Is it a mistake to take several months off?

I have been a long-term care nurse for the past 17years. Lately I have become very stressed out and burned out. I decided to resign from my job and move my 90 year old grandmother (who has had a stroke and is unable to care for herself) in with me, and I have been taking care of her 24 hours a day. I thought I would do this for a year. When I go back to work, what should I put on my resume to answer for the time I've taken off? Will the year's absence matter?

I guess I should explain - I was in management and administration in my job. I took vacations. I took weekends off. Still, in long term care, you have to be available twenty four/seven. And I was.

If I were looking at your resume I would ask why you took a year off, and quite honestly, wonder if you had resolved what made you resign (stress, burnout) in the first place. I think it could be a potential reason for employers to not rank you as their top candidate. Taking care of your grandmother is a reasonable response, but I would wonder if you explored other options such as enlisting the assistance of other family members. Employers have a difficult time finding reliable employees, and your taking time off may call to question your ability to commit to the job.

Do you have the opportunity to work PT, i.e. fewer hours per day, or fewer days per week? Can you take a leave of absence vs resign?

Considering you are a seasoned nurse, I believe you will not have a problem re-entering the workforce. There is always a demand for nurses. In my opinion, you can simply tell the truth. Tending to your 90 y/o grandmother is a very valid reason to take off for a year. If someone has a problem with that, they are obviously cold-hearted and insensitive. The only problem is there will be a gap in your employment history on your resume; however, it is for a good reason.

If you resigned because you were burnt out, and you now caring for someone 24/7, how are you going to be able to reload.

You need to take it really slow for about 2 - 4 months before you make any decisions.

But i guess caring for people comes naturally to you, so maybe Nursing is your calling.

Not sure i have helped. Sorry if i ididnt. God Bless