Refresher Nurse

Editorial Team / Admin · Jul 1, 2019

Hello beachnkat1 and welcome to allnurses.com

We have moved your topic to the General Nursing forum where members can reply.

beachnkat1 · Jul 1, 2019

Thanks!

Cricket183, BSN, RN · Jul 2, 2019

Each BON is different on their requirements to return to practice after an extended absence of practice or if your license is on inactive status. The first thing to address will probably be the status of your license. Was your license in good standing when you went inactive or were you still in the probationary period. That may affect your next step. Your state’s BON would the best place to start.

Although not the same, I had a similar circumstance and will tell you the process I had to go through in my state (Texas). I, too, left nursing in 2008. I had to go on disability for medical reasons (Diagnosed with CRPS & lost most of the use of my arms, among other complications). I placed my RN license on inactive status in 2010 when doctors told me I’d never be able to return to nursing.

Several years ago I began a new treatment for my CRPS and slowly regained my health. In 2018, I decided to return to nursing part-time. Because my license was inactive and it had been more than 4 years since I had practiced, Texas required me to take a RN Refresher Course. It was a 16 week didactic course with 16 hours of skills lab followed by an 85 hour clinical preceptorship. I finished it last May and returned to nursing about a month ago.

allnurses Guide · Jul 2, 2019

The BON has nothing to do with you having been fired. Your best course of action is going to be taking a refresher course and then applying for hard-to-fill positions where your history won't be as heavy on your perceived potential.

Hoosier_RN, MSN · Jul 2, 2019

Try dialysis or LTC. They are good places to try once you get your license in order

beachnkat1 · Jul 2, 2019

I guess I wasn't very clear. I know the BON has nothing to do with me being fired. My license was in good standing when I let it go inactive. 10 years later I finished the refresher course and now my license is active and is in good standing. The probation was in 2003. I worked as a RN with my license in good standing after that from 2004 to 2008. Then I let it go inactive because of health reasons.

Cricket183, BSN, RN · Jul 2, 2019

I could be wrong and my perspective might be biased by my own circumstances, but I would think the 10-11 year absence would be the bigger obstacle to overcome than the history of a job you were fired (resigned) from back in 2003.

Personally, I found the gap in my career hard to explain without revealing my disability or looking like I could not handle the physical demands of nursing, especially during the screening process. I knew each time I filled out an online application that 99% of the time it was probably automatically disqualified due to my 11 year absence. After several months with no response, I completely redid my resume and cover letter and it helped. In my resume, I focused heavily on my professional summary section-giving a broad overview of my skills and qualifications but then giving specific examples from my previous experience of each. For example, one of my bullet points is “self-motivated professional who easily adapts to new situations and enjoys a challenge. First RN on the unit who earned OCN certification and strongly encouraged others to do the same. Developed the Breast Health Navigator program at XX hospital.”

I also did not draw attention to the gap in my employment. My dates of employment are listed but they aren’t a focal point.

I did briefly mention my absence from nursing in my cover letter but only briefly. I framed it by saying, “After a leave of absence from nursing for health reasons, I am eager to return to the nursing field to utilize and build upon the experience and skills I attained at XX hospital.” I included those qualities/skills I have that the institution was looking for; mentioned I just completed a Refresher Course; and then also mentioned those things that my absence from nursing taught me (compassion & understanding from being on the other side of the bed, hard work and determination, focus on health and wellness) and how those qualities would be an asset to my future employer.

I think it’s all in how you frame it and feel about it. If you see it as a stumbling block and a problem, it will be. If you look at it as something that you learned from, others will see it that way too. When I changed the way I felt and thought about my own “stumbling block”, the doors quickly opened. I don’t know if this is the kind of thing you are looking for or if I’m just wasting your time (hope not!). Nurse Beth has a lot of good info. under her section. I used a book she recommended. It’s written for new grads but I found a lot of it very helpful. I also got some great advice from others here when I was searching for answers.