Shadowing for a day

[Tgiugliano]

I am a nurse, registered in two states and up-to-date on continuing education. However, as I have been home raising twin 5 year old boys and my ten year old, I haven't been in the hospital in a LONG time. I have worked in nursing as a pediatric telephone triage nurse and am on the sub list for school nurses in my town, but that's it in the last ten years. I am determined to get back into hospital nursing. I am shadowing a nurse in the telemetry unit in a nearby city tomorrow, and am nervous, of course. I know this is the place to start, but for a former ICU and Cardiac Cath lab nurse, that's a completely different world. I have taught nurses use of telemetry monitors and even written a 12-lead EKG course for a company I used to work for, but the lack of RECENT hospital nursing experience is making my job hunt harder than looking for a needle in a haystack. I wish and hope that staff and management will give me the time of day and an optimistic glance. Suggestions?

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

job market is tight these days all over. since you've been away from inpatient care for 10 yrs, you are competing with newly minted grads. a refresher course may be your best bet...as it did for one of my staff.

info in ths an thread: refresher programs: my licence has lapsed, ugh, retesting sounds challenging, advice?