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Dear Donna,

I’ve been a stay-at-home mom for two and a half years. I have a BSN, and my RN license is still active. I worked for 10 years before leaving the workforce. I really want to go back to work, but I don’t know where to start. Should I just put my resume out there, or should I take a refresher course? I’ve been reading nursing magazines occasionally, but I haven’t done any CEs or taken any courses to keep me up to date. What do you think I should do to get back into nursing?

Out of the Loop

Dear Out of the Loop,

Because you’ve been away from the bedside for such a short time, you shouldn’t have to take a refresher course. Start calling some local hospitals and ask about opportunities and orientation programs for nurses returning to the bedside.

In the meantime, read professional journals and use self-study CE modules, such as those on the Nursing Spectrum website. You don’t need to accumulate lots of CE certificates; you only need to study and read.

I would also suggest that you join and get active in your state nurses association or specialty association or both. This will help you get reconnected to your profession, develop a support system, and get back in the groove.

Don’t get hung up with overpreparation. Start applying for jobs with good orientation programs and get back on the horse. It’ll all come back to you in time. Be patient with yourself and stay focused on your goal.

Donna

Dear Donna,

I’m graduating soon, and I’m a little nervous about getting my first job. As a new grad, is it better to start in med/surg or go into a specialty? I’m drawn toward the ICU because I would rather do everything for one or two patients than have six to eight patients. Some hospitals in my area offer special orientation for ICU. Is it better to ease into nursing at a smaller hospital or jump right into a large teaching hospital?

Nervous

Dear Nervous,

It’s normal to feel scared, apprehensive, and even a little confused about your first nursing position. Every new graduate experiences that. And although every new graduate has similar fears and challenges, each also has different interests.

Med/surg is a specialty like any other. And while some well-meaning people will tell new grads they must start out there, that advice is not appropriate for everyone. There is no one right path for all nurses to follow. Nurses have to forge their own paths, carve out their own niches, and follow their hearts.

The ICU is a different environment from a med/surg unit. Although the patient load is different, the work is different, too, as is the acuity. I would suggest you spend a little time in an ICU before making that decision. Many hospitals will allow a student or new graduate to “shadow” a nurse in various specialties to get a real feel for the unit, the work, and the specialty. Shadowing usually involves spending several hours to a full day with an experienced nurse. I highly recommend it.

Once you do decide on a specialty, be sure to join and get active in a related professional association, such as the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (www.aacn.org) or the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (www.medsurgnurse.org). This will increase your learning curve and support your new career in many ways.

As far as smaller hospital vs. bigger hospital goes, it really doesn’t matter. What does matter is how long and comprehensive the new graduate orientation program is and whether the hospital offers orientation for specialties, such as the ICU, if you decide to go that route. I would encourage you to read my book, Your First Year as a Nurse – Making the Transition from Total Novice to Successful Professional, for additional tips and advice on choosing your first job, being successful on the job, and allaying some of your fears. You can find the book in the Nursing Spectrum bookstore or anywhere that books are sold.

You’re going to be just fine.

Donna

Dear Donna,

Is it necessary to have an objective on a resume? If so, is a general objective satisfactory?

Wondering

Dear Wondering,

Contrary to what many people believe, it’s not necessary to have an objective on your resume. In fact, an objective can actually detract from it. If you use the type that is specific, such as “Looking for a position in pharmaceutical sales,” then you have to change the objective if you apply for anything else, which isn’t practical.

A general objective, such as “Looking for a position where I can use all of my skills and experience to deliver high-quality patient care” is meaningless and uninteresting. And you certainly don’t want anything meaningless and uninteresting on your resume.

\You’re better off eliminating the objective altogether. Your cover letter is the place to state what type of job that you’re looking or
applying for.

Donna

Donna Cardillo, RN, MA, is Nursing Spectrum’s Dear Donna and author of Your First Year as a Nurse: Making the Transition from Total Novice to Successful Professional.