How would I be received? I’m a BSN15+ yr experience but haven’t been able to work in 10 yr.? I know a refresher course would be needed to go back. Would I be considered new RN or keep experience? Recommendations for refresher course?
I want to add that about ten years ago I was sidelined for eight months due to a major off-duty sports injury. When I returned to work after my extended medical leave, it took me a solid two weeks to regain my bearings. During my disability hiatus, there were major changes in workplace technologies put in place. Bar code scanning, a dramatic change in how we administered medications, had been implemented in my absence, for one. I had to 'catch up' and attend classes, not to mention that my mandatory learning modules had piled up. It was a stressful 'welcome back', to say the least.
At the risk of sounding intrusive why "haven't [you] been able to work in 10 years"? A prospective employer may want to know and decide if they consider your explanation valid. Perhaps you were a full-time caregiver for an ailing parent, or were overseas with a deployed military spouse. If you were raising kids, they might have some skepticism, as many (if not most) of us were active in our nursing careers, even fulltime, while raising our young children. You would likely be less favored in many organizations than a new grad 20-some-year-old. That is based on my observations in my own workplace. There is one RN who took off close to that amount of time to be a stay-at-home mom (wouldn't it be nice if we all had that option...). She was treated like a new grad, with the same extended orientation. I wondered, but was not privy to, how she managed to stay current rather than simply paying the fees to maintain a license in her state. Ten years is a long time to be out of the game so, if it were me, I'd be at a loss. Old dated nursing school education, without recent clinical rotations or even coursework, seems to be a hard sell. I might even look to get a new, perhaps fast tracked, nursing degree, from scratch.
I would suppose after a refresher course you would be considered an accomplished RN. Of course with any new position there is orientation. Also getting a position in an area of previous experience would be beneficial. Be aware the technical practice of nursing such as charting, as far as the computer charting may be different, as well. Good luck, the world needs you.
Honestly, as an administrator, I think it depends on the position you’re applying for. Definitely take the refresher course. I think many things have changed in 10 years; however, you might be surprised and welcomed.
Refresher course is nedeed to continue it will b better
Hi just be nice You also may be surprised Like bike riding nursing skills of kyndness caring and sharing are eternal Keep in mynd some will see you as a 'new' RN
