Returning to acute care

[firstinfamily, RN]

I have been working on a sub-acute floor in a nursing home for the last five years and decided when they eliminated middle management that I wanted to return to acute care environment. I just am not ready to stop growing!! I know things have changed a lot. We were just doing computerized charting when I left acute care, now EMR are everywhere and pt stays are shorter. I have applied and interviewed for a position on a CDU in a medical center. I wanted to return to an environment where learning is still possible and where the excitement of nursing is still encouraged. It is harder when I am older than the other nurses, but I just am not ready to curl up in a corner. Any helpful suggestions for returning to the acute care environment besides to "get your rollar skates on" would be appreciated!! Thanks in advance.

[NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

Although, I've been in acute care without any breaks, I'm currently orienting with a previous employer's new computer system. I asked my trainer if she would be so kind as to type up the steps for the admission process and print it out for me. That would prevent me from repeatedly asking 'where do I go from here' or 'how do I find this page'. She was more than willing to do it.

CDU at my PRN position is a spin-off from a med-surg/ICU mix, but with a faster, much faster, patient turnover rate than the ED holding area for those waiting for a med-surg bed or unit bed. It is located in the heart of our emergency department. Are you ready for that? What I mean is did you even start an IV in the five years you were away? I know some LTC facilities perform IV antibiotic therapy, but if you were in management, perhaps you didn't. I'm sure you still 'know' how, but facilities tend to change equipment to unfamiliar ones, not to mention the actual 'act' of doing something gets a little rusty over time if not done at least occasionally. There's not really a whole lot of time for learning in our unit.

But if you get the position (fingers crossed), hopefully they will look past your years of experience and give you the training or re-training you need. I've actually resigned from a position because a manager couldn't see past my combined years of experience, thereby failing/refusing to provide the necessary training needed for me to perform effectively in a unit that I've never worked in my entire nursing career, even though my condition before acceptance is that I would be trained instead of thrown to the wolves.

Anyway, the first step is getting through the door, which I hope you do. After that, you know what you need., and I'm sure you're not afraid to insist on it. By the way, my entire response was assuming that you were applying for a bedside position in CDU instead of management. If I'm wrong, please disregard. Now. With all that being said, get your roller skates on.

[firstinfamily, RN]

Yes, I was the manager the last year I was there, and actually I was doing patient care as well. I was the one everyone came to for IVs throughout the facility. Not one of my strongest skills, but OK. The manager who interviewed me said it was a fast pace unit, I would welcome the challenge, so I think I would do OK. I am sure I will be exhausted at the end of my shift, but I think I am ready!! Thanks for the advice. I am looking forward to it. Sub-acute is my love, but I can't have that without LTC and it just isn't doable for me.