Thinking of returning to nursing

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

I have been away from nursing about 4 years, not for kids but for another career. I will tell you up front I was never a nurse who was burnt out, I was just bored and had the opportunity to follow another career path.

But I am very seriously (have reactivated license) considering returning to nursing. My specialty areas were ER and ICU. I went back to college and earned a Masters in Landscape Architecture. Yeah, yeah I know what you all are thinking .... wow that sounds so cool. Well it sounds a lot more cool then it actually is.

What it is, is a job in the rat race, working in the business world - where your work lives or dies by the all mighty dollar. In addition, I work on average 55-60 hours a week and get paid less then I was as an experienced nurse. I am also managing a department with 21 employees and have no secretary.

And to be honest I took a lot more satisfaction from nursing on a daily basis then I do now.

My biggest struggle is quiting my current job, which I actually have only been in a little less than a year (as a manager). But I can't take it much longer... the constant pressure from the job, my boss and my employees...it's like being on call 24/7, with no breaks. I thought I was tough but I'm beginning to dread going to work. I swear being a ER/critical care nurse was easier! Once I turned over the patient and walked out the door, I almost aways could leave work behind me.

Now I can't because I am the boss. Besides the fact, that I have no time for myself, even my husband is beginning to complain about how little time I spend at home.

I welcome any comments, advise, and or questions. I'd especially be interested in hearing from others who went away from nursing then returned. Was it as you remembered?

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Specializes in Psych, Informatics, Biostatistics.
I have been away from nursing about 4 years, not for kids but for another career. I will tell you up front I was never a nurse who was burnt out, I was just bored and had the opportunity to follow another career path.

But I am very seriously (have reactivated license) considering returning to nursing. My specialty areas were ER and ICU. I went back to college and earned a Masters in Landscape Architecture. Yeah, yeah I know what you all are thinking .... wow that sounds so cool. Well it sounds a lot more cool then it actually is.

What it is, is a job in the rat race, working in the business world - where your work lives or dies by the all mighty dollar. In addition, I work on average 55-60 hours a week and get paid less then I was as an experienced nurse. I am also managing a department with 21 employees and have no secretary.

And to be honest I took a lot more satisfaction from nursing on a daily basis then I do now.

My biggest struggle is quiting my current job, which I actually have only been in a little less than a year (as a manager). But I can't take it much longer... the constant pressure from the job, my boss and my employees...it's like being on call 24/7, with no breaks. I thought I was tough but I'm beginning to dread going to work. I swear being a ER/critical care nurse was easier! Once I turned over the patient and walked out the door, I almost aways could leave work behind me.

Now I can't because I am the boss. Besides the fact, that I have no time for myself, even my husband is beginning to complain about how little time I spend at home.

I welcome any comments, advise, and or questions. I'd especially be interested in hearing from others who went away from nursing then returned. Was it as you remembered?

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I was out of nursing for 9 years as well. I have to agree with you: working 60-70 hours a week for less pay was just silly. I did nursing informatics/programming, so I still dealt with the same data. Now, I work 3 12s go home and am done. I love it. I admit to being 51 and not making a huge, unique dent in the labour market. For me, the union makes all the difference in the world: they bargain for my wages and benefits. Only thing is, when I am 75 don't plan on working on the floor.

I am taking a masters degree in library science, and plan on graduating next year. Plan on working as a medical librarian at some nursing/medical college. Not really impressed with librarian school, BUT its a pay, to play game. You, don't pay; you don't play.

My advice, if you are looking for it is: do it.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

One thing I forgot to mention is the reason that I went and got a master degree is because I thought I might want to teach - but I have so little experience in landscape architecture (compared to nursing) that I don't feel competent to teach.

If I return to nursing I will most likely go on and get a masters with an education emphasis. I have enough experience to teach and it will provide me with even more security in my later years of nursing. I've read that there is a terrible shortage of nursing instructors.

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Specializes in geriatrics w/ alzheimers.

I worked in a long term care facility for 14 years, but burnt out and quit this past summer to try a different path. I thought medical esthetics sounded interesting, but found AFTER the fact I would need my RN (I am an LPN) as well as an esthetician's license to get hired anywhere. Then I considered becoming a salon esthetician, but learned they make only half of what I brought home as an LPN. Now I feel lost and regret my decision to leave the career I had for so long. I suppose I could go sulking back to my old job, but I made such a case about "moving on" with my life - it would be humiliating! :o

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Specializes in Psych, Informatics, Biostatistics.
I worked in a long term care facility for 14 years, but burnt out and quit this past summer to try a different path. I thought medical esthetics sounded interesting, but found AFTER the fact I would need my RN (I am an LPN) as well as an esthetician's license to get hired anywhere. Then I considered becoming a salon esthetician, but learned they make only half of what I brought home as an LPN. Now I feel lost and regret my decision to leave the career I had for so long. I suppose I could go sulking back to my old job, but I made such a case about "moving on" with my life - it would be humiliating! :o

I have quit my present employer twice, each time for three months. I raved about one past position, BUT each time they have taken me back with open arms. True, I have sucked it up abit, but as one of my nursing instructors told me years ago when I failed med-surg, NOW its time to eat a bit of humble pie. Its not bad for the soul.

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If you want to go back GO BACK. There is no shame in returning to your old job or career if you like. It is sad when you spend 20-30 years in one career and always wanted to try something else and never did it. My colleagues thought I was crazy when I decided to write and produce a play in 2005. It was a crazy six months but it kick started my "joy" again. Now Im almost finished with my RN and my dreams are very refreshed. Will you see me on broadway? Doubtful. Am I happy and full of a new stack of dreams? YOU BETCHA !!

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

Thanks so far for the comments! I really enjoy hearing others stories and how they handled the return to nursing.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Hospice.

If it is what you really want, then just do it. Good luck! :)

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

More then anything, what I want is my personal time back. That's one of the big reasons I am considering returning. I forgot that most of the working world only has 2 days off a week, my husband is a nurse as well.

I also forgot how nice it is to work three 12 hr shifts, especially when your have those occasional runs of 5 - 6 days off.

Are there any other stories out there from nurses returning after being away several years? What differences did you discover? Or was it like riding a bike?

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