There’s a common saying in nursing circles: “Once a nurse, always a nurse.”
If you’ve taken time away from nursing work, you probably still use your nursing skills in everyday life, whether you’re putting band-aids on your kids’ boo-boos or managing doctor’s appointments for an aging parent.
You might be worried about returning to the bedside after a long gap in employment. The good news is that many nurses have successfully returned to work after time off. With a little preparation, you’ll be ready to resume work as a nurse, even if you’ve been away for years.
Here’s what you need to consider as you prepare to return to nursing:
- Maintain your credentials
- Refresh your nursing knowledge
- Volunteer
- Refresh your professional identity
- Interview tips
- Resources
Maintain your credentials
When possible, it’s important to maintain your credentials even if you’re not currently working as a nurse. Active credentials allow you to return to work more quickly and easily. They also show potential employers you maintained an interest in nursing, even while away from the profession.
License
The requirements to renew and maintain your license vary by state. Most license renewals can be completed online and require a small fee.
It might feel like a hassle to complete the renewal requirements when you’re not actively practicing as a nurse, but maintaining an active license is often much easier than reactivating a lapsed license.
Action: Research the requirements to maintain a license in your state.
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Continuing education units
Most states require nurses to take continuing education units (CEUs) to maintain their license. These classes help you stay abreast of changes in the field and keep your nursing mind active.
You can complete CEUs for free through Incredible Health. It can also be helpful to maintain membership in the American Nurses Association or other nursing organization that is specific to your specialty. Some offer fee-based programs that allow you to complete units in your specialty and attend nursing conferences.
Remember, it’s your responsibility to keep a record of your CEUs so that you can provide proof of completion to the state board of nursing during license renewal.
Action: Make a goal to complete a certain number of CEUs every month. Start a spreadsheet to keep track of your completed continuing education units.
Certifications
It can be challenging to maintain certifications if you’re not currently practicing at the bedside.
Some certifications require a certain number of hours of active practice to maintain the credential. For example, Critical Care Registered Nurse certifications (both pediatric and NICU) require 432 direct care hours during the three-year certification renewal period, with 144 hours in the 12 months prior to renewal.
Others require a large number of CEUs in a specific content area in order to recertify. The Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing requires 100 hours of relevant units every four years.
Other certifications are easier to maintain, like Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS).
Action: Research the recertification requirements for any credentials you previously held. Create an action plan to obtain the necessary CEUs or pass relevant exams to regain your credential.
Renew license or certifications
If your license or certification is up for renewal, it is a fairly straightforward process to complete the required steps necessary.
However, if your license or certification has lapsed, you may have more work ahead of you. It’s best to research the specific requirements for your license or certification and make a plan from there.
You may need to retake an exam, undergo supervised clinical hours, or complete certain educational requirements to regain your license or certification. There may also be fees involved, so it’s a good idea to plan ahead.
Action: Research the requirements to renew a lapsed license or certification through your state board of nursing or the relevant certifying body.
Refresh your nursing knowledge
Many nurses express concern about gaps in knowledge after a long period away from practical work.
You can minimize this by staying current on nursing topics by joining professional organizations, reading professional magazines, attending nursing conferences, and completing CEUs regularly.
Others find it helpful to take a “nurse refresher course.” These courses usually include a review of assessment skills, disease processes, and pharmacology.
Many of these refresher courses also include a clinical component, which can be a useful way to rebuild a professional network and open doors to potential employers. These courses can often be used to renew a lapsed nursing license as well.
You can find these courses through your state board of nursing, your local community college, or as part of continuing education programs at local universities. Some examples include Rutgers and The University of Delaware.
Action: Join a professional organization and read their publications regularly. Attend a professional conference. Look into refresher courses near you (or online).
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Volunteer
Volunteer work looks great on a resume. It can also help you stay fresh on nursing topics and allow you to explore new career possibilities.
Consider volunteering at organizations in your community that might benefit from a skilled nurse. Your child’s school, your faith organization, or your local community center may need help during blood drives, vaccination campaigns, or emergency preparedness efforts.
There are many other opportunities for healthcare workers to stay active in a volunteer role, such as:
- Volunteer emergency medical services (EMS)
- Nursing home volunteer
- Red Cross blood drive volunteer
- Be the Match stem cell drive volunteer
- Local medical reserve corp
- Project Sunshine volunteer
- Ronald McDonald House volunteer
Action: Choose a cause that’s important to you and reach out to the organization to start regular volunteer work.
