Returning to Nursing but not yet lapsed...help!

[Lougle]

Short story:

Registered Nurse
Last worked May 2007
Last re-registered Sept 2009 (had over 450 hours 'banked')
Due for registration September 2012
Would like to do HV training

Ok....

I won't have any hours for re-registration in September. I have a DD with SN and there is no way I could work 30 hours per week to accrue them, even if I could work right now, which wouldn't happen because I'd need CRB check, etc.

I can't register for NHS Professionals (the nurse bank) because I haven't got 6 months experience in the last two years. Same goes for most agencies. Also, I haven't worked for 5 years, so I wouldn't want to just rock up on a ward when they are expecting an experienced nurse, and it turns out that I haven't set foot in a hospital for 5 years.

I can't do a reurn to practice course because I haven't actually lapsed my registration, and the RTP courses are for nurses who wish to return to the register.

Practically speaking...I'm in no-man's-land. It also seems non-sensical that I won't be able to register because I don't have 450 hours of practice in the last 3 years, but the RTP course only expects 150 hours of practice, which I could esasily manage between now and September if I could actually get registered with NHSP and do some shifts!

Also, the RTP courses are £975, which means that I have to pay £975 to do 150 hours of nursing practice, instead of receiving £1500 to do 150 hours of nursing practice, IYSWIM.

I can't apply to do the HV course, because ironically, although that would give me the practice hours I need, and the contract is as a band 5 nurse, you have to have effective registration from October of the year you are starting, by which time my registration will lapse.

Hellllp!!!

Well you could ask your local hospital if you could work super nummary maybe to get your hours in? But you'd need to do 30 hours a week which you say you can't do.

Though if you can't do 30 hours a week how would you manage a hv course?

god my head hurts reading that

don't know if this link will work but this hopsital are advertising for nurses wanting to return to acute nursing..weirdly it states nurses who have been out of acute for less than 2 yrs...surely they mean the oppoisite don't they?

Could you call the local hospital and see if the bank would take you on in a supported role so they don't put you in charge etc but you can get your hand in again.

link

Viva, the HV course has two options - 1 yr (37 hrs/week) or 2 yrs (18.5 hrs/week)

ggirl, I think they do mean less than two, I saw that ad too. Although I couldn't do it because I'd lose my registration part way through .

I had an email from a return to practice lead today. Seems I will have to let my registration lapse, then apply for a return to practice course. Crazy.

Have you considered nursing homes? There are always so many of these posts advertised, you could work a variety of shifts & they take on part time/bank nurses. Perhaps you could join up with a few, once you've done a few shifts you could then apply to nhs professionals to start working where you really want.

The nmc don't physically check everyone's hrs would it hurt if you were a few hrs out? Unpaid work counts towards your hrs, have you helped out doing anything vaguely health related?

momma, thanks for your thoughts

Nursing homes might be a way forward, just not convinced I could amass 450 hours by September.

As for your point about the NMC not checking hours...it's that personal integrity business, dagnammit

My advice would be to try try and try to get those hours in. When I left the NHS to bring up a family eight years ago I was a Senior Sister and last week I got turned down for a Healthcare Assistant job in the NHS. I have now secured agency work as a home carer and I will start my return to practice course in November at a cost of £1200. Right now it feels like a long way back!

I did the RTP course 3-4yrs ago , was paid for by the strategic HA..do they not fund any places anymore?

They don't advertise it, but that doesn't mean they don't I guess.

Our trust & SHA used to give funding for RTP but recently there has been more nurses qualifying than posts available so they stopped it - same with Widening Access places for HCAs to train.

I would really check the details of what would count towards the hours, nurses in non-clinical roles still retain their registration as it is deemed that they are so connected to the profession it's not necessary to work on a ward etc. Same with Uni staff, some still do bank shifts etc but it is not essential and our trust did away with the bank a while anyway!

On the first day of the course one girl turned up with the actual cash to pay ..the tutor then made an announcement that everybody on the course would be funded and she cried she was so happy!

