Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.
allnurses

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.
Discussion

RN Refresher: Trying to get back into the field after 5 years

Hello everyone,

I am going to be starting the process soon of trying to get back into the nursing field after 5 years. To make a long story short, I joined the Navy immediately after graduating nursing school, and spent my time as an officer onboard ships rather than being a nurse (this occurred due to complicated manning issues, and at the time I did not care, just wanted to serve knowing I could potentially always fall back on nursing).

Anyway so I what I want to know is how feasible is it to become a nurse after a 5 year hiatus of doing no nursing whatsoever. I passed my NCLEX and have kept my license current in the state of CA. I would 100% need to take a RN refresher course (there is one in my town with about 100 hours of classroom time and about 156 hours of clinical time). Is this enough? How likely is it that I will be able to be hired into a new grad program? What areas of nursing do you recommend me trying to start out in? Let me know what you guys think, thank you!

  • Quote

    • Featured Replies

    1. That amount of time in your refresher sounds excellent. If you divide it out, it's like a full semester's time of clinical. Make as many contacts during the experience as you can, as you never know when knowing someone can lead to an opportunity.

    2. re: new grad programs - probably not, but facilities can bend their rules however they see fit

    3. In short, it's usually a good idea to get your feet wet in med-surg; that can be a career in and of itself, or a good springboard to a different specialty. Big question, though, - what are you interested in doing?

    4. Have you considered the VA? As a vet, you'll get special hiring preference...

  • Quote

    I hear that many get job offers after their clinical hours in their RN Refresher program. Usually in Med-Surg but an excellence way to get back in the door. Good Luck!

  • Quote

    You can get hired in the VA NOT being a veteran? I had no idea!

  • Quote

    • Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Add a Comment
    Go to topic listing

    Currently Reading 0

    • No registered users viewing this page.

    Account

    Navigation

    Search

    Search

    Configure browser push notifications
    Chrome (Android)
    1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
    2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
    3. Adjust your preference.
    Chrome (Desktop)
    1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
    2. Select Site settings.
    3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.