A nurse hasn’t worked in the surgical unit for years. Which step is appropriate to rejoin practice?

• A. Read hospital manual, take refresher class
• B. Return to work immediately without review
• C. Ask a patient to explain procedures
• D. Switch to another unit

Answer: (B)

Reentering surgical nursing after a long absence requires reestablishing current competence and familiarity with the unit’s policies. The best first step is to read the hospital manual and complete a refresher class. This updates you on new policies, infection control standards, patient safety rules, medication administration practices, and any changes in surgical procedures or equipment. It also gives you a structured way to demonstrate you’ve refreshed essential skills and to meet credentialing or reentry requirements before you care for patients again.

Returning to work immediately without any review risks handling procedures and equipment incorrectly because practices may have changed since you last worked. Relying on a patient to explain procedures is inappropriate for verifying competency and cannot substitute formal education and supervision. Switching to another unit might address mismatch between current skills and unit demands, but it doesn’t resolve the need to requalify for surgical care through proper orientation and competency checks.