RN now a stay at home mom

[Christinerodie]

I am now staying at home with my two children until they are of school age and am concerned about losing my knowledge. I am thinking about taking the Kaplan Legal Nurse consultant course but am not convinced. Any ideas on how to keep up with the field?

Just wanting ideas on if I should just take CE's online or a more formal educational prospect. Any thoughts on a direction to take would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[Lisa7259]

Am currently enrolled in this course, hoping to move on to Forensic Nursing and felt this would be a good background for me. It's an intense course, but you have a year at your leisure to complete it. If you have no interest in law or legal matters, it is dry though. The course has been easy enough, bar the latest one I completed on Tort law and Malpractice, was very intense, lot of information to absorb. I encourage any one to further their education. CEU's are good too. At least with a course like this you can go on to certfication, which can only be of benefit to you in the future.

[linfieldadp]

It sounds like you are just looking for a good way to stay current in the nursing industry, rather than a formal program. However, if you are looking to earn a BSN, Linfield has an online RN-to-BSN program that is perfect for someone who is looking to advance their education, but requires a more flexible class schedule. Linfield’s Adult Degree Program is offering free application to the RN-BSN program until February 19,2011.

[CarlosHills]

Registered nurses make up the majority of workers in the health care industry. They hold a position of seniority over licensed practical nurses and nursing assistants and are often in charge of assigning tasks in a hospital environment. Being a registered nurse can be both a challenging and a rewarding profession. Some RNs work evening, weekend or on-call hours and are exposed to a variety of medical conditions. From here http://www.thedegreeexperts.com/dg-s...dical-113.aspx you may get more information on RN.

[watersleepexercise]

I think that whatever you feel like you have time to do would be best. I know that when I'm hope with my daughter I have a hard time actually getting anything done online while she's awake during the day. But I do think that it would be good to take a course to stay up on the field. If you took a course away from the computer (like, in an actual location), could you find a baby sitter or someone else to watch your kids? This might help you actually do the work and will give you a little bit of time to yourself to study so that you aren't always interrupted.

[Vidya_C]

Yes, I agree with "linfieldadp". As an RN, you can keep your skills fresh by working part-time/on call. Depending on your prefered place of work, you can work in a hospital, assisted living facility, etc. On coworker I know has had favor with the administrators to work just on Saturday and Sundays from 7am to 7pm and on Thursdays from 11pm to 7am. We both work at an Assistant living facility. There are two other nurses who work on call or as needed here as well. This gives my coworker a chance to keep her skillls fresh, get out of the house and gives her husband a chance to bond with the kids. Her kids are 5 and 3 years old. As for the other nurses, they might have a full-time job some where else, or they just work here. But I do not see them often to bond with them. Hope this helps!

[velmamher]

I have to be honest - once you are out of the field it will be very difficult coming back. I know my managers and hospital won't even look at someone who has zero experience within the last 2 to 3 years. Even if you only worked somewhere one day a week, that would help you to stay in the loop. I have 4 children and worked my entire career (39 years) in hospitals, and I have seen this problem happen to many people over the years who wanted to get back into nursing. I can assure you, it can be done, and your children will not suffer. All of mine turned out to be happy, successful, college educated adults.

[ronniew]

nice info.
thanks

[NurseEducator]

I agree somewhat with velmamher. If you can keep your foot in the door do so. The problem is with working so few hours you get left out of updates and changes and may feel as if you are a danger to your patients and your license in jeopardy unless you consistently work 1-2 days each week. You can also do a Nurse Refresher with clinicals when you are ready to come back or go back to school part time and when ready to come back do the BSN if you are a Diploma or ADN or do the MSN if you are a BSN. Then, the recent degree will get you looked at and you will have recent clinicals in your program. Whatever you decide do not feel guilty. Beening a stay at home mom is a job no one else can do as well as you. Especially if you have children with special needs or have several that are in day care (cost ridiculous).
Good luck.

[kupcraft]

Thank you for posting on this information, this is very good to know for those thinking about starting a family.