Re-entering direct care after 10 years

[WilksRN]

Hi. I have been a nurse for 15 years. My aspiration right out of nursing school was to work in a fast-paced, exciting area such as the ER or ICU. However, my career took a completely different turn as getting a job as a new-grad was difficult back in the early 90s. My first 5 years were spent in home care, primarily working with spinal cord injured clients. While working in this capacity, I dabbled (part-time or less) in nursing home & hospital orthopedics. Then, I decided to go into telephonic disability case management for an insurance company. Then, after having my 3rd child, I stayed home for a year.

Now, I find myself in a small community (due to my husbands job transfer) at a relatively busy hospital as this is the only employment option available to me right now. I've worked in this hospital med/surg department for about 1 year now & the transition has been extremely stressful as not only do I have 3 little lives that depend on me (ages 1, 3, 6) but I'm finding myself back in the acute setting where I feel incompetent, unknowledgeable, fatigued, underscored by co-workers (usually behind my back), etc. In many ways I feel less knowledgeable & equipped than new-grad nurses. It's a very frustrating place for me to be at this point in my career. As I read articles, I see that I have every characteristic of "burn-out" & that concerns me. I do LOVE taking care of my patients, just feel inefficient & at times incapable of doing so. There are many things that I am doing that I've not done since school 15 years ago (i.e. peds, hospice, blood transfusions, starting IVs', etc.)

I would love some advice/support/comments maybe from other nurses who left & now are back in acute care or maybe just ideas on how to improve efficiency, knowledge (I'm already reading many reference books including the Bible in my spare time), etc...Any tips to help improve the transition, please!!?!

[siggie13]

you can make a difference for yourself if you remember several things: when you don't know something ask!! please find someone that you trust and is a good teacher, talk with her/him and ask for their help and advice. procedures that you need practice with: tell the staff at start of shift that you would like to do any of these procedures that come up. be very up front about what you know and what you don't know and keep in mind that no one knows everything and everyone has to ask for help sometimes. ask questions of doctors, patients, other staff. we all have been there and this is how we all learned. take deep breaths, and be kind to yourself. you will learn and soon you will return the favor by helping others. if you encounter those who do not have your best interest at heart, avoid them like the plague!! no on needs to be around bad vibes. admit mistakes and pat yourself on the back when you do well. floor nursing is difficult and oh, so rewarding. hang in there...you can do it!!:up:

[suzanne4, RN]

Would highly recommend a refresher course for you, usually they are available at community colleges and are open to those that have been away from the bedside for sometime.

Graduating 15 years ago and never having worked in a hospital, can be quite overwhelming for anyone, and you included. This may be just what you need. Things have changed considerably since the time that you got out of school and perhaps a course to get you back in the groove may be quite beneficial to you. And I am calling it 15 years since you have never worked in a hospital since school, working at what you were doing is not quite the same.

You may wish to post about these programs in your state thread here to find out what is available for you.

Best of luck to you.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

I've worked in this hospital med/surg department for about 1 year now & the transition has been extremely stressful

Since it's a year later since starting the hospital position and still finding it stressful, you maybe in a facility that is just not nurturing or meeting YOUR needs.

All areas need a homecare agency...why not try that agian? Ask your discharge planning/ case management staff agencies in your area. Often homecare is very workable with children's school schedules. Open your ears at work and look in the phone book and see what's out there in your area: any surgical centers, or doctors clinics or urgent care centers..... assissted living communities HOT in my area along with retirement communites....SNF/ REhab facility... Local/state health department.

Do you get job/career magazines Nursing Spectrum/Nurse Week or Advance for Nurses --they usually have tons of job ads.

Best wishes for finding a better position that suits you.