Taking leave from the field for a while....A mistake?

Specialties NP

Published

Obviously no matter what field or profession you're in, there are challenges in re-entering the workforce after being 'gone' for a year or two. That being said, what are your thoughts on doing this as a primary care PNP? As someone in their early 30's with no kids yet, my ideal scenario would be to work full-time for 2 years as a PNP, take a year or two off to raise a child (while still attending conferences and maintaining CEU's), and then return to the workforce part-time. Is this something you've seen accomplished successfully or am I better off staying as a bedside RN? My concern is that a 2 year history of full-time PNP employment followed by a 1-2 year gap wouldn't make me a very 'strong' candidate to find a part-time or PRN job thereafter. Is that true or am I stressing about this unnecessarily? If I'm going to pursue a degree as a PNP, I feel like I need to do it now versus waiting until I have children and have to manage them, too.

Thanks in advance for your input.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I would check with the certifying agencies and your state BON. My understanding is there is a minimum number of practice hours required to maintain good standing for license/certification renewal.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

That's a good point. I've looked at a couple states (including my own) and couldn't find any specific state-based requirements. I know the ANCC has a couple different tracks by which you can recertify (ie. if you don't have practice hours, you have to complete 150 hours of CEU's....but if you have practice hours, you only have to do 75 hours of CEU's). That is understandable, but I guess I'm worried about my 'marketability' to future employers if I have a gap in employment as a PNP...has anyone been in a similar situation?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think you should instead aim for a very part-time position with maybe 1-2 days per week? I know a lot of practices would LOVE to have someone on the payroll who would fill in provider gaps due to vacation, etc.

I hear on the family thing..my family comes FIRST before my career. But i think a more reasonable goal is to find a good part-time position or job share opportunity with another NP.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, OR.
I think you should instead aim for a very part-time position with maybe 1-2 days per week? I know a lot of practices would LOVE to have someone on the payroll who would fill in provider gaps due to vacation, etc.

I hear on the family thing..my family comes FIRST before my career. But i think a more reasonable goal is to find a good part-time position or job share opportunity with another NP.

I agree with this. I am a mom, and from experience, the best thing you can do is stay working if you want to go back. Try to stay per diem somewhere... maybe in a pediatric ER, one shift a week?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

ANCC only governs specialty certifications, advance practice licensure is managed by state BONs, so these are two separate functions. You would need to look at your state's requirements for maintaining an ANP status which may very well include a minimum number of practice hours.

PPs' advice is very good. It is always better to maintain some type of 'active' working status rather than going completely inactive. Our industry is characterized by very rapid change. Employers know this, and are very reluctant to hire anyone who is essentially re-entering after a significant period of time due to the time and expense required to re-establish competency.

Best of luck to you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think you will be OK taking 1-2 years mostly off. Like other NPs recommended, make sure you have the required number of practice hours necessary for recertification (usually 1,000) completed during those first two years just to be safe. Getting a PRN job during your 1-2 year sabbatical would be an excellent way to keep up your skills and be more marketable when you re-enter the NP workforce. There are plenty of employers who would love to have you 1-2 days a month.

If you do decide to stop working for 1-2 years completely, I do think you will still be able to find a job once you return to practice but it may be more difficult.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

From what I've read of others who have tried this, taking a break from nursing is like burning bridges and discarding the ashes. I have a PRN job at a hospital. I work two days a week for the most part and I always take a full week off once a month. In the meantime, I'm still waiting on the lottery.....

My bad! I just clicked on one of the side links...I didn't realize this was the APRN forum until the response was posted.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

And just a comment from a mom who has BTDT and now has a teenager. The older the kids get, the MORE they need you at home. School gets out at 2-4 pm depending on your school and then it's gymnastics or soccer or tutoring or music lessons. It is VERY hard to farm all that out to a daycare or after school program. You will NOT want to be working 9-5 daily if you can help it. Aiming for a solid part-time position from the start will keep your foot in the door, give you some brain time and keep you ready to launch into the school aged years.

(or maybe it was only me who was apparently smoking something when I thought it would be best to stay home while they were little and then go back to work when they go to school full-time!! It gets BUSIER..not easier!).

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Wow, thank you all for your insight and advice. It really helps to hear it from those who are in the 'know'...both as NP's and those with families, too. I didn't even realize that some employers (primary care) might be interested in a PRN NP because I was always under the impression that many practices want their providers to develop a core group of 'regular' patients...but I guess the ER would certainly be the exception.

A bit of a side track..

I'm very torn as to what to do as I know that it's easier to go back to school now versus later when children are in the picture. That being said, I"m not 100% sure primary care is my cup of tea since I've only been in the acute/hospital setting. I worry I would get bored seeing AOM,strep,influenza on "repeat"... day after day after day...is that an accurate perception or is there enough variety in the day? I just don't want to spend the rest of my life working the grind of nights/weekends/holidays/12-hr shifts as a floor RN

Oh, I wish I had a crystal ball!

PS: (LYNDAA, your input was valuable, too, even if you were referring to nursing!!)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, home health, med surg, pain management.

I'm just an RN, and in the latter end of my career, but here's my 2 cents. I worked actively for several years, but my kids really needed me at home more. I had worn several hats in my career, and never felt very satisfied with any of them. So I just stopped working, thinking that I was pretty much through with nursing. My husband did convince me to at least keep my license active. Smart move. After 15 years of raising kids & grandkids, taking care of my invalid FIL, working a non-nursing (lower stress, lower pay) job, and a non-paying job in ministry, our finances required some serious attention. My husband's retirement was in the john after the post 9/11 financial bust, so he had to go back to work, and so did I. I figured since I still had an active license, I could take a refresher course and be good to go. I knew it would be hard work, but I figured I was up for the task. I had no idea. When I left my active nursing career, you might as well say nursing was still in the dark ages, compared with what I came back to. Paper & pen charting, and the only computers were in medical records and admitting. Fortunately, I had extensive computer experience, or I would have truly been sunk. Nursing has come a long way, baby. And getting back into bedside nursing is no small feat after that many years. Add to it my "golden" age and decreasing energy levels, it has been a gargantuan task. It took me nearly 3 years of actively searching to find a job. I had people flat out tell me they wouldn't dream of hiring me, I'd been out so long. I did take that refresher course, but I'm not sure if it really helped in the long run, other than to show me a glimpse of what I was about to get into. It took a wise and compassionate director of nursing who was interested in me because of my people skills, and those virtues that often come with age, to finally land a job on a medical floor. She commented that it is easier to teach nursing skills than people skills, and gave me a shot. I've tried hard not to let her down. But it's hard work, and some days I don't know if I'm up for it at all.

My little word of advise to young parents or those planning to be, if you like what you do, don't give it up completely. Keep one foot in it during your kids' time at home. Because while a family is incomparable, preserving your skills is like having a savings account. You must put a little bit in consistently if you want to have something in it at the end. And since no one can predict the future, you'll need to keep that little nest-egg safe against the unexpected.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in psych, general, emerg, mash.

you dont need a crystal ball..just a little common sense. Which appears to be severely lacking these days.

If you go on leave from Nursing or any job, dont go too long. 6 months to a year is plenty. you have burn out! OR maybe its time to change jobs.

As for your schedule for Floor RN...thats life! you will be on shift work.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment