life after NP?

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Is there anyone who can give some good info on life after NP? After having two children born with disabilities, I left my career as an ANP. :cry: In the craziness of caring for them, I did not renew. I have to re-enter the nursing world now (milk and gas and meds) and am looking for some direction- I cannot practice as NP, obviously. I would think many employers would love to have a nurse with my assessment and pt ed skills plus experience. Here's the thing: I don't want to walk back into any old job. I love patient contact. Anyone ever meet a former NP before?

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Specializes in NPD; Administration; M/S; Critical Care.

In my undergrad program (BSN) I had an instructor that was an FNP, and quit to stay home with her three babies. She posted that she taught online for 5 different schools, and made more money doing this than she did as an FNP, and is able to stay at home with her children! Talk about the best of both worlds! Maybe you could renew your NP license, and check out teaching online?

Hope this helps,

UnitRN01

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Specializes in Acute Care - Cardiology.

wow... i hadn't ever thought about teaching online. i'm a new np that eventually wants to teach and that's definitely something to consider!

and she might not have to renew her np... if she has an msn.

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Specializes in Peds/NICU.

Do you have your MSN? You won't need to renew your NP to teach at the community college level, just need your masters. There are alot of openings for educators. I'm a PNP and have not worked for the past 4 years as a PNP. I took a refresher course for RNs this past summer and the director approached those in the class who had MSN; asked if we wanted to teach. This is definitely an option for you and your skills. Good luck!

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

True enough, you don't have to have an active NP certification to teach in nursing programs - the master's degree is basically your ticket. However, remember that most faculty positions for master's degree nurses are limited to lecturers and clinical instructors. Professor, assistant professor, and associate professor positions require an earned doctorate. But still, teaching is definitely a viable option for the OP.

Also remember that renewal of national NP certification requires 1000 or so NP practice hours in addition to CEU's in all the certifying boards for NP's. Otherwise, you'll have to retake the exam to renew. This is making it difficult for NP's with full-time teaching positions to keep their national NP certification if they have left clinical practice altogether. But then again, this will not be an issue in those states where national NP certification is not a requirement to be eligible for designation as an NP.

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