How to Return to Work after Raising Kids

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jan 27, 2014

Welcome to AN! The largest online nursing community!

How long have you been out of practice? How long were you a nurse? What specialty did you work? Are you a BSN or ADN?

The job market STINKS right now. There is a plethora of new grads being churned out and hospitals aren't hiring. Hospitals are laying off staff. Some want a refresher course if you have been out longer than 3 years. Some don't care if you have a specialty like L&D, ER, or ICU. Some only want BSN's if you are a newer nurse.

Sell your experience and skills like IV starts or phlebotomy. Don't get discouraged but the market is tight. Try hospitals that are outside of Boston/Springfield areas. Where are you in MA? approximately.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jan 27, 2014

multiple thread merged as per the Terms of Service.

notsurewhattodo · Jan 27, 2014

If it's been more than a few years since you've had any nursing experience, I would suggest taking a refresher course. Your state board of nursing should have a list of places that offer these classes. Take one with a theory and clinical portion. This way when you start applying to jobs again you will have some recent clinical experience and you will be refreshed on your knowledge and skills. You will also have been able to "network" while taking your class and may have some connections for getting a job or at least some recent references you can use.

jcemen · Jan 27, 2014

Thank you so much for your input. I will definitely look into it further.

NanikRN · Jan 27, 2014

I can relate to your post. I stayed home with my kids 9 years. Before that I had done home health

I took a refresher and started applying. My advice would be to start networking now. It took me 3 months to get a job. Ended up with a vent kid at home but continued to apply at hospitals. 6 months after refresher I had a job in a hospital and I'm still there today

You can do this. It's hard work but it is doable and the skills come back super fast

Good luck!

jcemen · Jan 28, 2014

Thank you so much!! Knowing that it CAN be done was reassuring to hear.

When you got back into the hospital did they have you take other courses/training classes?

OBERrural · Jan 28, 2014

You can do it! Don't let anybody discourage you. I was out with my kids for 7 years and I was so scared that nobody would take me back, but I got 3 job offers out of 4 interviews. I did take an online refresher course, but I did not complete the clinical portion. Employers did not seem to care. Many of the hiring manager had stayed home with their children and they did not see that as a problem. Just apply, apply, apply and try to recall some situations that you can bring up interviews from past nursing experience. I did practice interview questions.

If you have a specialty focus on that. I was L&D and they loved that I had 8 years of previous experience. Don't sell yourself short. It all comes back. I have been back to work now for 2 months and it has all come back pretty quickly.

If you have any questions feel free to PM me. Good luck!

jcemen · Jan 28, 2014

Thank you! Sorry, what does PM mean & how does it work?

Yes, it is terrifying. It has been so long since I have been on the floor. Where did you find information on online refresher courses?

The hospital I am going to apply at has brought up that I may have to first be employed as a Patient Care Assistant and work my way back to RN responsibilities....When you went back did you obtain an RN position? Thanks again for your words of encouragement!!

jcemen · Jan 28, 2014

I graduated from nursing school and joined the Navy, worked for 5 years and resigned my commission to raise my children. After 8 years I was employed by my local hospital in their 6 month Nursing Residency Program. At the completion of the program I became sick and was forced to resign. Eight years later....it is time to return to work. I have my BSN and worked in Pediatrics. I live in the Newton, MA area. Do you have any information on refresher courses you would like to share?

Thank you!!

OBERrural · Jan 28, 2014

I also have my BSN. I was hired immediately as an RN. I can't believe the people you are talking to don't realize the value of your experience. If you can, I would try and talk directly to the nurse managers. You may be talking to the nurse recruiters and they have no clue what they are talking about. I ran into that a couple times and got similar responses to you. When I spoke directly to the nurse managers, I was offered the job almost immediately. They realize the value in your critical thinking skills.

The refresher course I took was through South Dakota State university. Just google and you will find it. It is inexpensive compared to others and very flexible. You have an entire year to finish. The online portion only took me 6 weeks. I didn't do the clinical portion and explained in my interviews that clinicals were costly and I knew I would get the same experience on the unit when I started working. Everybody seemed to understand my point of view.

I do live in a rural area now so that may help my situation. I live in rural Iowa.

PM means private message; however, after I wrote that, I'm not sure I have those privileges yet. I haven't done enough posts on here.

let me know if you have any other questions. Don't let others get you down. I know I came on here for support before I went back and people made me feel pretty bad. You can do this!

OBERrural · Jan 28, 2014

Sorry for all of the typos. Getting used to iPad.