I am have a BSN and have worked in mental health for one year and as a school nurse for 7 years. My husband has Lewy Body Dementia so I've been caring for him since 2016. How do I go back into the nursing field as I feel like I've lost all my skill
It is a little frightening to return to the current workforce after being away for so long, even though you were doing so much for your husband. I am a Clinical Manager for a Bayada Home Health Care Pediatric office and the advice I give to nurses that have had little "hands on" experience or have a large gap in active employment is to look into a refresher course. It is helpful in preparing a nurse for the changes in clinical care since leaving the workforce and also gives resources for support after completing the course and navigating the challenges of a new job. Best of luck and I hope you are very successful.
Some years ago, in the early 2000's I was a stay at home mom for 8 years (after 10 yrs nursing experience in various areas, also with my BSN) - I went back part-time at a pediatric clinic and they trained me on the job. I was fortunate that they did this, otherwise I would have needed to take a refresher course at a local Jr. College. Now, and since 2010, I have worked as a 1:1 school nurse (caring for Special Needs students with g-tube feedings and/most times a tracheostomy). I have been employed by an agency (Maxim Staffing Solutions- it's nationwide) in the School Nurse division &, my experience at the Pediatric Clinic was helpful for obtaining the job. Since you have experience as a school nurse, it may be a place to start looking, with Maxim or another agency like that; Sunbelt Staffing is another such agency.
Some skills are like riding a bike and some are not, but the good news is that the skills that are the most repeated like medication administration, assessments, vitals, and etc., make up the bulk of your work day. I promise you that you haven’t forgotten those skills. Remember Nurses are life time learners so while you may have to learn a new EMR system or how to hook up a new new pump, your in the same boat as every other nurse regardless of whether or not they took a long break.
Be not troubled and get back out there!
Your friend,
Joel Knight MSN, RN
try working food services but the nonclinical side is nurse executive specialty or dietary services but there is management for food service because they do need cafe's services
You have great experience 8 years Nursing, school and mental health settings. You stated Nursing field. Nursing profession with a BSN provides great opportunities to practice in many settings. What do you like about school nursing and mental health nursing? What skills are you proficient with? I will be encouraged to hear your response.
If your RN License is still active, see if you can get into a re-entry program. Most hospitals have this for RNs that have been away from pt care for a while. If you need your license reinstated, contact your state board of nursing for instructions on how to do that. All the best!
