fellow nurses -can I ask you something?

[brimfull]

I have recently returned to nursing after a long gap.

I work in a community hospital and I am surprised to find out that there are quite a few staff nurses who are registered as the old enrolled nurses but never did the conversion course just swapped to the role of staff nurse when the old enrolled nurse was discontinued.

Is this common in other hopsitals?

Yes, quite common. I think that generally enrolled nurses would find it tricky to get band 7 posts, though, so may choose to convert.

Where did you do your RTP? Was it a long course? I am still registered, but haven't practiced for 2.6 years.

I did it at Bournemouth Uni.. Took 6-7 months from start of course to getting my PIN back..

Get those hrs in now if you can. I had to do 120 unpaid hrs but luckliy the strategic health authority paid the course fee.

I have until 2012 to get my 450 in. But I just feel like I could do with some confidence back. 2.6 years of nappies & cbeebies.

2.6 yrs is nothing
I was out for 10 yrs about average on the course, one woman had been out for 30yrs and

No, I know, I just feel that I couldn't turn up for an agency shift, say, having been out for 2.6 years, they would be

I've just gone back after 2.6 years my reg is due in July, it's the prep need ideas for.

PS gone back to a NH so I can increase my confidence then going to change to bank. (TBH after 2 shifts it was all coming flooding back!)

to the op i think community hospitals out of the major metropolitan areas do have more enrolled nurses who've never converted.

one of the best nurses I have ever worked with has just retired - she was a SEN who refused to convert. She was never allowed to apply for a sister's post as a result. The NHS can be remarkably shortsighted when it wants to be.

lou031205- join a good agency and they will give you some updating .