Pregnant and searching for 1st NP job

tryingtohaveitall · Oct 24, 2012

I don't want to be Debbie Downer, but want to maybe give a realistic picture of how long everything takes once you graduate. I graduated early June from my program. I got my things together fairly quickly and was able to test by mid July. Granted, I did not really start looking until I passed my test but I accepted a position in September but I won't start my new job until December. They told me that credentialing for them right now is taking 2-3 months. It seems many people have similar time frames. I don't know of anyone from my class who has started a new job as an APN yet.

Having had several children of my own, I think it would be challenging to start a new, demanding position in my third trimester. Also, I think everything changes once you get that precious baby at home. It will be tough to leave, though I understand it will be easier knowing s/he is at home with dad.

Good luck!

JOHIO · Oct 24, 2012

Thanks for the response tryingtohaveitall, I appreciate the input! So it sounds like maybe an employer wouldn't mind having a start date a few months after an interview takes place? Ideally, I'd like to stay in my current position until April when the baby is born, but I would like to start working as an NP after that, possibly late August. My husband is a teacher so he will have off over the summer either way, but it would be nice to know that I have something lined up before the baby comes. Do you think that it would be possible to secure a position on a timeline like that? Also, what part of the country are you practicing in and what area/population do you practice in? Was there any difficulty for you or your classmates in finding that first NP job? Thanks again for your response, I'm looking forward to hearing more from you :)

tryingtohaveitall · Oct 24, 2012

I don't think an employer would mind having a start date a few months later. From seeing friends who graduated before me, in general it seems like it takes a few months while you obtain your licensure, NPI, DEA, etc.

My 2 cents, if you're able to stay at your current position til the baby comes (and maybe have some paid leave?) I would definitely do so. You are going to be more focused on all that's going on inside you than to be stressing over a new job. Congrats, BTW. This is a wonderful time in your life and that's great that you're able to graduate and then have the baby. Nice planning! :up:

I'm in the midwest and a PNP. It seems like there is a bit of a PNP glut in my area so yes, I do think some are having difficulty finding jobs. I only know of two of us out of 16 who have accepted positions and we're both still in the process of being credentialed.

moonischasingme1 · Sep 29, 2013

This thread is old, but I'm curious how it worked out for you, the job search, and the baby?

JOHIO · Sep 30, 2013

Hi moonischasingme1

Thanks for your interest! I'm happy to report that I did find a great job that I'm only just about to start. The whole job hunt went much smoother than I expected. I went on interviews while 7 and 8 months pregnant and to the credit of my interviewers, I was never asked about my baby belly. I did reveal that info when asked when I would be able to start and in each of the 3 interviews I had, I got job offers. I found that employers were more than happy to work around my timeline.

As for the credentialing process, I found that employers will have you work off of your rn license until the requisite documentation is done. So that's easy enough.

And I have been lucky to have been able to stay home with my healthy baby girl much longer than I thought I'd be able to! So I guess if I learned anything from all this, it's that employers are more flexible than I anticipated, and that life has a way of messing with your best laid plans (and it's not necessarily a bad thing!) :)

Trauma Columnist · Sep 30, 2013

Thanks for then update and congrats on all your news