Looking for info----

Nurses General Nursing

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I haven't been working as a RN for 2.5y now. I was wondering if anyone knows of a "law" or something that requires you to have to go back to work within a certain time-period, without having to take classes to get back into the swing of things. I live in WA state. I took time off to have a couple of kids and I don't want to go back any time soon. But if I have to take classes/clinicals again---I will go back now--to avoid doing that.

Any info???

Specializes in Critical Care.

Why don't you call your state board of nursing and ask them as different states have different rules.

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I live in Washington State, too. Here is the number and web addy of the WA Dept of Health: (which handles licensure of nurses in our State):

360-236-4700

Web ADDY: http://www.doh.wa.gov/nursing/default.htm#

good luck!

Thanks!!!!

I found out when I went to renew my license like I had done every year before but because I couldn't put down that I had done any actual nursing in a certain time span they told me that as of then my license was inactive and to get it on active status again I'd have to take a 6-month refresher course with clinicals again. Haven't been doing nursing for 17 years. Check with your state board.

Hi Holly,

In reference to your question, I don't know how long you have to be out of practice before your license is null but I was thinking that if you are going to call your State Board you could ask them the minimum of hours a month or year you would have to work to keep your license active.

I'm offering this as a suggestion because my aunt was in the same predicament as you and she found that in Pennsylvania you didn't have to work a whole lot of hours on a yearly basis to keep your license active so, while she has been raising her children she has been putting in only a few shifts a month at her local hospital.

It was easier to do that than go back for a refresher course and more clinicals.

Just a suggestion that might be worth while depending on your circumstances.

i think in PA its 5 years before your license expires but if you havent practiced in 2 years it would benefit YOU to take a refresher course. ive been off 2 months and i know when i get back ill have a lot of catching up to do. its really hard starting nursing again....it would be even harder starting when you are unfamiliar with drugs and new procedures. i took a few years off and although i wasnt expired yet i took a refresher. yeah i had clinicals but they were different than in nursing school because you already have a license.

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