If you trained as a nurse, but haven't worked as a nurse for years,

[artquejtion]

Do you still introduce/ identify yourself as a nurse ?

Someone I know, who has not worked as a nurse for maybe 20 years , always mentions that she is a nurse, 'I am a nurse', 'as you know, I am a nurse'.

She drops it into every conversation multiple times, not necessarily conversations about work, or medical, totally random conversations , just any opportunity to say it, and its not only with people she has met for the first time, its in every conversation I have with her, despite me knowing her for 3 years now and having heard it multiple times..

She says all her doctors 'know she is a nurse', so they treat her as a clinician and differently to the average patient.

Is that strange or normal ?

I think you're being unfair really, back then nursing was seen more as a vocation than a profession....if she has that mindset, she always will be a nurse. Maybe not registered. She's proud of her career, let her enjoy that

@AndSoFinally

You can't keep your registration up to date like that. You need to do 150 hours of clinical practice per year to remain qualified (not sure of exact amount).

Was just going to say the same. Don't you need CPD hours too?

When someone tells you they are a nurse you assume they are either still working or recently retired.
It wasn't until a further conversation that I found out they'd stopped nursing decades earlier.

I find it very odd but I do think they just didn't want to say they were a SAHM or housewife.

It’s a bit weird. Why wouldn’t she say “I was a nurse” or “I used to nurse”.

I guess she defines herself by her previous career and qualification.

I find nurses who qualified donkeys years ago and haven’t practiced in decades are often surprised at how different things are now. They know some terminology but have no current clinical knowledge. It’s amazing how quickly clinical practice changes!

And yes you can’t maintain your registered nurse status unless you do 450 hours of clinical practice in 3 years and can demonstrate CPD through revalidation.

@XenoBitch yes, CPD too. It's not as easy as just paying a retention fee at all!

I must admit I would be tempted with the ol' PA remark to her saying "I'm a nurse you know" with "Really I didn't know. Why is this the first I've heard of this ?" - with a wink and a nod.

I know a woman who inserts her nursing career into every conversation too. Lovely woman it's just tedious, we all know already.

Completely not necessary to drop in that she's a nurse in every conversation 😬. Fine if she's practicing as one. Not really relevant if she's let her registration lapse for years. AFAIK you're not allowed to mislead others if you are not a practising nurse. I only mention it if asked, but emphasize that I have not practiced for X amount of years.

I retired from nursing a few years ago, and came off the register. I can call myself a qualified nurse, but not a registered one.