NP Career advice after staying home with kids

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Hello everyone, I’m looking for advice on landing a job or next steps to take. I obtained my dnp about a year ago but it has been almost 3 years since I finished my clinical hours (fnp). I chose to stay home with my kids and ended up taking longer to complete the dnp portion of my program than intended. I am ready to go back to work now, and I have previous rn experience but no np experience. Is it practical to apply for np jobs this far out? I have some doubts as to whether I would get interviews or be able to get credentialed. Is there such a thing as a np refresher/additional clinical hours? Should I just apply for RN jobs to get my foot back in the door & hope it leads to an opportunity to use my dnp? Any advice is appreciated, thank you!

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Specializes in Psych/Mental Health.

I don't think you should apply for RN jobs unless you are desperate for money. You need NP experience, not RN experience.

In terms of applying, you'll just never know until you try. I would apply everywhere and see what sticks. The job market in your area is an important factor as well, and you might have to be flexible in general and about locations.

I don't know of any NP refresher courses, but there should be plenty of CME/CEU resources out there. Join your local FNP/NP organizations and start networking.

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Specializes in ICU, trauma, neuro.

One issue is that you need a certain number of hours of "practice" in order to qualify to renew your license/certification. Usually, "the clock" for this starts to tick as soon as you have passed the ANCC exam and have obtained an ARNP license.

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Specializes in Adult Primary Care.

You might consider taking an NP certification prep couse like Margaret Fitzgerald. I like her review course and take it every few years to brush up on things that I don't do every day in my practice.

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Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health NP (PMHNP).
On 7/2/2019 at 4:20 AM, RN2030 said:

You might consider volunteering. Many cities have free clinics or organizations that have volunteers work with the homeless one or two days a week. Good luck.

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Your degree is not that old, but I don't know the market where you live.

Definitely volunteer if you can't find anything. You'll need the practice hours for your recert.

Be willing to consider some less desirable work.

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3 years old degree, with no experience in the role...……..that is tough sell. Get your certification (I think you will have to take a pharmaceutical course again) and then apply for jobs anywhere and everywhere.

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Also, do you want to be a nurse practitioner? maybe consider teaching or using DNP in another way.

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To be perfectly frank, having a 3 year lapse after graduation is a problem. That's 3 years where you were not cementing the knowledge you had, or gaining new knowledge. Your app would probably be on the very bottom of the pile, unless you found somewhere that didn't know the difference, or didn't value NPs in general (i.e. glorified scribe).

I think your best course of action is to attend a board review course, start working at a free clinic as much as possible for at least some type of experience, and say a prayer.

Plus, depending on the time frame, you'll probably have to retake the certification exam yes? I don't see how you'll have enough practice hours. And what about the expiration on the pharmacology course? You'll have to retake that I'm sure (at least in PA).

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You don't ever get those years back with your kids, so I'm sure in the long run you wont regret it. Be prepared to have to work as an RN to get some work experience on your resume. I would advise making a list of about 20 of the most common diagnoses and jotting down info including symptoms, diagnostic tests to order, and treatment plan--looking up the info on up to date or epocrates.

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