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

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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.

Specializes in PICU.
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.

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

I think it may be easier to find a PRN PNP job, because there are so many sick visits every day, that it can be nice to have someone pick up the slack in the busy times and you don't need to be their main primary care provider for that. The primary care PNP I did my clinical hours with had been with the practice for 17 years, but she still mainly just saw the sick visits and her collaborating MD did the well-baby/child visits, since she was the physician of record. This may be different in states with better (more independent) attitudes towards NPs. Just find a job in a larger practice, so that you can negotiate a reduction in hours at some point.

Personally, I do not think primary care practice is boring, but I have no interest in the work, which is why I would never work primary care. The focus is on preventative education, anticipatory guidance, educating about child development, parenting skills, discipline, nutrition, exercise, etc. That is the part I find boring. For me, it wasn't that seeing 15 kids with the exact same URI symptoms was boring, it's that uncomplicated URIs are boring to me. Whereas, I could see 15 ventilated RSV babies, and that would never be boring to me. So, I think when you are trying to decide if you'd like primary care or not, you need to consider what things are you passionate about and will you deal with any of that in primary care? Good luck with your decision:)

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Specializes in psych, general, emerg, mash.

it all depends on what you can handle. I was in psych for 14 years, its was the NofK that ****** me off, not the patients. You worked hard to get them to heal, or rationally, and within a weekend, the NofK would undo it all. I was burned out!

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Just a thought...you might have more flexible options if you go the FNP route. Throughout your career and your kids span of the school years, you will have different hours and different needs. Some years you might enjoy pedi office work and then other years you just can't make it work with your family but maybe you could do part-time at a Minute Clinic, etc. With an FNP you could do all of those.

Also, people told me I would get bored with primary care. All I say to that is bull! The stories I could tell!! Definitely keeps my day hopping!

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Specializes in Gen peds,ER,Retail medicine, peds heme.

I am a FNP(16 years), work very part time at night on a pediatric heme/Onc/SCT unit. There are so many points I thinks are helpful here. The FNP has allowed me incredible flexibility and opportunity over the years--I have worked ED, general peds, and retail clinic over the years. I have 5 kids and I also agree that they are becoming busier as they get older!! I would recommend FNP to anyone interested in becoming a NP. Good luck!!

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Thank you all so much for your thoughtful advice. I can't tell you how helpful it is. I've been been vacillating painfully for several months about this and the things you've mentioned have really given me new insight. For example, I had never considered that kids get busier and more 'needy' as they age, but that makes a lot of sense. I had considered going back to school someday when my "hypothetical children" are in school because I thought I would have more "free" time (ha-ha), but I can see how that's not necessarily true.

I like the analogy of a career being akin to a savings account. I don't really know of any RN's who have left the field, but now I see that it could be equally challenging to return to practice as an RN after a gap.

I really do think primary care is where I want to be because the part I'm really passionate about is the well-child/anticipatory guidance/development piece...I'm definitely less keen on the AOM,strep,URI, and other contagions. Call me a germ-a-phobe I guess. ;) Perhaps it's something you get over...sort of like the first few times you have to sx a trach or cath a patient!

Now I just have to make sure I'm not making a mistake by not doing FNP. I guess the only reason I had decided against it is because I really dislike caring for adults and I don't think that will change. I guess if it did someday, maybe I could do a post-masters certificate. But even just looking at job listings, I can see there are many more options for FNP's.... definitely something to consider.

I know you all have busy lives outside of this forum, and again, I'm just so appreciative of your thoughtful advice.

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Specializes in telemetry, nursing education.

I just had a similar debate with myself and I'll tell you what I decided.

I've been a nurse for 8 years, had my first daughter June of 2012. I have always planned on going to school to get my NP, but was also thinking "oh, when the kids (we want 3-4) are in school, I'll have so much time to go back to school myself".

A few months ago, I ran into a nurse who was hired as a new grad the same time I was. We worked together for a few years and then she left the hospital to get her NP degree. She was just recently hired back in an NP role. I told her my plan to wait until the kids were in school and she laughed at me! She said "you will never have more time than you have RIGHT NOW."

Well, that really stuck with me and I decided to go for it. Currently, I am doing an online program and teaching nursing students 2 days a week. My daughter is 15 months old, and although I really enjoy my time home with her, I also enjoy getting out of the house and using my brain for higher level thinking sometimes. :) So much of my identity is being a nurse, that I was feeling a little identity crisis when I stayed home with her for the first 3 months. I think this is better for my mental health (to continue working part time) and also to stay current in the world of nursing. Plus, she enjoys her time with grandpa when I am gone. :)

Now, once we have more kids, we will see what happens, but I vote that you at least start school now. It's only going to get busier.

Feel free to message me if you have any questions!

Good luck!!

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Specializes in telemetry, nursing education.

Also, I had some trouble deciding between FNP and Adult/Gero NP. (I want to eventually work in a cardiology office) I called the 3 schools I applied to (University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, St. Louis University, and University of Virginia) and spoke to their advisers in the nursing department about which program to choose. Each of them gave me a different perspective and helped me make my decision.

If you check the ANCC website, they are transitioning their PNP to a primary care PNP, so you might want to think about whether that would limit you if you ever want to get a job in a hospital working with peds pts. http://www.nursecredentialing.org/PediatricNP

I would also call your state board of nursing to see if being an FNP and having only pediatric patient care hours would be a problem (probably not bc I know a lot of NPs who do just that). I have called my state BON a few times and they have been very receptive to my questions.

-Kate

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