Register thanks, having got home nurse (9)
I believe the answer is:
entertain
'nurse' is the definition.
(I know that nurse can be written as entertain)
'register thanks having got home' is the wordplay.
'register' becomes 'enter' (entering is a kind of registering).
'thanks' becomes 'ta' (UK informal version of 'thank you').
'having got' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'home' becomes 'in' ('he's home' can mean 'he's in').
'enter'+'ta'+'in'='ENTERTAIN'
(Other definitions for entertain that I've seen before include "Wine and dine" , "Amuse; host" , "Have a mind to - have a party" , "nurse" , "harbour" .)