BlushingRN

    Advice for a nurse who has been off work awhile and is ready to get back in the loop

    Sunday, August 24, 2008, 12:09 PM CST [General]

    Hello everyone .. hope everyone is having a great day !! I am looking for some encouragment about going back to work .. I had to take off to care for sick grandparents and now its time to get back to work or STARVE LOL .. i am a lil nervous about rejoining the workforce after being off for almost A YEAR !!! I am worried that i have forgotten some of my skills or that I will make mistakes .. Any words of encouragment would be appreciated !!!

    0 (0 Ratings)

    You could always take a refresher course, and then to get back into the swing of things, you could do a little bit of PRN instead of taking on a full-time position right away. Let me know if you need any help or advice.

    Angela
    August 25, 2008
    01:21 PM CST

    I can relate to your concerns as I have been out for over 7 years and recently went back. It was extremely intimidating but please don't be discouraged. Your skills come back quickly. The most important thing is to hopefully get with an excellent preceptor. They can make or break you! It is crucial to be in a supportive environment. The best of luck to you as you forge ahead. Keep me posted! Christen

    Christen
    August 26, 2008
    01:36 PM CST

    Hi Blushing,

    I am an RN also. There have been times I have been off and for me, its kinda like riding a bicycle!

    What type of nursing had you done before?
    That might be a place to start.
    Try and choose a place which is a not super busy, now don't laugh.
    Since you have been helping care for family at home you actually have some Home Health experience. What about taking a Home Health course, and trying that out?

    Whatever you decide, one way to start is with a class. Even if it is just a CEU class.

    Also you might want to look at Allnurses.com
    that is a free site with forums and job postings.
    Let me know how you are doing,
    Karen

    Karen
    October 12, 2008
    08:49 PM CST