Caring is the core feature required to become a great nurse. For this reason it is little surprise that at one point or another many female nurses leave the profession to have children of their own. Nursing is a respected career choice which many in the profession have a profound passion for and therefore always consider going back to.
It can be a highly demanding job with long and unsociable hours though, making juggling childcare with work extremely difficult. If your children have grown up to the point where they don’t require as much attention or you’ve enlisted the help of childminders, a return to nursing could be on the cards.
Think About It
Before jumping into a return to nursing you need to seriously think about a few things. If you’ve been out of the profession for a few years it will take some getting used to working five or so days a week again and being away from home for so long. Is it the right time to return as well? If you intend on having more children in the future it may be best to hold off for a little longer until you can fully commit to nursing full-time again.
Research and Prepare
Depending on how long you’ve been away from nursing the profession may have changed a little or a lot in that time. Read through nursing magazines and websites to discover any changes you need to know about and keep up to date with constant evolutions in the practice. Joining a local nursing organisation and attending meetings will give you a further insight and increase employability.
One aspect that has significantly changed in the past few years of nursing is the reliance on computers. If you’re not that computer literate it’s worth doing a short course to increase your typing skills and general IT ability before returning. This will come in extremely handy when back on the ward.
Return to Practice Programme
Previously qualified nurses may need to undertake a return to practice programme. This updates returning nurses’ skills and refreshes their knowledge so they can re-register and are well prepared for re-entering the workplace. These courses have recently undergone changes to ensure they’re tailored to your needs, depending on how long you’ve been away from the profession.
Part and full-time training is available to help ease you back in the best way possible. Theory and practical learning is involved along with a clinical placement and the course can be undertaken in numerous universities across the country.
Volunteer
A great way to ease back in before or after undertaking a return to practice programme is to volunteer. Volunteering will give you a good idea of whether going back to nursing is for you as well as providing an idea of any major changes in the profession.
It will help build your confidence and hone rusty skills, some of which will come straight back like riding a bike, others will require more work. Volunteering in a local establishment will also help you meet other new nurses and may lead to a paid nursing job in the end.
Find Employment
Finding a job when you’ve been away from nursing for so long can seem like a daunting task. Whatever type of nursing you’re hoping to return to joining an agency such as Nursing Personnel is a great start to obtain a position anywhere across the country. Jobs with the NHS and private healthcare providers are offered, including part, full-time and temporary shifts.
Another thing to consider is potentially moving to home care support, so much has changed over the years including some great top home care management software to help with the day-to-day tasks.
If you’re serious about returning to nursing the transitioning process couldn’t be easier to ensure you’re comfortable back in the profession.
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