Re-Entry into Acute Care

[marksimmons]

I've been working as a nurse for 12 years, the first few of which I did acute care. I then moved into community health settings, such as home health, clinic, and hospice. Now I'd like to pursue critical care, but find there are no training programs hiring nurses who haven't had recent acute care experience. Does anybody have ideas on how to best prepare for re-entry into adult medicine with the intent on eventually getting trained in critical care/ICU?

[CASTLEGATES]

find places that offer externships and grad nurse programs. Start calling around, find your target and call HR let them know you're getting in there it's just a matter of how long (politely). If you get your ACLS that would be a huge start then you'd be telemetry eligible.

If they have telemetry, you can start there and get the hang of some of the toys then pop in to the ICU once in a while and make your wishes known...Tell HR your plans to start tele and move into the next ICU position...with our non nursing shortage, it will be a wait but you'll get in no problem!

[JessicRN]

look for a reentry course. New grad courses don't take rusty RN.s you need to take the renetry course then get into a medsurg floor and do that for 6 months to a year then go to critical care. I did 7 years out of acute care nursing in a prison and as a director in a rehab hospital and at the time no one would hire me. They said I was worse then a new grad. I took the program and doors opened I got into a med floor for 6months then went to the ED where I love.

Don't give up keep trying but get that reentry course you will do fine then. Goodluck

[marksimmons]

Thanks for the advice, I think that the re-entry course is the way to go. As much as I want to get back into the swing of hospital work, I feel insecure about it. Now the trick is to find a med surg job in this economy.

[uthscsanurse07]

I had a very similar problem, except I have only been out of acute care for one year. I just started applying for everything I was interested in and eventually some one gave me a chance. I had lots of rejections but I was able to tell my story to an HR rep for the hospital I now work in and she shared my story with the ICU director. It was a long shot and i tried for months but i was able to get CV ICU and a 12 week orientation with a preceptor.

Let me also say, I've only been out for one year and it has been overwhelming to start all over again. I'm happy, but I feel like I'm in nursing school again! :)

[marksimmons]

Thanks for the advice. So far, my search in SF bay area hasn't found much available at this point as far as training programs. I applied for the Stanford critical care training but wasn't accepted, probably because one of the requirements was recent acute care experience. But I will start going to HR departments and pestering them.