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By Cynthia M. Piccolo (Career Questions)
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Dear Cindy: 
Thank you for your answer, but I don't know if it will really help around here. I live in Mississippi. There are no refresher courses anywhere around here. Do you think that an online course would be sufficient? There are no shifts other than 12-hour shifts unless you are qualified to work as a manager, educator, or infection control nurse. Only experienced nurses are given PRN positions. The doctors' offices all hire LPNs, but I wondered if that might be a route I could take.

My firing had nothing at all to do with any practice issues that could impact my license. I was fired because I allowed my husband to ride with me to emergency hospice visits that I made after hours. (I didn't know that was not allowed, since I've heard of nurses having policemen escort them to homes in bad neighborhoods. I do not feel that I did anything wrong, and if I were in the same situation, I would do it again so I wouldn't feel unsafe, but I would never work that type of job again anyway.) My husband did not enter the homes. He simply rode in the car and waited. He is also an RN, and he worked for the same hospice agency as I did.

Though I did spend the time between my firing and now at home with my child, for the most part, I also completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature during this time period. I wondered if that might have any impact on my current status.

Sincerely,

Still Scared

Dear Still Scared: 

I think it's reasonable that you brought your husband along in the car for after-hours visits to neighborhoods in which you felt unsafe (it's not like he charged the agency for his time!), and the nurse recruiters I spoke with agreed with me. The only bit of advice I would suggest is that when you're telling this story to an interviewer, give the what and why, and leave out the fact that you'd do it again. You don't need to offer information.

Your situation is more complex than the average person's. Based on your comments, here are some considerations:

  • An online course may be an option, but usually refresher/reorientation courses have a practical component, so would you be able to get the practical component? As another option, since refresher courses are usually short, is there a course available at a school in a larger community where you have friends or relatives that you could stay with? Or, if you live near the state line, check out schools in neighboring states, or look for multi-campus schools in Mississippi with these programs (e.g., Hinds Community College). Your state board may be able to help you with finding these.
  • How about taking an upgrading course to get into infection control, which would give you day
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