Q for nurses who got back into practice after a break...

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Specializes in ortho, flu shot clinics, call center.

Hi, I am wanting to hear from nurses who left the field for a while and came back in, how did you do it, what are you doing, etc. I want to come back to nursing! I don't think it's been "too long" yet, but I need to hurry because time keeps marching on. I graduated in 2000. Worked part-time (20 hrs/wk) for 4 years doing ortho in a hospital. Was so anxious and anxiety ridden about work, I would fret and stew about everything. At year 4, I started scaling back my hours, and the last year I worked, year 6, I worked a couple of shifts per month, which was actually much harder than when I worked more, because I always felt a little lost for being there so seldom. I quit at that point. Basically took a "mental health" year off, doing flu shot clinics that fall. Had a GREAT time being a full-time mom and wife again. A little over a year ago, I took a job 1-2 days/wk doing clinical trial pre-screenings (phone job, VERY easy, no stress but no real nursing either, even though it is an RN position). That job is on hold for 1-4 months right now waiting for more projects/trials to come in, and in the mean-time, I find myself ready to get back to real nursing, ideally 2-3 days per week. I feel like I've lost my clinical skills. How can I regain some confidence, and any thoughts on positions that might work for someone in my boat? Thank you!!:confused:

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Specializes in Oncology, Medical-Surgical.

I graduated in 1998, got married, had 2 kids, worked for only 3 months, then quit entirely to be a full-time wife and mom. I returned to work in 2003. It can be stressful at first but if you are enthusiastic about it, you'd get used to it in no time.

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Specializes in ortho, flu shot clinics, call center.

what area did you go back to? I know there is no way I can (or am willing) to do hospital again. Did you feel rusty?

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I'm a seasoned nursing home nurse. I left the field after being dx'ed bipolar back in 2001 and went back in 2004. I can only work 5 days/mo. because at this point in time, I'm on SSDI. I hope to get off of it after getting my BSN...anyway, to answer your question...when I went back, I stressed to my employer at that time that I needed full orientation because I'd been gone for so long...so they let me take all the time I needed. Even being gone just a few years...you wouldn't believe all the new meds that had come out, different procedures for things, etc. I really needed the extra time to get back in sync with everything.

That is my advice....take your time and see if whoever hires you will let you orient more if you need to. Good luck!

Blessings, Michelle

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Specializes in Oncology, Medical-Surgical.
what area did you go back to? I know there is no way I can (or am willing) to do hospital again. Did you feel rusty?

Med-Surg/Oncology. Do not feel discouraged about doing hospital again. Of course you'd feel rusty at first but there are refresher programs in some hospitals specially catered to people who want to return to Nursing. Keep in mind that even the most seasoned nurses still have lots to learn. I am a foreign-educated nurse and came to the US in 2003 w/ practically no relevant experience. If I can do it, you absloutely can do it too!

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Specializes in med/sug/onc/geri.

I worked for about 8 yrs, then took 2 yrs off, due to a high-risk pregnancy and then staying home with baby for a year. I eased back in with a 1-2 day/wk position at a nursing home, just to get my feet wet for a few months. After the mgmt changed, I moved on, and went back to full-time hospital nursing again, and was fine. I was afraid I had 'forgotten' everything, but it all came back to me pretty quickly.

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