What kinds of careers are there for retired nurses without active licenses?

Question:

Dear Donna,

I have been retired from nursing for two years. My husband has lost his job, and we are moving from Florida to Kansas because of his parents’ health. I feel I need to return to the field for financial reasons and self-preservation. My last active license was in South Carolina (free and clear). I am 48 years old, and 24 of my 25 years of nursing were focused in pediatrics. Can I take an RN refresher course and return to nursing? Are there any careers for retired nurses without an active license?

Jean-Marie

Dear Donna replies:

Dear Jean-Marie,

Although you will be able to find some things to do without an active RN license, you’ll have many more opportunities with the license activated. Look into what that would take in Kansas. You will need to complete an application for licensure by endorsement in Kansas (www.ksbn.org/forms/Endorsement.pdf). You also can call or e-mail first to ask your questions.

Because you were out of nursing for only two years, you would not necessarily need to take a refresher course. It may depend on what you decide to do and the employer’s requirements.

You can look for work as an RN in your new location (without taking a refresher course and once you get your license endorsed) in an insurance company, in a school system, at a blood/tissue/organ bank, cancer care centers, pediatric rehab centers, pediatric home care or medical daycare with a home care company, a school for the developmentally disabled, and possibly even in an acute care setting.

Since networking is a great way to make valuable contacts in your new area (even while still in Florida), and to access the local job market and eventually to find and get a job, you should make phone and e-mail contact with members of the Kansas State Nurses Association (www.ksnurses.com) and the Kansas Chapter of the Society of Pediatric Nurses (www.pedsnurses.org) even if you are not a member.

You also can contact some hospitals in the part of Kansas you’ll be moving to
and see what positions are available in a hospital for a nonlicensed RN such as admitting, pre-admission testing, recruitment, patient advocate, coding and billing (they might be willing to train you) and others.

Read “Get Ready to Relocate” (www.Nurse.com/Cardillo/Relocate).

Best wishes,
Donna