Career break and nurse registration.

[Onesieone]

I am 1 year into a 5 year career break. My son was born with special needs and so I need time off to care for him. However, I'm concerned about my registration. Obviously as I am on a career break I'm still employed so I can't get work anywhere else. Does anyone have anything they can advise me with please. The management in my area are so unapproachable I'd like some info befor I need to seek their advise.

Dear Onesieone, how distressing for you. Can I suggest you contact your Human resources department and speak with the HR Manager who looks after the nursing staff as well as calling the RCN for advice. You might find it helps. In situations like this your immediate manager would normally seek advice from HR anyway. Best of luck.

Registration requirements are set by the NMC. They should be your first port of call.

Dear OP,
How easy this is will probably hibge on when your registration renews. Assuming you have just a single registration then you need to work a minimum of 450 hours over the three years prior to renewing your registration registration and meet the PREP requirements of 5 days learning activity over that period. If your registration renews say in 2016 and you have worked the 450 hours before your break then fine. You'll then have the first year back after your break to complete the hours before 2019. If it doesn't work that well then you need to be a bit more creative. Also don't forget to budget for the yearly registration fee. Learning activities fir PREP don't have to be courses they can be reading journals, written reflection etc. I don't normally recommend the NMC for anything but in this case I would speak to their registration dept. for advice. Good luck.

I have had a look at the hours of service I have prior to June 2014 when I renew and I'm ok! However. If I don't do something between now and June 2015 I won't have enough hours practice! How can I get
Hrs accrued when on a career break!

Dear OP,
Don't forget that although we pay a fee each year we only actually have to renew our registration every three years. Therefore you have until June 2017 to complete the 450 hours. I think the NMC offers quite a bit of flexibility in how you can accrue hours. Also if your job is dependent upon your registration your employer should help you to maintain your registration.

I heard something about a nurse with a baby with Downs Syndrome who was allowed to use looking after her child as practice hours if you see what I mean. Maybe look into that if your son has special needs???

Notalondoner, that's something I was wondering actually! He takes 24/7 care and I'm a paed
Nurse so I will
Look into that.
I'm not sure I understand the renewing every 3 years piece? Is it not every year? I have paid every year since qualifying in 1994.

We renew our registration every three years but the cost (currently £300) is spread over three years. So we pay £100 per year but you only have to satisfy the conditions (hours, PREP etc) every three years.

Really???? God I feel such an idiot! I didn't realise that

Hi op. I took a career break some years ago when ds wad small and it was ok at the time to do some bank shifts in order to keep up practice hours. Also have a good look at your HR policy. Your employer may have some responsibility for keeping in touch with you and ensuring your PREP requirements are facilitated.

Thanks perspective. I think that's what I will have to do. I he no sense when I ring NMC. I hadn't rung HR yet so will try them tomo. I think I will be ok this year but will need to do some work now for next.

NMC plans to put the registration fee up from £100 to £120 per year.