Return to Nursing with No Experience

iluvivt, BSN, RN · Jun 15, 2016

How long did you work in the ICU? It sounds like not very long if you are looking for refresher programs.So you have good credentials but very liitle bedside experience?

JCIrvin12 · Jun 15, 2016

Precisely.

roser13, ASN, RN · Jun 15, 2016

I'm a male nurse and 2 years ago I received my MSN from a direct-entry nursing program for people that received a bachelor's degree in something else and had not worked as a nurse. Upon graduating, I passed my NCLEX, became licensed, and I received a great job working in an ICU right away.
Shortly thereafter, I was lured away when I was recruited into clinical research as a Clinical Research Associate by significantly more money and travel which were nice for awhile.
However lately, I'm left feeling unfulfilled with my current position and I've been considering a return to nursing and quietly trying to figure out how I might go about that. I understand it will be a considerable pay decrease and I will be leaving the comfort of an office based position for the grime and the under-appreciation of the bedside and I'm okay with that.
Information about me is that I have my MSN, RN license, am ACLS certified, and certified as a Clinical Nurse Leader. My plan is to try and make my way back into the field at the start of 2017 and in the meantime I was thinking about taking a refresher course.
I was wondering if anyone had any other ideas about how to approach this, or had any experience in trying to get back into nursing (with or without experience), other than just applying like crazy and hounding nursing recruiters for jobs.
Thanks for your help!

No need whatsoever to mention your male-ness. Your gender has no bearing on your nursing question.

dishes, BSN, RN · Jun 15, 2016

Is the clinical research related to a specific patient population a/o medical condition? If so, can you revamp your resume to show your knowledge of the patients' condition and apply to nursing positions within the speciality?

Lisa.fnp · Jun 18, 2016

No need whatsoever to mention your male-ness. Your gender has no bearing on your nursing question.

If he decided to share his gender, why is that a problem for you? What issues do you have?* It's wonderful that he shared gender. Male nurses are a great advantage to hospitals and hiring agencies, and different opportunities are presented to Male nurses.* Male nurses provide a balance, strength, perspective, additional security, and are more reliable not taking maternity leave every other year (figure of speech). Being a male nurse might give him an advantage especially not being in the trenches for a while.*

** *

* * * Having your Masters with your research skills I would think you are well qualified in Management to run a department, or maybe try travel nursing to a small Community hospital to get back in the trenches again.

applesxoranges, BSN, RN · Jun 18, 2016

Trying to run a department directly in the hospital without experience may not go well. I know nursing homes will hire people with limited experience to run them sometimes but most hospitals want the experience before the degree. I know of an infection control coordinator who was not exactly respected because she received the job through a friend and had no floor experience.

I'd find a refresher program asap and then apply as much as you can. Try to network too. You will probably find a job easier if you can use friends' names.

Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN · Jun 18, 2016

sounds like you have a great job, why not try to get a part time clinical position? that way you can see if it really something you would like to do.

MsBruiser · Jun 18, 2016

I feel your pain. I flipped in and out of clinical and more business-type jobs for the health system where I work. In fact, I took a $20,000 pay cut going back to clinical work, though overtime has more than made up for that.

Believe it or not, I would just say find a place that is willing to hire you and go for it. There really is no course or magic bullet that can scratch the itch of a great clinical job. One person mentioned getting a part time job doing clinical work. That is great advice. When I was in my last non-clinical job I got a part time gig doing critical care transports. That kept me going for a good year before a great opportunity came up and I gave up all hope of every wanting to wear a tie again. It was EXTREMELY nerve-wracking learning how to do that job as I had not taken care of a critically ill patient for almost 4 years. But I got over that really fast. Once I got rid of all the extraneous "spaghetti" before a transport I usually had 2-3 drips at the most and a vent. Easy / breezy.

Just jump in and don't look back. And I am a guy too - that is important and will give you a leg up looking for work (let the stone throwing begin, but it is true).