going on. Just don't give up ... you never know when the door will suddenly open after being shut so many times. By the way, while I do concur that age and weight discrimination is prevalent, I believe those obstacles can be counterbalanced and/or outweighed by great energy and attitude. GOOD LUCK!!!

As far as I know the testing is a voluntary thing....doing it in an E.R. is probably not the best place...but if that is where the patient feels comfortable, then that is where it shoud be, yes? And, yes, consent is required. I used to work at a county clinic where it was well known locally that testing was done between such and such a time on Tues/Thurs, etc. People would come because they liked the anonymity of it ... they looked just like anyone else coming to the clinic for the sniffles or routine visits. The great thing about it was, if we had a preliminary positive, there was someone on staff trained to deal with it. We drew blood right away, so they could get results right away (a few days) and provided psychological counseling right away ...on the spot. Some people run off and we don't see them for several months. Others just want to be swooped up into a safe environment in which they are not judjed or criticized and find out what we're dealing with. How low is the CD4, how high is the viral load? Any opportunistic infections? Any partners that need to be notified? WE guide them through the process of getting the insurance for the medically indigenet, so the very expensive HIV meds can be paid for. I don't even remember what question I was starting to answer :)

I don't know about the 'swab' test, but there is a 'rapid test' finger stick that give results in 20 minutes ... some false positives, especially with pregnant women, but the accuracy is very, very high. The reason for testing? Early intervention and better patient outcomes, but the truth is that many do not 'want' to know. Many seek treatment after they have been sick for a very, very long time. Many suspect they have HIV, but do not want to deal with it. Even after they know, they don't want the frequent blood draws and meds with their side affects nor the stigma and thought of having 'protected' sex (condoms) for the rest of their lives, so they go in and out of treatment. Another reason for testing? Protection of partners. There are more knowingly 'positive' folks than you can possibly imagine that are out there having unprotected sex. Even knowing all of this, I support NOT routinely testing for HIV. I believe that it is a patients right 'not to know' just as it is their right 'not to know' that they have cancer (even though they know...get my drift?) But I am glad that there are programs such as anonymous partner notification...because it is the partner's right to protect themselves. We all know about having protected sex, but I don't think the public is commonly aware that HIV positive folks often look healthier than the average joe these days.

I was also out for 15 years, but I did have 10 years of experience (graduated in 1984). I'm in California and had to retake boards because I had let my license expire. After passing boards (thought I wouldnt), I took a refresher course, and I highly recommend that route for personal and professional reasons. First of all, it will give you confidence and a safe environment in which to refresh your skills/knowledge. Also, the support system of your fellow classmates is awesome (during the program and beyond). Secondly, you will make 'connections' through your clinicals. Three of the nurses in the program eventually received job offers based on those connections, although it took many months and lots of assertiveness due to the economy. Thirdly, I don't think anyone will hire a nurse that has been out that long without the refresher program. I know all of us in the refresher program had to work really, really hard to find jobs. #4...you can put your weeks of clinical experience on your resume by craftily putting it under 'work experience' and not have your resume automatically thrown out by human resources. I was the first to find a job, but it was a really sucky job that nobody else wanted; however, the connections there led to my current hospital job. After getting the job .... well, that's another story. I've worked 5 shifts and it is hard, hard, hard! But I love my patients. Good luck to you. If you want it, you can have it ... but it most likely will not be an easy road.

MsDiva, I am in So. Calif. I found my refresher program by going to the State Board of Nursing website and then researching the approved refresher programs until I found the one that best fit my needs. They didn't have a spring class this year, though...because of the economy...They couldn't get enough students, presumably because the word is out that it's not so easy to get a nursing job right now. Maybe that is why you haven't received a response?? Don't give up! Be tenacious. Sally ... thanks so much for the encouragement! I remember talking to you when I was wondering if I was "too old" to go back into nursing. Your words meant a lot back then. thank you!

Oh my goodness! A local hospital just hired me today! I cannot believe it! They actually hired me! Now I'm scared to death! I finished my refresher program in November and I already feel like I forgot everything that I 'refreshed'

That is really good news that you live in Texas. I'm in California. I was told by recruiters, that if I would be willing to move to Texas, they would be able to find me a job. Luckily, I found a very good job here in So. California (definitely God's work), so a move was not necessary.... The whole process was very scary (I had been out for 15 years), but definitely, definitely worth facing my fears. You can do this if you want it badly enough. It won't be easy, but you can do it!!!

Hi Phlox: Shoes and uniforms are not that expensive. But you would also have to get malpractice insurance (about $80 per year) and I had to pay for a physical and all of my immunization titers (which was the largest of the expense) In a better economy (even a couple of years ago), hospitals would contract with refresher programs and pay at least a portion of tuition, but I don't think that will happen in this economy. Jobs are very hard to come by and employers simply don't need to do that in order to find employees. Perhaps there are scholarships that you could apply for, and since you are disabled, there might be benefits through social security??? Don't give up hope. Life is simply too short. Good luck to you. (For the record, I took a huge gamble paying for my refresher course and related expenses, but I have never been sorry)

CSUSM in Cal requires 133 units

Oh my, you guys are really beating her up. Perhaps poor body mechanics played a role? Poor physical conditioning? Forewarned is forearmed. If you really want to be in direct-care nursing, work on your physical conditioning and learn proper body mechanics. I don't think anyone (in the general population) understands just how physically demanding nursing can be. If hospital nursing is too physically demanding for you, but you desire to be in patient care, how about outpatient medical assistant? That might work :)

Hi Diane: The fact that you are still looking things up after 31 years means that you care about providing excellent patient care. You must be an outstanding nurse!