So, you’ve been thinking of reigniting your nursing career? Good on you for deciding to return as the nursing shortage becomes more apparent with the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 275,000 nursing positions will be available from 2020 to 2030.
How can nurses prepare themselves to return to the workforce? The reality is that nursing is constantly evolving, which means that you cannot immediately return to practice.
In this day and age, you need to constantly seek to learn to improve your job opportunities and ensure a more seamless transition back into the healthcare industry.
Outlined in this article are essential steps you need to take to begin the next chapter of your professional nursing career.
Reactivate your nursing license
Reactivating your nursing license is perhaps the most crucial step you need to take if you wish to return to practice.
Consult with the Board of Nursing within your state to determine the requirements to become active again.
More often than not, you will need to pay a renewal fee, complete a board-approved re-entry program, or take refresher courses.
Nursing refresher courses are excellent resources that help nurses who want to enhance their skills and update their knowledge.
Even if you have been away from a healthcare setting for several years, a refresher course will provide insights into what has changed since you left.
Many of these courses are flexible and available online, allowing you to take control of your career progression.
Consider taking an advanced nursing program
As an alternative to a refresher course, you may also consider taking an advanced nursing program, such as an online Doctor of Nursing Practice course at Wilkes’ Passan School of Nursing.
Although refresher courses are sometimes enough to get your foot back in the door, taking advanced nursing programs will provide you with better career opportunities and increase your likelihood of getting hired.
An advanced nursing degree program is a combines hands-on experience and academic excellence.
This means that you will develop specialist knowledge, which will help you become a more competitive nurse.
For instance, many nurses pursue an advanced degree to become experts in new fields such as holistic nursing, gastroenterology, home care nursing and medical-surgical nursing.
When you do this, you can generate more career advancement opportunities while increasing your earning potential.
Get nursing certifications
Obtaining nursing certifications is another alternative to completing a refresher course or earning a full-fledged degree.
In specific markets, certification may give you a strategic edge when seeking a position.
You might ask what type of nursing certificates you must acquire to pursue specialized fields.
While nurses are encouraged to pick certifications that align with their career goals, the following are the credentials they can earn:
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support Certification
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support Certification
- Basic Life Support Certification
- Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification
It is also worth noting that the requirements for earning nursing certifications will vary by the institution and the type you pursue.
You may also be required to renew your certifications occasionally to remain eligible.
Ensuring a seamless return to nursing
Are you ready to reignite your passion for nursing? If so, work toward your triumphant return to healthcare by signing up today.
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