Question:
Dear Donna,
I am a licensed RN with a BSN. I was in the military for a year, but had to leave because of medical issues and without gaining any nursing experience. After that I had a couple jobs in nursing homes that did not work out. I married someone from North Africa and he could not get a U.S. visa. So I had to go to his country for three years. I am teaching English as a second language. I am ready to return to the U.S., but I don't know how to start to re-enter the nursing profession. I am not interested in working in a hospital or a nursing home. I would enjoy being a nurse practitioner, maybe doing research or working in a clinic. I have no experience but consider myself very bright when it comes to medical knowledge. I need to return to the U.S. for financial reasons and because I feel there is no future where I am. Would studying for an MSN online increase my chances of finding work when I return?
USA-bound
Dear Donna,
I am a licensed RN with a BSN. I was in the military for a year, but had to leave because of medical issues and without gaining any nursing experience. After that I had a couple jobs in nursing homes that did not work out. I married someone from North Africa and he could not get a U.S. visa. So I had to go to his country for three years. I am teaching English as a second language. I am ready to return to the U.S., but I don't know how to start to re-enter the nursing profession. I am not interested in working in a hospital or a nursing home. I would enjoy being a nurse practitioner, maybe doing research or working in a clinic. I have no experience but consider myself very bright when it comes to medical knowledge. I need to return to the U.S. for financial reasons and because I feel there is no future where I am. Would studying for an MSN online increase my chances of finding work when I return?
USA-bound
Dear Donna replies:
Dear USA-bound,
Since you don’t want to work in a hospital or nursing home (those jobs are very scarce right now, anyway), the best way to transition back into a paid nursing job in the U.S. would be to start volunteering in a healthcare setting while you seek paid employment. Volunteering is a great way to gain relevant experience, hone old skills, learn new ones and expand your professional network. Also, it’s a good way to get your foot in the door somewhere and often leads to paid employment.
Taking steps to get into an MSN program (or any other graduate major, since you're not interested in a traditional clinical role) is a very good thing to do for many reasons. Higher education will make you more marketable, more confident, more self-aware and, let’s face it — smarter! Read “Go back to school and change your life” (www.Nurse.com/Cardillo/BacktoSchool) and “Master the scholarship game” (www.Nurse.com/Cardillo/ScholarshipGame).
Networking is well-known to be a great way to find a job. Contact anyone you know in the states, both personally and professionally. Let them know you want to find a job in a nontraditional healthcare setting and ask for their help, via introductions, leads, referrals, etc.
As soon as you return you should get active in your state chapter of the American Nurses Association (nursingworld.org). This is a great way to reconnect to your profession, get up to date on trends and information and further expand your professional network. Attend local meetings as a guest, if you don’t join right away.
Transitioning back will be a process, so be patient. Persistence and determination will always win out.
Best wishes,
Donna
Dear USA-bound,
Since you don’t want to work in a hospital or nursing home (those jobs are very scarce right now, anyway), the best way to transition back into a paid nursing job in the U.S. would be to start volunteering in a healthcare setting while you seek paid employment. Volunteering is a great way to gain relevant experience, hone old skills, learn new ones and expand your professional network. Also, it’s a good way to get your foot in the door somewhere and often leads to paid employment.
Taking steps to get into an MSN program (or any other graduate major, since you're not interested in a traditional clinical role) is a very good thing to do for many reasons. Higher education will make you more marketable, more confident, more self-aware and, let’s face it — smarter! Read “Go back to school and change your life” (www.Nurse.com/Cardillo/BacktoSchool) and “Master the scholarship game” (www.Nurse.com/Cardillo/ScholarshipGame).
Networking is well-known to be a great way to find a job. Contact anyone you know in the states, both personally and professionally. Let them know you want to find a job in a nontraditional healthcare setting and ask for their help, via introductions, leads, referrals, etc.
As soon as you return you should get active in your state chapter of the American Nurses Association (nursingworld.org). This is a great way to reconnect to your profession, get up to date on trends and information and further expand your professional network. Attend local meetings as a guest, if you don’t join right away.
Transitioning back will be a process, so be patient. Persistence and determination will always win out.
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.
