reentry for nurses

mattsmom81 · Dec 27, 2003

Originally posted by krisssy
I graduated from nursing school with a BSN in 1970. I worked as a school nurse teacher for two years and then got my master's in teaching and taught elementary school until 2001. I am very anxious to go back to nursing now. I took a refresher class last spring. It was through a local college, and it included clinical. The instructors said Iwas ready to work, and I have been offered jobs. I still don't feel competent enough. I have been studying calculations and pharmacology on my own for months. A local large teaching hospital is offering a refresher course in March. I called them, and I want to take another refresher class. They feel it is not necessary-that I could work with a preceptor now. I want to work as a nurse so badly, but I am afraid I am not prepared enough. I would appreciate any comments regarding my situation and rentry in general. Have any of you had older reentry nurses on your units? How did they do? Is it best to start on a specialty floor and get very good at one specialty or is it best to start on med surg? Any comments about a particular type of nursing that would be good for me? Should I take another refresher class or just get a job? I want to do this so badly, but I want to be prepared. Thanks for any comments or suggestions.

Hospitals today want warm bodies and don't always give returning nurses or new grads what they need. Perhaps you would benefit from sitting down with someone in the preceptor program and hash out what you will need to feel comfortable clinically again.

I've worked with returning nurses who did well and some who crashed and burned...all depends on the individual and the facility, in my experience. If you want to do this, and can ask for (and be supplied with) the support you need, you will likely succeed. Best wishes!

unknown99, BSN, RN · Dec 27, 2003

For the most experience, med-surg would be your best bet. It will give you a variety of illness/ injury, and the most experience.

GOODLUCK and please keep us informed!!!

Agnus · Dec 27, 2003

Taking the plung into anything for the first time is scarry. It sounds like you have prepared well to return to clinical nursing. My personal recomendation is go for what ever area you want. You are well prepared for peids.

Send out your resume put in the applications. Ask to be precepted as you first start out. I have the gut feeling you will be a great clinical nurse.

It is a change for sure. There will a learning curve. There always is. Even experienced clinical nurses move around and in doing so loose skills and knowledge. You have a lot more going for you than you are giving yourself credit for.

I have seen reentry nurses do very well.

gwenith, BSN, RN · Jan 3, 2004

Your ability to cope back in an acute care situation will very much depend on how much experience you had in acute care before you left it. If you had none or minimal then it will be a LOT harder for you to make it.

One of your options is to organise with a local hospital to "shadow" a nurse and even to work as unpaid to get some clinical experience without the pressure of performing to high standard first day.