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With all of the articles being written and concerns
expressed about the nursing shortage and the increasing
crisis looming, I believe many are missing out on an
untapped resource.
I graduated from nursing school in 1967. At 21, I was
fulfilling my longtime desire of becoming a nurse. Working
in a small 150-bed hospital gave me a variety of experiences,
as we often covered and filled in where needed. They
trained me in obstetrics, mostly labor and delivery,
and I loved it.
For three years, I worked full time. In addition to
labor and delivery, our duties included overseeing postpartum
patients, as well as the newborn nursery. After the
birth of my first child, I went back and worked three
to four days a week; 3½ years later, I gave birth
to my second daughter, and my husband and I made the
choice for me to become a "stay-at-home" mother.
It was difficult financially for us, as well as careerwise
for me, but I never regretted our decision.
"Once a nurse, always a nurse" holds true.
I "nursed" my girls, their friends, my friends
and family, and occasionally did related volunteer work.
I subscribed to nursing magazines and read them with
interest. I continued to take continuing education classes.
I looked forward to the day I would know it was time
to resume my career.
Once my girls were in high school, I took a refresher
course at our junior college. The semester course was
taught by a young woman who had a master's degree in
nursing, but had never pursued clinical application
after her schooling. It did refresh my knowledge, but
had no practicum.
I sent in my application to several agencies of choice
and one hospital, but no one was interested in allowing
anyone who had been out of nursing for 18 years to even
track with them. Disillusioned, I filled my time with
alternative activities and volunteer work.
Three years later, I again took a refresher course,
through a private corporation, with guest lecturers
included for every system. A practicum was included
in the fee, but the timing was poor for me because my
husband took a sabbatical and we were out of state for
three months.
When I returned, the instructor said I was "on
my own to find someone to track with." When I was
unable to find someone, I again became disillusioned
and filled my time with other pursuits. The nurse in
me would not give up, though. I had been an excellent
nurse before, and I knew I could be again.
Two years later, I took a course in perioperative nursing.
Perhaps a specialty would make me more valuable, and
I had always loved surgery. I loved the course and did
well in it. I felt I was on my way back into nursing.
I made an appointment to interview at our hospital
and brought an updated résumé. Filling
out the application was easy, but when I came to the
skills assessment form, my positive attitude took a
major drop. How could I or anyone else who had been
out of nursing this long check "Proficient"
in any skill?
This was also at the time when major health care reforms
were being talked about politically, and many health
care agencies were "running scared."
The director of nursing told me that they were not
only not hiring, they also were laying off nurses to
prepare for the forthcoming changes. I offered to track
in surgery for free as long as it took for them to feel
confident in my skills. I would even pick up my own
malpractice insurance.
I was "gently" informed that there was no
chance of employment for me there and likely nowhere
else. More discouragement.
Several years went by and the expected changes in health
care did not come, and the nursing shortage was worsening.
I was approached by a relative who worked for a home
health agency, who stated that they were in dire need
of more nurses.
"Had I ever considered going back into nursing?"
Needless to say, she got an earful. She encouraged me
to just chat with their nurse manager. I was feeling
pretty unmarketable by now. I called anyway and found
she was understanding and even encouraging.
I had taken many CE courses through the years and a
fairly recent one was on home health care, which enabled
me to ask informed questions of her. We parted with
her pushing me to at least update my license and then
to get back in touch with her.
I took a course in pediatric emergency care nursing
through correspondence and once again had an active
license. The application process with the local branch
of a national home care agency was somewhat intimidating
after all these years. I did pass the general and pediatric
exams, though.
I followed expected protocol and got the TB test, other
vaccines and took the CPR course. In short, I jumped
through all the required hoops. My interview with the
nurse manager went well, too. She was encouraging and
felt that I could easily pick up my skills again. She
assured me that I would not be "turned loose"
feeling unprepared or inadequate.
I was beginning to get excited about being able to
nurse and work closely with patients again. I had one
more interview to go, with the nursing administrator
and area coordinator.
I was left pretty deflated again.
This woman can only be described as condescending.
She questioned my even thinking I could possibly get
back into nursing after all these years. She obviously
felt I had nothing of value to offer. This time, I went
away angry.
I knew my limitations, but I also knew I could become
the good nurse I once was. I knew I could learn and
relearn the needed skills. I knew that this time, I
would be bringing a lifetime of experience, maturity
and other wisdom that one can achieve only by simply
living life. If they did not want to give me a shot
at it, it was their loss. I had done all that they had
asked. The next move was theirs.
Imagine my surprise when, about a month later, they
called to offer me a position. It seems the nurse manager
and records manager had gone to bat for me. They did
some research and called the corporate offices when
they uncovered a preceptor course that was already part
of the corporation, but one that had rarely been implemented.
They were told they needed a nurse who was willing to
become my preceptor and they had found one on their
staff. Was I interested?
I have worked for this agency as a home health nurse
for more than a year. I am even doing some case managing.
I love my job.
I am so grateful to those people and the nurse who
came alongside of me and encouraged and taught. My preceptor
continues to be a source of inspiration for me, as well
as a great resource. I have learned so much and learn
more every day that I work.
Never once did they make me feel less valuable than
the more experienced nurses. Never once was I asked
to accept the care of a patient or do a procedure that
I did not feel confident in doing. They patiently come
alongside me with each skill and they train and retrain
as I labor over all the documentation.
Renewing my chosen profession at age 56 has energized
me. I still love nursing and, particularly, the one-on-one
patient care and teaching found in home care. I was
even approached to allow nursing students from our state
university to track with me on my calls. I love having
them come with me. We learn so much from one another.
The frosting on the cake came the day our nurse manager
introduced me to our area manager. "She is the
nurse we implemented the preceptor course for,"
she said. "I wish I had 10 more of her."
Our office in Santa Rosa recently received the first
award for 100 percent patient satisfaction, based on
a survey sent to our clients. And I had been a part
of this.
I am the first to admit that I still have much to learn.
Every day I work, every patient I care for, every staff
conference and community contact generates opportunities
for me to advance my skills.
I am left wondering how many "good" nurses
are out there? Perhaps they, too, have been intimidated
and discouraged from attempts to re-enter nursing. I
know this is not the perfect answer to the nursing shortage.
Much more must be done to recruit and train younger
men and women.
I believe there may be many more nurses like me, with
a heart of compassion and a love for nursing, who once
again could be an asset and stopgap measure until we
can pass the torch.
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