Almost 4 years, no luck finding nursing job, life destroyed?!

Nurses Recovery

Published

I am not really quite sure why I am writing this. I've wrote on here before right after this happened almost 4 years ago. Here I go...

I went to a 4 year nursing school right out of high-school. Graduated with honors in 4 years and started working immediately. 2 years after being at my first job I switched jobs to a hospital that was closer to my home (because I was working 12 hour midnight shifts and had an hour drive home). Everything was great, always had positive evaluations, got along great with my coworkers and supervisors and never got into any kind of trouble.

Everything changed when I became extremely depressed and stressed out due to physical abuse I endured as a child and the current stressors that had popped up at the time (husband with chronic, debilitating illness,,,miscarriage, etc).. I started seeing a psychiatrist and he prescribed me an antidepressant and anti-anxiety medication and I also started seeing a therapist once a week. I thought I was doing the right thing......

Well one night at work, 5 hours into my shift, my supervisor came and took me out of a patient's room and had a security guard with her. They searched all my possessions and took me down to ER to drug test me. They didn't find anything on me and my drug test came back NEGATIVE. They claimed that coworkers reported to them that I was acting "strangely" and that I had behaved inappropriately in front of a patient. (NO patient complaints ever came up through all of this). Well I was put on a week suspension and had a scheduled date to come back to work.

In the meantime, they reported this to the Board of Nursing.... When the Board of Nursing called me, I was young, naive and thought I had done nothing wrong so I told them about going the the psychiatrist and seeing a therapist.. Well the BON ordered me to see one of their psychiatrists who diagnosed me with depression (DUH?) and Immature personality. The Board ordered psychiatrist recommeded that I be placed on 2 year probation and have a restriction of not being able to work home health care??

I then HIRED an Attorney but unfortunately it was too late! The attorney told me that she could have gotten me out of all of this if I had NEVER agreed to talk to the B.O.N and lawyered up immediately.....

I did something really stupid... I took too many of my anti-anxiety meds because I felt like my world was crashing down around me, how was I going to support my husband when he was ill? How would I pay our mortgage? How would I pay my student loans?

I was desperate and I should have never done it.

I spent three days in a psych unit because they considered it a suicide attempt. The B.O.N and employer found out about this and so of course I was immediately fired for being "mentally unstable" and the fact that "I would cause too much rumor and drama if I came back to work"...

So here I am, almost 4 years later, haven't been able to find an RN job, had a car repossessed, filed bankruptcy and now we are facing foreclosure on our house....... I am working an Aide job for 1/3 of my previous salary and it's just not enough, I work 60 hours a week, no benefits.

I don't know why I am posting this, I guess I need some advice, I know I have read people on here who have found work while being on probation and I even worked with nurses at the hospital who had diverted drug (I know totally different than what I did but just sayin'.)

I just want someone to give me hope because I really feel like giving up on my job search. I had so much pride, overcoming the obstacles of my youth and being the first person in my family to graduate college and now I feel like the lowest of the low and that my life has no value. I guess I put all my identity and self-worth into being a Registered Nurse.

Sometimes I deal with this okay and keep putting applications in and feel hopeful, but today I am feeling really down, could use some advice or someone to talk to, God knows I can't talk to my family (other than my husband).... My own mother told me yesterday how "dissapointed she is in my and that I am the equivalent of a High school drop-out"...

Sorry for writing a book here but I really need some input or someone to talk to through e-mail or PM to help give me my "fight" back.....

Thanks so much.

Yes, if I were to do hospice, then I would be comforted by the fact that I could allow that patient to retain dignity while dying and give the family what they need during that time. I can't speak for your area; but the hospice in the hospital system where I live has a high satisfaction rating in terms of Press Ganey. They are like #2 in satisfaction in regards of the floors and different units where I am at. They are only surpassed by Labor and Delivery.

Also, I think it's from knowing that that's an area where the patient and family is so incredibly appreciative of nurses and respect what they do. :)

I was 31 yrs old when i graduated nursing school 3rd in my class. At age 19 i had a misdemeanor for theft (stupid teenage stuff) and got a years probation. I never finished highschool, i dropped out in 10th grade, got married and ran off. I was WILD. I grew up, remarried, had a child and put myself thru school. I was proud of myself and my accomplishments. Everyone told me to not tell the BON at the time because they never checked (thank God i did because now they fingerprint you) Anyway, I told them and they denied my liscensure. I took them to court and won, but i had 2 yrs stipulations put on me, where I could not work in a hospital.

I went to a clinic individually owned and got a job (actually 2 in that time frame), Back then I only made 12.00 per hour (going rate was about 15.00) but I took it and worked off my probation.

Check out clinics, I started with a temp agency who filled out my forms. Then the office loved me and when I told them my story they thought it was as ridiculous as your story is to me. Someone will give you a chance.

Find an understanding physician maybe one older, sometimes men are better at that then women. Be honest, be open, ask for help.

I'm praying for you.

The days of relying on nursing homes or hd centers are over. These days those places will screen u out if u have termination or board orders. Here in Richmond, the hospitals will not let you even interview. My applications on line quickly gave me the message that my application was not moving forward. Some as soon as 30 minutes.

Specializes in Peds, PICU, NICU, CICU, ICU, M/S, OHS....

You need a good attorney girl, one who will fight for what is right. If everything you posted is true and you were fired for those reasons, then it sounds like a lawsuit to me. Gotta love the BON. I had to go up and change my name in Cbus and I was a nervous freaking wreck going in just doing that!

Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

This thread is almost a year old and the OP hasn't been on since February.

GotoGirl:

I am in a similar situation situation. I am 4 years clean, have a good recovery program, and cannot get a job despite outstanding experience. I can't even get a job in a treatment program! Did you get your probation lifted? My contract lasts for 5, yes 5 years. I had no probation, no suspension, etc. I am still giving urines, if you can believe that! I don't know what it takes to convince them I'm clean and serious about recovery. 4 years of clean drug screens, going on 5! Where are you at in terms of employment? I would love to know. Personally, I'm getting ready to go to our state human rights commission. A. Terminated with a disability, b. hiring discrimination practices.

Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.

Five years is very usual. I don't know about other nursing specialties, but the five year mark is a dangerous one for us CRNA's. I see many nurses coming through a support group and none of them are jobless after 4 years. Did you ever have the opportunity to join an RN support group? That's where most of the nurses found their recovery friendly employers.

Just wanted to know if anything changed I'm in Louisiana and it's gonna be 2 years and I've had multiple interviews but know one to hire me b/c of probation status.

Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.
Just wanted to know if anything changed I'm in Louisiana and it's gonna be 2 years and I've had multiple interviews but know one to hire me b/c of probation status.

Hi Shorty! Glad to meet another La nurse on the forum! I got put into our RNP in 1999 and had NO idea how hard it would be to find another nursing job after - it is SO hard to find someone to give u a chance.

Anne, RNC

How about a class action suit? How is it that the Board can discriminate this way? They are a power out of control. I feel like civil rights are being violated.

Nurses need to unite against the board. The board is a power gone out of control. Civil rights are being violated. I am thinking a civil suit is in order for these cases. Anyone know an interested attorney?

1 Votes

Just wondering backtowork, where are you at in texas. I have warning w stips for nonpt care, nondrug related issue and cannot find any job in texas. Have followed your posts. So which facility are you at?

+ Add a Comment