Will I find a job?

Editorial Team / Admin · Jan 24, 2017

Depends on the area where you are looking for work and the types of jobs you're willing to apply for. Yes, fresh new grads are going to have an advantage. You're going to need to find a way to overcome that. You may also want to look into your state's requirements- do they require a refresher course after a certain length of time?

johndough · Jan 26, 2017

You will still be hired because you have your license. It may be a little hard because those years gone due to inactivity could tell employers that you may have forgotten some nursing critical thinking and skills. Don't fret though. What you want to do before you apply to any nursing position is to make a plan. Don't just send in your resume because it will be weak and unprepared.

1. Search your local community college, hospital, or school for a nursing refresher course.

2. Enroll in that refresher course!

3. Take your BLS certification too!

4. Apply!

Alternative option!!!

1. Speak with a hospital RN recruiter. Usually found in job fairs or through LinkedIn.com

They will be able to give you first hand knowledge on what that specific hospital will want. You may or may not need to take a refresher course.

Hope this helps!

applesxoranges, BSN, RN · Jan 27, 2017

Nursing refresher course will be handy. Find out if you can network with any of your classmates. Also, is your nursing license still active? Usually they have to be renewed every 2 years in the states I am licensed for.

BedsideNurse · Feb 7, 2017

Hello,

Congrats on the baby and being able to stay home to take care. That's awesome!

I agree with everyone here about taking a refresher course, making sure your license is current, and getting your BLS (ACLS would be an added benefit I think. (ACLS-ALGORITHMS.COM is the best review/practice website on the planet, by the way. 13 bucks to access for two weeks but well worth it) If you do all that you are probably in line with all the other new grads as far as job prospects. Have confidence in interviews, don't apologize for your family decisions, but make sure you come across as someone who is enthusiastic and ready to embark on their professional career. It goes without saying, but carefully evaluate your home life and make sure the jobs you apply for are ones that will work schedule wise for you and your family, because whatever job you get, you certainly don't want to quit in 3 months--then you will have a *really* hard time landing a job.

Whatever nursing skills you lost you can regain by reviewing the procedure steps, practicing them/reviewing them step by step in your head, and then doing them hands on during practicum during the refresher (make sure they incorporate skills practice). Reviewing case scenarios and reading nursing magazines can help you "think like a nurse again." Reviewing and practicing are important, at the very least for psychological reasons; so you can feel better about being as competent as possible starting out. That being said, don't be too hard on yourself as no one has that many skills mastered or has much clinical judgment right out of school anyway...There are a lot of good reviews and resources online, and in podcasts these days, and you can listen to those while you are cleaning house, laying in bed, getting ready in morning, driving, etc...30 minutes here, 30 minutes there, and the review time can really start adding up. That's helpful when you are a busy mom with a toddler. I recently bought an (online) review package from Medcram that I really like. There are a number of subjects for free you can try out to see if the format and content and such is to your liking. It's geared more toward medical students, but I find it interesting, succinct, and clinically relevant for nurses, regardless of field or experience....EMCrit has podcasts that are also medically oriented but deal with critical care in the emergency room, so not really a review, but still great listening. There plenty of nurse done podcasts as well, & I think I've seen some geared toward new grads.

Getting a new job as a nurse is an exciting but often painful transition. I've been a re entry nurse twice (three years off each time), so I have plenty of empathy when it comes to having to face interviews after being off. It has a way of working itself out, but thick skin, patience and hard work required. :) Good luck!

Lucky724 · Feb 10, 2017

Given you never worked as a nurse - it sounds that way from the post above - you would be viewed as a new grad I'd think and like others have stated, one that didn't continue right out of school to find a position..refresher course would be helpful but you could also look at hospitals that offer residency programs for new grads. That would be one way to get into the field w/o much money out on your end for refresher courses.

NurseLife88, ADN, RN · Mar 3, 2017

I think this depends A LOT on where you live and where you are wanting to work. Some places like bigger cities can be much more competitive job markets than those in samller ones. This is my basic experience. I graduated in 2012 but only recently became registered. I did a lot of networking and was persistent with the hospital I wanted to work at. I tried to show how ready I was to be entering the field. I made sure my BLS, ACLS, And PALS were all up to date. The application process was online as a lot are these days. So I really tried to perfect my resume and not have it be so basic and common it ends up in a giant HR pile never to be read. I didn't use a template and made sure to show that although I had no nursing experience I had years of other experiences that would be beneficial and applicable to the nursing field. Once I got my first interview I made a point to explain why I applied, what I enjoyed about the floor, as well as ask questions I genuinely wanted answers to and couldn't find online, etc. I tried to answer all questions openly with a professional but friendly manner. I also completed two job shadows. And lucky me was hired on exactly where I wanted to be. I live in a rural state but one of the largest cities within it so the market is competitive but nurses are still needed.

You should start looking into what is available in your area. Look at the number of open positions in your area too or surrounding areas if you are willing to travel. Also try to find places that are new grad friendly and/or offer nurse residency programs as this seems to make such a big difference for a lot of new nurses I talk to myself included. It may be harder for you than it will be for someone fresh out but not impossible at all. You made it through nursing school and the first few torturous (yet amazing) years of mommyhood....So you should be fine in the rat race of job hunting and don't get discouraged as the transition takes time and patience!:)good luck!