RN anxious about returning to work

[irishmom]

Originally Posted by Sundance

I have been off less than a year. It's very stressful to me, to think about returning to active employment. I have an associate degree, and I'll be looking at a hospital position.

Flashbacks of all the awful things I've been through....people who won't do their jobs, the harrassment I've gone though, people who just don't give a rat's a** because they know they won't get fired...having more patients than you can safely take care of.....I could go on.

I'm trying desperately to get my stress/dread under control, before I go for interviews!!!

Do you do med surg? Possibly you should look into a different specialty...many areas of the hospital have lower patient loads (acuity is higher but you have more time to deal with your patient) such as Outpatient, ICU, Cardiac Care, L&D, PACU, Pre-op, OR, PICU or NICU? It may just be time for a change. Good luck to you!

[cacao75]

I've been away for 22 years. Just finished a 3 week RN refresher at an area university. I had been reviewing my daughter's nursing texts for several months so I kept up fine. Many of the nurses felt overwhelmed though, and all of them feel anxious. I think it is maybe a little pride. We left knowing our jobs and now we have to go back feeling a little ( or maybe very) green and it's embarrassing. My daughter has been working for two years. She keeps telling me I'll do fine. Not all hospitals are crazy about RN's returning. Some feel they have a protocol for GN orientation but are not sure what to do with us. We have different areas to work on. Well, I finished my BLS and ACLS classes to help beef up my resume and I'm leaving the rest up to God.

[annerk]

Consider working as a case manager for a workers comp insurance carrier.

[gea12345]

Yes, my sister who is a nurse, just went thru. a RE_Entry program.

If they have one in your area, I would do this.

Also, my feeling although some may agree with me, is always keep your hand in things, even if it is once a month volunteer, holding babies and talking to patients.

or during the summer.

good luck!!

you are one amoung many who experience the tremors of having people expecting you to know more than they do and to help them!

An awesome responsibility!

Originally Posted by Sundance

Can anyone help?
I'm a RN - I've worked in hospitals, nursing homes, and I've done travel nursing. A little home health.
I took some time off for family reasons, and now I would like to add to the family's income by returning to full-time employment.

My problem is, I am extremely ANXIOUS about returning to work. It almost feels like post-traumatic stress disorder (a milder version of it). I don't want to think I am having an abnormal amount of anxiety, though....I'm not looking for sympathy, agreement, or advice to go see a doctor and get on anti-anxiety meds.

What I want are solutions to assist me in returning to work, with the least amount of anxiety possible.

I like nursing in that, you are helping the vunerable, but there is much about nursing that I ABHOR, and that is where my nervousness comes from.

Any advice?