caramelcomet

Thank you for giving me an uplift! I do believe that it is the political situation we are in right now! Hopefully, things will change ... but it might not be soon enough for me!

I was in home health and hospice. I just do not want to do the driving anymore and the tedious paperwork! It was very draining emotionally as well as physically. I have applied for a school nurse position. If God wants me back in nursing, He'll open the doors!

Get yourself an attorney to represent you with the Board! I learned the hardway as a nursing supervisor set me up for her inept problems with nursing. I learned that I would never go to the Board again without a good attorney. There are great former nurses out there who have become nurses BECAUSE they understand what we go through with nursing. One of the hardest professions out there as far as I am concerned!

Will someone please tell me where I can get trained in a hospital setting. I have not worked in the hospital since 1999! I took a refresher course at the end of 2009, with the hopes of going back to NICU, but I am almost 60 and being turned down by everyone! I never thought that a nurse with fifteen years of experience would be looking a no job! market. It hurts to be put out to pasture. From BSN to Wal Mart!!!

Don't give up! I know someone that took her Boards three times years ago. She is now a Head Nurse! Some people freeze with testing!!!

Does anyone know how the new healthcare law and national database on criminal records will affect nurses in Texas. Will the Board's decision about a nurse with criminal record overtake the national database? And does his national database affect hospitals?

This does not happen in Texas. I have never had 10 minute breaks at any jobs where I have worked. You get your lunch break and that is it! Anybody know how we can get these laws in Texas?

It is a great place to work. I have been trying and trying and trying to work there. But they do give you a higher census. I was Level III NICU nurse, and working in well baby is easy compared to that. I also did some pedi patients, but still found well baby enjoyable as you really get to teach. Well babies can also change depending on their circumstances so you also have to have good assessment skills. Hope this helps you.

Thanks everyone for your replies! Yes, God has a plan for each of us. And Leslie, you are right! I probably would have been working. Next up, is going to my sister's grave! She was killed in a fatal car accident in September -- only 55. Mother of 4, and grandmother of one! Her children are really hurting right now. I will spend my Christmas at her grave, if I can get there! Thanks again for all of your advice. God Bless and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Thanks for the myriad of replies. I am going to try and go back to working as an Administrative Assistant. But I did hear finally from a home health agency that said they won't be hiring until January. So perhaps after Christmas something will open up. It is just that I am single, 59, and running out of funds. My small retirement account ... well, I can only make it through February, and then I have to try and sell my condo. Sad state of affairs that we are going through in this Country! But on another note, today I went and helped a family pack as they move their father to Louisiana to finalize his life on this Earth. He has colon cancer, tumor around his bladder, and everything progressing. This is where I get my strength to keep forging ahead. So my job does not matter at this time ... since I did some hospice work, I just hope and pray that he makes it until after Christmas. They are planning on moving to his daugter's house in two weeks. Please keep this family in your prayers. He was my Sunday School teacher, and loved by so many. One of the best teachers of the Bible I have ever heard!

I have been applying other places. However, there are openings there -- it is a very large hospital. They have openings all of the time. I never thought a degreed nurse would be looking at being homeless, as now they are telling me I don't have "recent experience" for my administrative assistant positions where I have been applying. I am 59, no one wants someone this age anymore. I went to an agency for admin asst, they told me to go work retail! and I have a degree.

I am being turned down! I am told I don't have recent experience. How did you all get your jobs? I will read all of your replies!

I went for an interview with a hospital in the summer of 2009. I had left nursing only in 2005, but had not been in the hospital in quite some time as I was doing home health, hospice, but still nursing. I wanted to go back to the Nursery as I had both L&D and NICU Level III experience. I was sent to the PostPartum Manager after applying for one of those positions. She told me if I took a Nurse Refresher course, she would hire me! I found the Refresher course, took the course, and performed my clinicals at two of their other hospitals. However, I was not allowed to do anything by the nurses except put in a NG tube (which went right in -- nursing is like riding a bicycle). However, I finally finished the course this time last year. I saw a few postings and applied. Never hearing anything -- except from the manager who said she didn't have anything! I did work a little this summer. But I just saw another posting. I called the Recruiter who said, "the manager does not have the authority to hire you! I do!" I advised her that I was promised a position if I completed a Nurse Refresher course. I was so upset because it cost me 6 months, time to study, time to go to clinicals, mileage and tolls to get to the Nurse Refresher course. I did not have to pay for the course, but the State is now out that amount of money! Is this the way to treat someone who does what I was told to do. They have not just hurt me in this position, but because they took me out of the market for looking for an Admininstrative Assistant position. Now I am being told by everyone, you don't have recent experience. BUT THEY ARE HIRING NEW GRADUATES! What can I do? I spoke with the Recruiter

That happened to me as well when I was working for a home health agency. I had no idea what was going on as she was angry a lot, and demanding. I found out she was in financial trouble AFTER I resigned. I filed with the state through WorkForce Solutions here in Houston. Call your local employment office, and ask for the expert in that area. They face those issues every day.