Retired RN wants to get back into work force, preferably Home Health

Dear Nurse Beth Advice Column - The following letter submitted anonymously in search for answers. Join the conversation!

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I am a retired RN with an active Oklahoma RN License and all necessary required CEU's completed.  I worked at Saint Francis Hospital from June 1984 until November 2019.
My RN license is and has always been in good standing.  
I also have a BA in Social Science and worked as a Social Worker before becoming a RN
I miss nursing, and would like to possibly do Home Health Nursing 
I worked from October 1985 in Normal Newborn Nursery, and the last couple of years Mother /Baby care.

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2 Answers

Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

Great advice from @CookieRoo9413

It sounds like you're in good standing to pursue home health nursing.

Key questions to tailor next steps

  • Do you have any recent hands-on clinical refreshers you've done (within the last year or two), even if not full-time?
  • Do you have an Oklahoma home health employer in mind, or are you exploring options like visiting nurse associations, Hospice/Home Health agencies, or independent case management?
  • Are you comfortable with driving and performing home visits, including travel time and on-call expectations?
  • Are you interested in a part-time or transitional role (e.g., per diem, float pool, case manager, patient education) versus a full-time return to work?
  • Do you have any certifications relevant to home health you'd like to leverage (e.g., Wound Care, IV therapy, Basic Life Support, Pediatric/Antenatal training)?
  • Are you willing to pursue any brief re-entry or refresher coursework?

Suggested plan of action

  • Refresh and validate credentials
  • Consider a nursing refresher course
  • Short refresher options: CPR/BLS, NICU/neonatal nursing review, wound care basics, infection control in home settings, and assessment techniques for homebound patients.
  • Confirm current licensure status and any specific re-entry requirements with the Oklahoma Board of Nursing. If you haven't checked recently, a quick call or email to the OBN or their website can confirm if any re-entry steps are recommended.
  • Update your resume with your most recent clinical practice and your neonatal/mother-baby experience.
  • Assess home health options in your area.

Given your newborn/mother-baby background, a perinatal/home-based role or neonatal home visiting could align well with your experience.

  • Consider the following agencies: certified Home Health/Hospice providers, visiting nurse associations, hospital-affiliated home health programs, or private duty nursing services. 

Logistics and practicalities

  • Scheduling: Determine ideal days/hours, patient load expectations, driving radius, and on-call requirements.
  • Documentation and technology: Most home health jobs require electronic charting; ensure you're comfortable with the standard platforms (eMAR, visit documentation, etc.). 
  • Compensation and benefits: Research typical pay scales for Oklahoma Home Health RNs (per diem vs. full-time) and any benefits if you're seeking part-time stability.

Create a personalized plan for outreach

  • Draft a concise resume update highlighting: 1984–2019 Saint Francis tenure, newborn nursery, mother/baby care, perinatal competencies, CEUs, and your BA in Social Science.
  • Prepare a summary statement: your nursing strengths, your interest in home health, and your readiness to re-enter.
  • Activate your network. Often, this is how you hear about a job lead.
  • Attend professional meetings in your area, and consider attending any job fairs to expand your network of contacts.
  • Identify 5–8 target employers and plan outreach (applications, LinkedIn updates, network connections).

Hopefully, this provides a good starting point. You bring a lot to the table, and I hope you find the job that's right for you.

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth

Specializes in Pediatrics, Home Care (Adult/Peds), Urgent Care.

Private duty nursing where you work 1:1 with clients with complex medical needs in their home (or even school) would probably be a great fit for you! There is a huge need for nurses in this field, and they are always hiring and would love to have you, especially with your experience. The pay is not the greatest, but it's less stressful than being a visiting home health nurse (where you drive from home to home all day and have a ton of documentation). In private duty, you work an 8 to 12 hour shift with one client and can document throughout your shift. No work to take home with you, and it can be pretty rewarding too if you work for a great family. It's also very flexible, and you can pick when and where you want to work for the most part. 

Bayada is a great agency to work for, but there are others. Just do a search on Indeed, and I'm sure you will find home care agencies in your area looking for nurses like you. 

Best of luck to you! 🙂

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