Any nurses out there? Can I have a quick word?

[Kellamity]

I am about to do my return to practice course (Sept 2012) and between now and then I would like to get a bit of reading in as I have been out of practice for 9 year .

Can you recommend me a good all round journal? It always used to be either the Nursing Times or the Professional nurse and maybe a good text book for a bit of bedtime reading? I still have my Watsons!!! Any good pocket books that might come in handy for when I start work?

[AlanMoore]

Sorry about that g!

I was going to ask an erudite question about competences and placements but that's thrown me :)

[lateSeptember1964]

Alan thats a catch 22 situation. Are you general trained? Every day we pick up the newspaper and theres a story about shortage of nurses.
x-benedict I have 8 competencies to complete. Then five of them have to be addressed in a 4000 word essay. Thats approx 800 words per competency. Your right though its working out what they are actually looking for. I kept reading and re-reading and walking away. Then Monday afternoon it just clicked and I managed to get 800 words on paper.

[XBenedict]

Brilliant September, keep the momentum going! Have you got a good mentor? We all passed but I have to say I think I was very lucky with a brilliant mentor. Some of my colleagues really struggled and at times were taken advantage of.

[AlanMoore]

lateSep yes, general trained! I really want to be a HV and they are practically dragging nurses off the street to train just now, it's really frustrating. Think I need to work out how to let it go :(

XBenedict were there pre reg students on your clinical area? I'm thinking one without might be advantageous.

[XBenedict]

Yes there was a first year and a third year. I have also heard this week that some GP practices are taking student nurses. It might be worth looking into this?

[AlanMoore]

If I can solve the money issue (!) I will. Always fancied practice nursing so would happily do that if it would allow me to complete the competences.

[AlanMoore]

The reason I mentioned pre reg students is that here, there are so many they struggle to get what they need from a placement. My last ward shift there were 2 qualified (meant to be 5 but hey ho!) and six students, four more turned up for the late shift...

[BrummMumm]

So glad I Googled this discussion. I would be grateful for any advice...

I have current registration with an active PIN but need to get back into a acute clinical setting. It's been over 17 years since I did a drug round or fiddled with an IMed (if they still have them!). I've tried to get a grade 5 RGN post with support to get me back into a clinical setting but have no takers. Employers wont take me as an HCA as I'm a RGN! So the only option is to do a RtP course to make myself more employable. Bit daunted by the cost and then trying to source a clinical placement.

I'm based in Solihull. Is there anyone out there who lives locally who can point me in the right direction..? I'm an RGN RM PGDip and MSc and wishing I hadn't spend so much time at Uni and more time working in a clinical setting!

[AlanMoore]

Does it have to be acute ward environment? What about research nurse posts, they are usually band 6 too! Or some sort of nurse specialist role? Private hospitals might be worth a look.

Very intrigued as to what you've been doing for 17 years to want to go back to junior staff nurse at the poo and wee end of things! If you are currently employed by the NHS can you get an honorary contract to do work experience somewhere so you've got some current skills and a reference for NHSP or another agency?

[CarnivorousPanda]

Brum don't think you can do RtP with an active PIN, thought eligibility was based on lapsed PIN?

[BrummMumm]

Thanks AlanMoore. I've been desk bound in private practice for last 7 years as a capability scrutiny nurse/ wellbeing product developer. (Prior to that with NHS - again desk bound.) More recently I struck out alone as an independent practitioner in health screening/wellbeing advisor.

Excellent point re local private hospital- trying to get something in bariatric nursing as this would tie in fab with Dip in CVRA and MSc in health promotion- but lack of recent hands-on surgical experience is my downfall. Hence wee and poo option seems a good move!

CarnivorousPanda (love the name) I fear you may be right. I'm going to call Uni tomorrow to clarify my options. It will put the Kibosh on things if you're right.

[AlanMoore]

Good luck! Just found out self funded will be £3000 that's if I can even get a place...oh blimey.

