Wanting to return to nursing

[nusrseatheart]

I have been unemployed since July 2012 due to being terminated for what the company said was as EMTALA violation.

I was cleared by the BON just this past July and don't even know how to go about looking for work again?

Any suggestions, and thanks.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

First of all, you need to make sure you are 'good to go' in terms of all the practice regulations. Are you OK in terms of your state's nurse practice act? You probably haven't been unemployed long enough to require a refresher course, but there may some other hoops to jump if your license was temporarily suspended. Are you on the OIG exclusion list? This could have occurred as a result of the EMTALA issue. If you are, you'll need to get that taken care of first because it would make you 'unemployable' in just about any health care organization.

In today's job climate, Nurses with any blotches on their professional record - no matter the outcome - usually have to take any type of job they are offered so go ahead and apply for everything, even if it is far from your desired work environment. Once you are employed again, it will be easier to gain entrance into a more desirable job.

I can only imagine how difficult it was to deal with such a serious issue. I hope you have a quick and successful journey back into nursing employment.