How to get back into nursing after being gone for almost 10 years?

[Budzmom]

This is my first post on this site. I have had a BSN for over 20 years. I had the best jobin the world-I was the charge nurse of an orthopedic unit, had worked in the OR for 8 years, was fill in house supervisor, etc. Then one day I was taking my 2 year old son out for a donut and we got hit by a 6 ton truck. THANK GOD all the damage was on the driver's side, his car seat was in the back on the passenger side and he suffered no inuries. I was treated atmy hospital, my doctor did 9 epidurals on the wrong levels over the next 2 years. It got to a point where I couldn't walk. Couldn't sit up to eat, and got down to 80 lbs. My primary MD got me down to the SF Bay area to Spinecare, who took one look at my MRI andfound the problem. They operated and it was a huge success. Here I am, years later-I have been doing home health for 2 1/2 years and hate it. I am looking for one of those classes where I can renew my skills and hopefully get hired on as an RN. Does anyone know of any programs in Northern California/Sacramento areathat does this? I appreciate your help- Thank you-

[NursedotcomPaige]

Hi Budzmom and welcome! Thank you for posting! We hope you get the answers you are inquiring about!

[savingamericanhearts]

Try the Phillips Defibrillator website. They have tons of free online/printable education workshops for Swan-Ganz, their defibs of course, Art lines, vents, tons of stuff to help you refresh. I suggest renew ACLS, BLS asap as a foundation for the rest of things that have changed. If needed, and ECC & Pharmacology and/or PALS class depending on your area of interest. There are tons of free CEUs online with the newest updates and trends. Study as much as you can. Find out the latest equipment that is being used at a hospital you want to work at, and go to those website and do a quick study on how to operated them. Nearly every hospital is now using computer charting, various computer ways of administering meds from the med dispense to scanning a bar code bracelet on your patient to typing the patients ID and last name.

[robinsong]

I, too, have been out of nursing for many years (15) but need to get back in. How can I start with no experience? Do I take a refresher course? I have BSN but the clinic where I was head nurse years ago is no longer in business. I don't know where to begin!

[NurseEducator]

Hi Robinsong and Budzmom,
Contact your BON in your state as well as the local nursing programs in the colleges and universities for Nurse Refresher Programs with clinicals. The clinicals is the most important part to get you back into the swing of things and have recent experience to put on resume and make contacts and maybe even get hired by the clinical sites. I teach with one in Texas but you are elsewhere so, not much help to you there.
Good luck to both of you.

[michaux]

I'm an Lpn who has been out of work for about 13 years too....I have a 13 year old daughter who has aspergers. I too am trying to get back to work and having very little luck finding work. Aside from Mollen hiring me for flu shot clinics that dried up at the end of October.....I would appreciate advice.

[Frankreich]

Keep applying don't be too fussy and be willing to accept what ever is available. Good luck.