I’m embarrassed to say it took me forever to change my name once I got married. The main reason for my procrastination? The thought of changing my name on all of my licenses and certifications necessary to practice as a nurse practitioner. Not only does an impending wedding day warrant thinking ahead about a name change, there are a lot of logistics to consider in regards to making your personal plans mesh with your employment situation.
As a soon-to-be bride, you’re probably concerned with selecting the perfectly frosted cake, choosing not too tacky but certainly not stunning bridesmaid dresses and coordinating the sending of save the date cards. And, you should be. Once the whirlwind of your engagement and wedding day prep hits its stride, don’t forget to think through how your marriage will affect your employment, job prospects, and nurse practitioner licensing. Thinking ahead will make the transition back to work post-wedding much easier (and ensure you have plenty of PTO to use on your honeymoon Bora Bora vacay!).
Communicate plans effectively in the job interview process
Navigating the logistics of landing your dream nurse practitioner position while coordinating a wedding can quickly turn into an anxiety-provoking process. But, foresight as to your wedding schedule needs can take the stress out of the situation. It’s best not to mention that you will need 12 days off to accommodate your wedding and honeymoon in an initial interview. Timing your ask in conjunction with accepting a job offer is a different story.
If you are accepting a new position and are soon to be wed, let your prospective employer know you are excited about the offer but have some reservation as you had planned to take time off for your wedding and honeymoon in the coming months. More than likely, your new boss will be happy to accommodate your request provided it is reasonable. You should expect to take these days off unpaid as you will not have accrued the vacation days you’ll need in the initial months of your NP employment.
Save up as much PTO as possible
If you are currently working as a nurse practitioner, taking a block of time off for your wedding is ideal. You will have family in town, pre-wedding arrangements to see to and out-of-town showers to attend not to mention a honeymoon. Use vacation days wisely in the months leading up to your wedding. Give your employer plenty of advanced notice so you can work together to arrange coverage for your absence.
Gather necessary documentation in advance
Once you’ve sealed the deal with your guy at the alter, if you’re planning on changing your name you will need to get paperwork in order. Locating your social security card and other documentation necessary to complete this process ahead of time takes much of the dread out of the ordeal. Request multiple copies of your marriage certificate as these will come in handy during the process of adopting your beau’s family name.
Review the process of changing your name on nurse practitioner licensing
Given that nurse practitioners hold many licenses, certifications, and other credentials, the name change process surrounding employment can be treacherous. Licenses and certifications must be updated as part of a coordinated process. Look over the steps to changing your name on nurse practitioner licensing. Identify any information you will need to have on hand during the process. Get an action plan in place for taking the necessary steps. Creating a timeline and penciling it in on your calendar ensures you won’t procrastinate.
Notify HR of your impending name change
Once you’ve made your new last name official, your employer will need to notify Medicare, Medicaid and other payers of the change. Giving HR a heads up helps your employer coordinate the process in advance. This way once you’ve completed your portion of the name change process, your employer can expedite the transition on their end preventing any delay in payment for services you provide as a nurse practitioner.
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