Oh interesting.

Hi,

BLOODY HOORAH!!!! After loads of google searches, I have finally found someone with the same problems as me!!!!

I to had a career break, to have my 3 young children, the youngest has started primary school, other 2 still there. I couldn't make the 450 hours to re-register this year 2012, so had to let my registration lapse, couldn't find the hours I needed or the nights as I had had such a break , everyone suggested joining nhs P , but had no clinical references to speak off. My confidence has taken an almighty nose dive.

I finally found a RTP course but had to self fund a grand, no way of finding that with 3 kids, so had to turn down my interview. Have been banging my head against a brick wall for a few weeks now. Applied for xray assistant, was told not qualified enough for a band 2 !!!!!!. Applied for OT/)Physio assistants/ Phelbo/ admin, not even getting interviews.

Seems to be that its not what you know its who you know!!!

So bloody annoying. Have voluntered for the samaritans, and hope to get into counselling, and then gradually climb up the career path again.

Thing is though, for teachers/police/ every other professional occupation, its all funded and so much easier to return after you have had kids. Nursing seems so against mums with young kids, would much rather employ a single person than one with kids. Even if you are an oversee's nurse you get a course funded for you to get up to date. Yet the Uk nurses get told to self fund, it's a joke!!!

I know I am a good nurse with good skills and experience, but curse you if you have a career break to have kids.

Does anyone know of any other jobs that nursing skills can be transferable to!!! Have though about being a home carer, but would get easily bored, cause I know I can do more!!

Cheers

I am not alone!!!!!!!!

Stopped ward nursing july 07 with dd2 (SN), went back to work 2 nights a week for 6 months in a nursing home after dd3 (she was 6mnths old breastfed and I expressed everymorning to have enough to leave her with !) . I did an OU diabetes course for the educational side of things, but now I am wondering how on earth I am going to get back on the ladder... or more importantly if I want too.

With NMC registration looking to go up to £120 a year I am getting to the point where I think I am going to let it go, but then I remember how hard I worked to get it and I wobble.

Doris don't let it go. Do whatever it takes to hold onto it!

Middy I should have responded to you as well. When I left I was a H grade and as I said I couldn't even get a job as a health care assistant. I have just started home care. It is busy and to be honest there is an element of boredom but I view it as a means to an end. That said it is lovely meeting all the people and having a chat. They really are pleased to see you and you feel that you are doing something good. Some of the calls are double up which means that you meet up with another carer and thats good. Also its a great team of people and somehow despite working primarily alone they all seem to know each other.

have you looked on the community for a job as a health care worker. We had hardly any decent applicants recently when advertising. Our team would kill for an experienced nurse. Plenty of opportunity to gain clinical skills again on the community.

Thanks for all your info!!! I did apply for community before my registration lapsed and didn't get it, never thought to apply for health care worker on community.

I dunno if it's me being picky, but my pride has taken one hell of a dent, and my confidence is shot!!! I just feel like I'm stuck in limbo with my career at the mo, I worked so hard to be a nurse,and then had kids, and almost feel disadvantaged for taking a break when being interviewed. Keep telling myself to kick myself up the arse, brush myself down, and any job, is going to earn more money than being at home!!!!

I applied for a health care assistant role in the community and I couldn't even get an interview! Middy I did have to change my mindset and work towards a goal. I hope in two years to be working again as a qualified nurse and I have to keep reminding myself that this is not how it is going to always be.

I did 2 yrs of nights as an hca to get my foot in the door, that lead to a staff nurse post .
It is a pita

Beware of doing HCA work when still registered. You can't abdicate your responsibilities as a RN, so you can be in a very tricky position if you take on work with a lower responsibility.

Lougle can you work voluntary? Can you work on a helpline for a charity giving advice on health problems so can stay at home and get hours in over the hols too so don't have to do 30 hours a week?

Ooh, hadn't thought of that....I'll look into it!