Job Interview after taking time off

[rn987654]

Hi all! I left my RN job at the end of last year & was immediately offered my dream position! Unfortunately, I began experiencing unforeseen health issues & had to rescind my offer of acceptance about 6 months ago because I did not want to start the job & have to call out sick, etc. I emailed HR & the hiring manager and they were very polite. I am now better & am applying to the same hospital again. I finish my NP program next summer. I am very anxious when applying because it looks bad in my opinion to have taken 7 months off from work (and I don't want to be explaining my health issues in an interview) & who would want to hire an RN that would leave after 8 months upon completion of an NP degree? I am just looking for words of encouragement as I am experiencing immense anxiety. I do plan on working as an RN for 2-3 years after finishing NP school just to gain the necessary experience for my NP career. Thank you everyone!

[ICU-BSN]

I am curious as to why you feel that you need to work as an RN for several years AFTER getting your NP to "gain the necessary experience" to be an NP. Why not wait and seek an NP position??

I guess I am confused because first you say you would leave after 8 months, then you say you want to work as an RN for 2-3 years after completing your NP.

If you ARE planning to work as an RN for 2-3 years at whatever new position you find, I don't see what the problem is.

[cleback]

I agree that after graduation you will need NP experience, not RN, experience to be a successful NP. The ship to get benefit from RN experience as an NP has sailed. If you wait years after graduation to go after an NP position, you will leave recruiters scratching their heads much more than a 7 month gap in employment.

My advice would be to apply and see what you get. If you don't hear back, try prn positions for which employers may already expect workers to bounce after a while. Also, even if you land an np position soon after graduation, it's not uncommon to take a few months for getting licensed and practice privledges. So it's probably more accurate to expect to work as an RN for a year.

[111th, ADN, LPN]

Come up with a good reason for taking the time off. If you don't want to explain your own health issues, perhaps you took time off to take care of your ill mother?

I took 9 months off after having my second child. Thankfully I still got interviews and no one seemed to really bat an eye that I had the employment gap. I was surprised, but most people seemed to really understand. The work-life balance is hard for us all.

I wouldn't bring up that you're close to graduating from your NP program. Don't even go there.