keeping my nursing license without entering the work force

P_RN, ADN, RN · Jul 30, 2003

My state (SC) requires 960 hours of practice in a 5 year time span. "Practice" is widely defined as volunteer work (documented), teaching, research, educational pursuit. You really need to get this info from the MA board though. Some states only want money and they'll send the paper. Others are really strict.

http://www.state.ma.us/reg/boards/rn/faq.htm#2b

live4today, RN · Jul 30, 2003

Keep your license active, keep your CEUs current, and keep your BCLS current. That's basically all I did when I was out of work for five (almost six) years, and it didn't have a negative affect on me when I decided to return to work in nursing.

You might consider volunteering as a nurse for four hours a month or every other week at your local hospital or nursing home. That way you can stay abreast on what's happening in the field (to some degree), and you still get to be at home with your children. Liken your four hours away as the time it takes most moms to go shopping or to lunch with a friend and perhaps a shopping spree or movie afterwards some afternoon. Where there is a will there is a way. :)

lost · Jul 30, 2003

I don't mean to seem ignorant but what is BCLS. thanks

purplemania, BSN, RN · Jul 30, 2003

In Texas it is not enough to pay for license renewal, you have to be practicing and get CEU's. Until Tenn. became a compact states I was paying for my license renewal there, even though I was practicing in TX, because TN does not have inactice status. Ask your Board about that and also ask what would be the process for allowing license to become "inactive" then getting it renewed after it was inactive. Course work??

live4today, RN · Jul 30, 2003

BCLS is: Basic Cardiopulmonary Life Support........Basic CPR measures by the professional, and not by the layperson. :)

mattsmom81 · Aug 2, 2003

Lost, are you sure you're a nurse? BCLS IS required ya know.