Nurses’ experiences of completing the ‘Nurses back to healthcare’ training and returning to professional work between 2020 and 2024; pp. 382–391

The main reasons for nurses leaving work are a high workload and a lack of support. The competence of nurses who have been away from professional practice for over five years has decreased, and their knowledge and skills need to be enhanced. Examining the experiences of those who have completed the return to practice programme makes it possible to implement necessary changes in the curriculum and to support returning to work. The aim of the research is to describe nurses’ experiences of completing the ‘Nurses back to healthcare’ training and returning to professional work between 2020 and 2024. The research employed both qualitative and quantitative methods. In the first stage, from May to August 2023, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight participants who had completed the training between 2020 and 2021. In the second stage, in April 2024, an online survey was conducted among all individuals who had completed the training from 2020 to 2024 (n = 70), with 43 (61.4%) participants responding. The participants wanted more contact learning, which would facilitate the achievement of learning outcomes and strengthen social ties. The theoretical learning was sometimes considered overly comprehensive, and more practice was desired. The participants found that the studies were sometimes intensive, and the practice could be distributed across various healthcare institutions. It was suggested that the college should establish direct communications with employers who would forward specific job offers. Nurses who have been away from professional work for an extended period need greater opportunities for practicing manual activities and additional support upon their return to work.