Active License but havent worked in 7 years

ocean.baby · Mar 1, 2019

When you renew it, do they ask if you have worked a certain number of hours in the past year, or the past two years? You usually have to work a certain number of hours, or complete a certain number of CEU's to maintain an active license. Look at the Texas BON site.

brotherbear · Mar 1, 2019

2 minutes ago, ocean.baby said:
When you renew it, do they ask if you have worked a certain number of hours in the past year, or the past two years? You usually have to work a certain number of hours, or complete a certain number of CEU's to maintain an active license. Look at the Texas BON site.

Yes, I always complete the required 20 CEUs to renew the license however I have not actually worked at any healthcare facility. They always renew the license.

ocean.baby · Mar 1, 2019

Then you should be able to work as an LPN. If you have any questions, call the Board of Nursing.

Good luck in your new job!

CLR85BSN · Mar 1, 2019

You may have to do a refresher course that includes some clinical. That’s what I had to do. Granted I was out longer than you, but others in my class were taking it also to have recent clinical experience to put on their resume.

brotherbear · Mar 2, 2019

1 hour ago, ocean.baby said:
Then you should be able to work as an LPN. If you have any questions, call the Board of Nursing.
Good luck in your new job!

I'll keep my fingers crossed. Do you think the nurse staffing agencies will have any issues with my not having worked since 2012, or will they just see my license is active and disregard everything else?

Editorial Team / Moderator · Mar 2, 2019

7 minutes ago, brotherbear said:
I'll keep my fingers crossed. Do you think the nurse staffing agencies will have any issues with my not having worked since 2012, or will they just see my license is active and disregard everything else?

They will likely have issues with you not having current experience, yes. You should look into a refresher course, that might help.

Jedrnurse, BSN, RN · Mar 2, 2019

16 minutes ago, brotherbear said:
I'll keep my fingers crossed. Do you think the nurse staffing agencies will have any issues with my not having worked since 2012, or will they just see my license is active and disregard everything else?

Most agency postings I see mention requiring recent med-surg experience, but that might not apply if you're looking to work in a different kind of setting.

Do you feel okay jumping back in after a 7 year hiatus? Nurses tend to get "thrown in the deep end" when working for an agency...

TriciaJ, RN · Mar 2, 2019

If the agency maintains JCAHO accreditation they cannot send a nurse to an area unless that nurse has recent (within past year) experience in that area.

dream'n, BSN, RN · Mar 2, 2019

I've always felt that agency nurses should be very experienced, have a wide knowledge base, and be quick learners. But recently some of the local agency nurses I've seen are just beyond ridiculous. I've got a ton of stories...They sent one that was 1 1/2 hours late, then said she was a new grad on her 3rd shift ever. She had no idea how to pull meds or even how to read a MAR. We had another that slept all night and then one that OD'd in the parking lot during her shift (she lived). Hmm, actually we have gotten many brand new grads too. My area is pumping out new nurses faster than job growth and I think some of our local agencies are taking advantage of this. Oh I have another story, one nurse refused care to half of her assigned patients, she said they weren't hers (they were). The other staff had to wake the supervisor up at 2:00 am to call her and demand she take care them.

So to sum it up, NO, you should not work agency. You do not have the experience for the job.

ocean.baby · Mar 2, 2019

You will be expected to hit the floor running. After a 7 year hiatus, that is not possible. Actually, it may be more difficult to get a PRN job with no recent experience. Facilities expect PRN staff to be as fast and as good as their full time nurses. They don't have time to train someone who only wants to work once in a while.

**PhyllisMSN, MSN, RN** · Mar 2, 2019

In my state, LPN's can only work in Long term care. I would suggest that you get a refresher as things change so much in today's times. Technology, especially the EMR can be a daunting process to learn.

Also, long term care regulations are changing daily. You might be able to secure a position in an LTC facility as an EMR administrator since you have that background in Information systems. Good luck!