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I Have Been Out Of Patient Care For Several Years But Would Like To Get A Job Where I Help People. Should I Let My Nursing License Go And Try Something New?


Question:

Dear Donna,

I graduated from nursing school in 1975, and worked for 20 to 25 years in hospitals, urgent cares and clinics. Because of a shoulder injury at work, I haven’t worked in patient care for many years. For the past nine years, I’ve been reviewing hospital claims to decide which ones are audited. I want and need a change. I want to make more money, not spend the entire day in front of a computer or shuffling papers and have some kind of patient contact. Or helping people in some way. I am very open to letting my nursing license go and working in some other field. Advice for me?

Karen



Donna replies:

Dear Karen,

Why would you let your nursing license go? For starters you need to get reconnected to your profession. Do that by getting out to some local chapter meetings of your state nurses association as a guest. Find them at http://nursingworld.org/FunctionalMenuCategories/AboutANA/WhoWeAre/CMA.aspx. Networking is well-known to be a great way to explore options and to find and get a job. I also recommend that you attend my upcoming Career Alternatives for Nurses seminar Oct. 5 in Las Vegas http://events.nursingspectrum.com/event.cfm?EID=735&type=Seminar. Also, read “The ULTIMATE Career Guide for Nurses” at www.nurse.com/ce/7250 to fully explore your options. Get out to local nursing career fairs, too. You’d be surprised at the non-traditional opportunities that are often presented at these events. You never know where the spark, the idea, or the inspiration will come from. The bottom line is that you just have to start getting yourself out there. Move forward in faith and the right path will eventually reveal itself to you.

Best wishes, Donna



Donna Cardillo, RN, MA, well-known career guru, is Nursing Spectrum/NurseWeek’s “Dear Donna” and author of “Your First Year as a Nurse: Making the Transition from Total Novice to Successful Professional” and “The ULTIMATE Career Guide for Nurses: Practical Advice for Thriving at Every Stage of Your Career.” Information about the books is available at www.Nurse.com/CE/7010 and www.Nurse.com/CE/7250, respectively. To ask Donna your question, go to www.Nurse.com/asktheexperts/deardonna. Find a “Dear Donna” seminar near you: Call 800-866-0919 or visit http://events.nursingspectrum.com/Seminar.