Refresh your professional identity
Once you have an active nursing license and a clear idea of where you want to work, it’s time to get ready for the job hunt.
Resume
A strong nursing resume is the best way to get noticed by potential employers. It’s important to include any previous work experiences and prior nursing certifications, even if they were from many years ago.
If there is a substantial gap in employment, be prepared to discuss this briefly in your cover letter before focusing on the work you’ve done away from the bedside, including volunteer work. This is also a good place to discuss how you’ve maintained your nursing knowledge and skills, as well as any active licenses or certifications.
Action: At a minimum, you will need to revise your resume, draft several cover letters, and practice for interviews. Spend a weekend revamping your resume and cover letter materials. Be sure to have someone help you proofread!
Networking
Networking is one of the best ways to connect to job opportunities. Consider the following resources:
- Alumni groups from your school of nursing
- Former classmates and work colleagues
- Nursing association conferences
- Continuing education classes
Successful networking doesn’t have to feel awkward. You can start by simply posting on nursing association forums or reaching out to career services at your former school.
The best networking comes naturally from established relationships. Keep in touch with nursing colleagues and classmates that you respect and enjoy spending time with, even if you don’t have an immediate question or need for help. These established relationships can more easily morph into a networking conversation without feeling like you’re taking advantage of someone you haven’t spoken to in years.
Action: Post on the forums for nursing associations or invite an old colleague or nursing school classmate out for coffee. Join the Incredible Nurse forum to connect with nurses just like you.
Search online
Recruiters look for nurses online. Many recruiters turn to LinkedIn to find and vet potential hires.
Make sure your LinkedIn profile picture is professional. Update your headline so it’s clear that you’re open to work. Make sure that your profile is up to date.
After you have updated your profile, consider joining a few nurse groups on LinkedIn. This can be a useful way to network and connect with potential recruiters.
Action: Update your LinkedIn profile picture, headline, and work experience. Join and participate in nurse-related groups on the LinkedIn forums.
Interview tips
Nursing interviews don’t have to be scary. With a little preparation, you can ace your first nursing interview.
Review the most common interview questions and prepare your responses. Practice your answers until they feel natural. Be sure to anticipate questions about why you took time off and use this as an opportunity to explain how you maintained your nursing knowledge or developed other relevant skills during your time away.
Action: Research common interview questions and prepare your answers. Craft a 30-second elevator pitch to explain why you took time off from nursing and what you learned during this time away.
Resources
Many nurses take time off from nursing to care for family, take care of their health, or explore other career options.
The good news is that nursing is an incredibly flexible career with many opportunities for re-entry.
If you have more questions about returning to nursing after an extended time away, check out our job resources that can help you prepare for your job search.
Next steps
You could spend hours on job boards, searching for the perfect nursing opportunity. Or you can make a profile on Incredible Health and let the employers come to you!
After you sign up for a free account, our team of experts will contact you to find out more about your goals and professional experience. Our nurses typically receive multiple job offers from top hospitals in less than 20 days.
We can help you find your dream job quickly and easily. Ready to get started? Incredible Health is here for you!
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Sources
- American Association of Critical Care Nurses. “Board Certification.” aacn.org. Accessed May 16, 2022.
- American Nurses Association. “Join ANA.” nursingworld.org. Accessed May 16, 2022.
- American Red Cross. “Become a Blood Service Volunteer.” redcross.org. Accessed May 16, 2022.
- Be the Match. “Volunteer Opportunities.” bethematch.org. Accessed May 16, 2022.
- Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing. “How to Renew Your CEN.” bcen.org. Accessed May 16, 2022.
- Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. “The Medical Reserve Corps.” aspr.hhs.gov. Accessed May 16, 2022.
- Project Sunshine. “Volunteers.” projectsunshine.org. Accessed May 16, 2022.
- Ronald McDonald House. “How to help.” rmhc.org. Accessed May 16, 2022.
- Rutgers School of Nursing. “RN Skills Refresher Course.” nursing.rutgers.edu. Accessed May 16, 2022.
- University of Delaware. “RN Refresher Online Program.” pcs.udel.edu. Accessed May 16, 2022.
- Volunteer Match. “Find Opportunities.” volunteermatch.org. Accessed May 16, 2022.
- Photo by monkeybusinessimages on iStock.
