Return to NP Practice

Specialties NP

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I'm a R.N. and former N.P. who let both my licenses lapse in order to be a stay-at-home-Mom when my kids were young. (I was unable to find a NP position that was less than a 0.75 FTE, which wasn't an option for our family.) Prior to letting my licenses lapse, I had worked as an R.N. in extended roles for 11 years, and as a N.P. for the final 6 years.

I regained my R.N. license 2 years ago, and am currently in good standing with my licensing body. Now I am interested in reinstating my N.P. license, which I originally received in 2007. (I practiced as a N.P. until 2012.) In my jurisdiction, there is no current "pathway" to return to N.P. practice after a lapse in license. Inasmuch, my registering body has recommended that I seek out N.P.s who are currently practicing to get some suggestions from them as to the best route for me to return to practice. I have been advised to draft up my own "pathway" to return to competent practice. Once I have developed a pathway, I will be presenting my case in front of a committee who will then determine if my pathway is viable or not.

I realize the route back to N.P. practice will likely be a challenging one and am not at all expecting to "get away" with doing nothing. That said, I have always worked advanced practice, first in extended scope in rural hospitals, outpost nursing, or extended-scope emergency nursing, and then as a formal N.P., and I feel that some consideration should at least be given based on my former education and experience.

So, for those of you who are practicing NPs, what would you recommend someone in my situation do in terms of returning to competent practice? I believe I should update my pharmacology as there are many new drugs since I last practiced as a NP. I feel pretty confident in my understanding of pathophysiology as the human body really hasn't changed while I wasn't practicing. I'm going to suggest that I do both adult and a pediatric practicums, as I am hoping to return to Family NP Practice. (That was my previous designation.) What else would you recommend? I'm from Canada, and while I know there are differences between Canadian and American NP programs, I welcome any perspective as I want to ensure that I've considered as many factors as possible.

Thank you!!!

It sounds like you have a great plan in place already, with lots of support. Good for you!

I don't know how it works in Canada, but did you have to be certified by a particular organization to become an NP? If you did, I hope you didn't let your certification lapse. Here in the States, if you let your certification lapse, there is only a short while when you can be reinstated. After that, the certifying body (for example, ANCC) can (a) make you take the certifying exam again and (b) require you to meet the educational standards are in place now -- not the ones that were in place when you were first certified.

Hopefully, none of the above applies to you. But if re-certification is going to be an issue, better to start working on that now than later!

Best of luck to you!

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I thought I would give you another update. Doors are definitely opening, which is exciting!

My return-to-practice plan has been approved by my provincial licensing body. I will be taking an advanced pharmacotherapeutics course, doing some adult and pediatric practicum placements, and taking the FNP exam. I have been given a good amount of time to complete all of these requirements, so I feel reasonably confident that I will be able to practice as a NP again in the future as long as I am willing to work at it. I've always enjoyed school, and now that my kids are a bit older, I'm looking forward to learning some new information and re-learning that which I've forgotten since last practicing as a NP!

I have begun reviewing pathophysiology and pharmacotherapy. I am just waiting to hear back from the university as to when I will be starting my course and first practicum. In the meantime, I have found willing preceptors for my practicum placements. I'm a little bit anxious about having to write the FNP exam, but I have already purchased a few FNP study guides and, while working my way through the study guides, I am reviewing the areas that I'm finding challenging.

I'm hopeful. And thankful that, at least for now, things are moving forward.

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Good luck!

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Specializes in RN/NP out of practice.

Hi Godsgirl73,

I found this thread after a general Google search. I too became a stay at home mom & let my license as an NP go. I never felt it was an option in the moment to keep up with the demands but now that my 3 girls are almost all in school, I can see opportunity ? 

However, it is met with confusion from my college & no real obvious plan. Can I ask what province you were in when you came up with your plan? 

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