[AnnaB1982]

Hi everyone. I'm so glad I found this thread - seems to be so difficult to find info about RtP courses, and great to hear success stories!
I've been out of nursing since 2009. I've recently moved up to Scotland, my son has started school and my daughter preschool and I really feel like it's time to get back into it - even if just to do bank shifts for now.
I'm quite confused about how it all works though - if I went for a job interview would they be willing to fund the course etc? Or does the course have to be done before thinking about applying for jobs? Also, I live about 30 miles west of Glasgow - Glasgow Uni don't do the course and Uni of West Scotland said they are not currently offering the course so am a bit stuck as any where else will be miles away and not practical with childcare etc. Is it offered via distance learning?
Sorry for all the questions, am just really struggling to find anything out! Wish I'd kept my registration up now, it's so hard to get back into!!

[CarnivorousPanda]

When I was looking for a course, there seemed to be wide variations between courses on offer around the country.

Some paid course fees, some didn't. Some found placements, some didn't. Some said they paid bursaries, some didn't.And on top of that, I found a lot of information was out of date and wrong.

I think because of the current economic situation, courses are being pulled. Also, my course is now mentioning fees but i didn't have to pay. I don't think I would have done the course now.Too much money to find as well as travelling and other costs.

[AnnaB1982]

Just had an interesting email from the NMC - I hadn't realised the 750 hours of practice was in the last 5 years, for some reason I thought it was 3 years. I only left nursing in Aug 2009 so have actually done the 750 hrs practice required! I haven't done any learning activity in the last 3 years though - does anybody know if there's a way I can do this without having to do the RtP course? Thanks :-)

[meandthe2kids]

I think you might be in with a chance there, though you might have to send yourself on a few training days to prove the NMC that you're keeping up to date.

I completed my RTP last September and have just had my pin back..the place was funded luckily, though I had a hell of a drive to get to the study days.

The RTP is definitely worth it. It's great to start over again with a clean slate, though right now 17 years don't feel like much as I feel newly qualified again!

[NKffffffff8de23c44X1197cec241c]

Hi to everyone posting re RTP. Have been thinking of doing this for a while, been out of nursing since 2004, looked at UEA but worried how far it is not so much for the theory but for placements, has anyone any experience of them? I live in suffolk. Quite daunted by the thought but would really like to be back nursing

[meandthe2kids]

Could you get a community post local to you? As there's have said, you just need to have a sign off mentor. I had to send a form back to the uni I was at, which was completed by the placement. It's well worth doing it, though now I am back and registered ad doing shadow shifts, the hard work is now!

[CarnivorousPanda]

NK how far are you from Norwich?

[lateSeptember1964]

Tomorrow I hit the 100hrs. Can't believe it, but think I may carry on to about 116. Have started writing up my competencies but struggling with critical thinking. Funny that because I can be quite critical on a daily basis. Feel sad that it's nearly at the end but excited for the next stage. Submission of portfolio is 11th April so just need to get this done.

[Dermatology]

Hi, I've just applied for the RTNP in Northern Ireland. I've been reading your thread and you all sound so confident! I'm terrified, as I've been out for seven years & I only ever worked in Outpatients, as a staff nurse, then a Clinic Sister. I haven't done a drug round since I was a student!
I have my University interview on Tues & was wondering if you could help me with what sort of questions they might ask? I'm nearly at the point of not even going, but then I'll have wasted this chance. I'd be grateful for any advice or help you could give me. Thanks :)

[hotcrossbun99]

How did it go Dermatology?

[hemani07]

I am half way through getting on the RTP course and NEEDS ADVICE on the interveiw questions and the numeracy tests.
Any tips would be fabulous
thanks.

[janymac]

Hi I am new here, but inspired to join once I saw this thread!

I am about to start the return to practice course in three weeks! I am really excited but also having lots of cold feet. Worried I will make an idiot of myself. Glad to hear I am nit the only one to have found it difficult to get a placement. You have to be REALLY determined to do this or you can give up just trying to get to the start line. Any other new returners out there still reading this thread?

[brittany1]

Hi. Came across this thread as I have just started the process of searching for a course for next year. Having trouble contacting course leaders by phone at the moment and no replies via email although all the admin. staff have been great. I would appreciate any advice on placements. Looking around the Birmingham area but have no contacts there or knowledge of the area. I am currently abroad.