Had my first interview today!!!! What do you think?????

Nurses Recovery

Published

Specializes in ped/adult medsurg, specialty infusion.

So, to make a long story short, last March my nursing license went on "Probation" because a coworker reported to the Board of Nursing that I was acting "strangely" at work. Drug test, urine test negative, but I was still fired. A few days after I was fired, I "overdosed" on Klonopin at home and my husband took me to the hospital (I wasn't trying to Overdose, I was trying to stop a panic attack)... Anyways, I was placed in the psych unit for 2 days observation then released.

Well the Board of Nursing found out about the psych unit stay, so not only is my "strange behavior" on my consent agreement, it also goes into detail about my "overdose"..Because of this, I have been highly embarassed to go on job interviews, just thinking and telling myself the worst! Asking myself "Who would want to hire a nurse who acts strange at work and then tries to overdose on Klonopin!" But that is NOT who I am. I had to pull myself up and realize I am a great nurse , who went through a really hard time, and I deserve a good job...

So I started applying and I got an interview this week at a nursing home, I went today for my interview and told them the truth about the probation and consent agreement! They seemed to really like me, and even said they wanted to hire me, they just had to run the fact that my license is on probation with there "corporate attorney"... They told me they really wanted to hire me and as long as he approved of it, I would be hired.

What do you all think? Is this good news or bad news? ANyone have any stories about being hired while they were under probation? Where are good places to look for jobs? How do I keep my self esteem up during this time, I have finally got the nerve to start applying again!! Any advice is very much appreciated! :confused:

0 Votes
Specializes in ped/adult medsurg, specialty infusion.

Just got a call, didn't get it! :(

0 Votes
Specializes in LTC, Psych, Med/Surg.

GotoGirlRN--

Many people have gotten jobs while on probation. Go back and read the many threads in this forum that testify to this.

Also- you may wish to check out another forum for nurses with state board issues:

http://www.voy.com/140037/

You will get support and suggestions there also.

Any interview you get is good news. Even if you don't get the job, it is excellent practice so you can get better and better at selling yourself and your skills to a potential employer.

Good luck.

Catmom :paw:

0 Votes
Specializes in Impaired Nurse Advocate, CRNA, ER,.
Just got a call, didn't get it! :(

Hang in there my friend. This is not uncommon when seeking employment while in recovery. Each interview gives you more experience which will help you on each subsequent interview.

Feeling embarrassed and/or ashamed is a normal part of recovery. It's also a good barometer of how well your recovery is progressing.

How?

Someone who has worked hard to achieve sobriety and has a solid grasp of the disease process understands the "crazy, stupid, ugly" things were committed while the disease was active. The brain is the target organ and is altered by the disease process as well as by the direct actions of the medications used and the duration of use. The areas targeted are responsible for short term memory, learning, motivation, pleasure, and survival instincts. As the disease progresses the brain begins to believe the drug is more important than eating, sleeping, sex, relationships, raising the kids, and earning a living. No amount of willpower or intelligence can stop the disease from progressing. It's extremely rare for a dependent individual to seek treatment without some sort of "intervention" (such as a DUI, arrest for a criminal act, divorce, loss of a job, accidents, report to a licensing agency, or accidental overdose).

Be gentle with yourself. It's going to take time and hard work to achieve and maintain your recovery. But as time goes by, you'll begin to experience many of the promises discussed in AA's Big Book:

  • We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness.
  • We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.
  • We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace.
  • No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others.
  • That feeling of uselessness and selfpity will disappear.
  • We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows.
  • Self-seeking will slip away.
  • Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change.
  • Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us.
  • We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us.
  • We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.

Are these extravagant promises? We think not. They are being fulfilled among us--sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. They will always materialize if we work for them.

Jack

0 Votes
Specializes in geriatric.

I am not trying to discourage you but i am in recovery and it took me 3 and a half years but i finally got a great job. i was hired by the company that first terminated me. It took a lot of hard work and I even worked as a cna for 9 months to prove to them that i was fine. now i have a great job that i love and i do not have to wory about someone finding about my past because they no all about it. dont give up. I was on probation another time and worked at many places. I just never told the company most companys only check to see if your license is registered and not if you have any violations.

0 Votes
Specializes in LTC, Psych, Med/Surg.

Momovsix, I had less problem than you finding a job and there was no chance I could ever hide the probation issue. It is bold as can be on the licensure website as soon as my license is looked up.

Plus, everywhere I have worked wanted to see my licensure card also. The words "probation" are on there in bold & larger than anything else. :(

I guess everyone's situation is different.

Catmom :paw:

P.S. Not having anything to hide is a wonderful feeling.

0 Votes
Specializes in geriatric.

I am not sure but it may be because my first probation i was on took 6 months to show up on the registry.my most recent probation was up in september of last year and i dont remeber ever seeing it say i waas on probation only that it was registered and when it was registered untill. I am not posiitve though.could it be differnt in your state. mine is in NY.is anybody else from ny and on probation who can check?

0 Votes
Specializes in geriatric.

I live in a small town and lost many jobs due to my addiction.After I found my sobriety I was unable to find anywhere that would give me a chance. i finally took a job as a cashier for about 2 years . I did however continue my urine screens and my contact with the BON. I then was fortunate enough to find a facility that would give me a chancee as a CNA. I did that for about 10 months. then I finally recieved the great news that they wee willing to give me a chance as a lpn. II started my orientation last week. I am so happy and glad my hard work paid off.

0 Votes
+ Add a Comment