PNP but don't want to be...

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Specializes in Med-surg (peds and adult).

So I am a MSN/PNP with 8 years of total nursing experience (5 as RN and 3 as PNP). But have been out of practice, home with my 4 kids for the past 8 years. I want to go back to work, and back to nursing, but I don't want to do peds anymore. I need my work life to be different than my home life. Is it possible to go back to acute care nursing as an RN in adult health? Would I need to inactivate my APN status and PNP certification so that I wouldn't be working below my level of licensure? I'm thinking (hoping) that I wouldn't have to do that, since I would be working in adult health, an area that I am not certified to practice in as an NP. Any thoughts?

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Specializes in Author/Business Coach.

I don't understand. You've never worked as a nurse? If you you have 8 years total and have been out for 8 years that equals none.

Do you mean you've been a nurse for 16 years but have been out completely for 8 years? Please clarify.

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I'm reading her to mean that she worked for eight years, had a family, stayed home for eight years, and now wants to re-enter the workforce.

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Specializes in Author/Business Coach.

So she has been a nurse for 16 years total, but only has 8 years of nursing experience since she has been out for 8 years.

Why would you want to go back as working as a RN instead of using your full potential? If you don't want to do Peds, why not go do a post-masters in FNP or Adult?

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Specializes in Med-surg (peds and adult).

I can't afford to go back and do more graduate work right now. Besides, I don't think it would be a good idea (or even possible) to get an FNP or Adult NP without any experience in adult nursing. But, I would not rule it out for the future, since I already have all the master's work. Right now though, I just want a job, part-time in adult health, so that I can learn, but still focus on my family and not on building a career.

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Specializes in NICU, telemetry.

I think you would have to check with your facilities of interest and your state board for the answers on that one!

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Specializes in Outpatient Psychiatry.

Would you consider academics?

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You need to do a refresher course then see if you can get M/S job per diem or 0.6 FTE

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Specializes in PICU.

As has been said before on here, you can work as an RN with an NP license. However some places might not hire you because it creates more potential legal liability. Your scope of practice is that of an RN but your level of knowledge and the standard you'd be held to in court is that of an NP. Since it isn't peds I would think that would help. Lots of NPs have RN jobs for various reasons.

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Specializes in Med-surg (peds and adult).

Just checking back on this thread--Thank you!! That is exactly what I'm doing. Halfway through the refresher and I have a couple of adult m/s offers :)

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