Many nurses take time off from work for a variety of reasons, such as raising kids, caring for ailing parents, getting into a new line of work and many other reasons. However, after taking a break from nursing, many realize how much they enjoyed their career and want to get back into it.
It requires much dedication and determination to get your foot back in the door as a nurse after an extended absence, but with the current demand in nursing and shortage of nurses, you can once again become valuable in the marketplace. According to some experts, some former nurses believe they have to return to the same position they formerly occupied, however that is not the case. For starters you want to become as visible as possible during your job search by attending career fairs, and interview as many nurses as possible to become acquainted with the variety of nursing specialties and jobs available. Depending on how long you’ve been on your absence from nursing, there’s a high probability that many new nursing specialties have emerged, and some of them may be quite attractive to you.
According to Nursing Link, one former RN left nursing for a period of 8 years. Here’s her story:
Susan Kohl-Malone, MS, RN, left nursing for almost eight years to raise her four kids. After a period of soul-searching, Kohl-Malone, who had previously been a certified diabetes educator, concluded that she had a strong desire to teach and work with women and children. On a former professor’s recommendation, Kohl-Malone took a job as a school nurse at a K-12 private school. “I knew in my heart this was the job for me,” Kohl-Malone says. Now she is getting the additional certification she needs to work in New Jersey public schools.
Research Requirements for Reentry
One of the first steps you should take is to investigate the requirements for reentry into nursing. Taking your future into your own hands requires some self-education. A few steps you can take are to read your states latest nursing practice act and ethical code. You can also visit Amazon and buy an NCLEX-RN prep book and study the sections related to your preferred area of nursing. Read NCLEX practice tests and review as many nursing interview questions as you can. This independent study greatly assist nurses to regain confidence in their professional abilities, including decision-making and fact-finding.
Upgrade Your Skillset
In today’s day and age working individuals must be familiar with using the computer, including word processing, Internet research, data entry, taking courses online, etc. With the workforce seemingly becoming younger and younger those who have been out of the game for several years can easily be out hustled during their job search. Becoming proficient with the computer is just one step you can take to keep up.
Recognize The Value You Offer
Nurses are in short supply in many specialties throughout the country, so those who have prior experience are greatly valued beyond those fresh out of school, never having cared for a patient before. There is no better time to reenter the field of nursing than right now, so be sure you recognize the maturity and value you bring to any organization currently hiring nurses. Leverage your confidence for a higher nursing salary and benefits.
According to Patricia S. Yoder-Wise, EdD, RN, a professor in the School of Nursing at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, nurses should never sell themselves short. She goes on to say:
“Unless you have simply been sitting at home and literally doing nothing, you have gained some life experiences that can only contribute to returning to nursing,” she says. For example, you may have honed your communication skills, learned to work more effectively with a team or gained an appreciation for the intensity of nursing because your other work was boring. “Whatever it was, use it to your advantage,”
Keep Moving Forward During Your Job Search
You’re not going to land the first job you interview for as a nurse reentering the field. But the key is to be persistent and never quit. Sometimes when doors are closed for us, other doors magically open. Although the process of reentering the nursing field may seem daunting at first, as long as you don’t quit you haven’t failed. Before you know it you’ll have landed your dream job, but remember it could take 6 months to a year to fully acclimated to your new working environment. It takes a lot of courage to reenter the nursing field, but before you know it you’ll be back into the swing of things and realize the significance of your accomplishment.
