Help! Trouble finding a job with my license being on probation!!!!

Nurses Recovery

Published

To make a long story short, 2 years ago the Board started investigating me after some coworkers said I was acting "goofy" at work. I had excellent patient reviews, etc.. I had recently started on 2 antidepressants and worked 12 hour midnight shifts so I do think the medications were causing me to be a bit "foggy" at times but I always got my job done and done correctly....That job decided to fire me, I had a panic attack at home and took too many klonopin to try to calm down, my husband took me to the hospital so now I am labelled as "overdosing on the klonopin and suicide attempt"

Skip ahead to this past March, my nursing license was placed on "Probation with restrictions".. The only "restrictions" I have are 1)to not work for a staffing agency 2) to not be a nursing supervisor... I have NO narcotic restrictions or other practice restrictions.. I have no criminal history whatsoever.....

I'm an R.N. and I am unemployed. No one seems to want to hire me but yet I have worked with people in similiar situations in the past so I know nurses on probation do get hired places, but where?

My husband works full time but still we are on the verge of bankruptcy right now. I have to find a job. My husband has MS so while his work is regular, if he has a relapse, well then he is off of work too. Does anyone have any advice such as where they were hired after being put on probation, or certain types of facilities that tend to hire nurses on probation?? I appreciate any advice, I feel beaten down, confused, scared and pretty low right about now so any advice would make my day! Thanks.

Good for you! Congradulations!

To lifeistweet

"I recently interviewed for two state positions as a disability examiner and a health surveyor. They don't quite pay as much, but they are Monday to Friday with benefits and a retirement. The disability portion has good job security, they have never laid off. Also, I don't have to worry about my license or narcs. :yeah:"

what kind of experience does this job need?

Specializes in icu,ccu,sicu,crna.

Any meddical experience is helpful but ususally clerical and computer experience is helpful.

look for job at outpatients clinics,MD's offices,send 2000 resumes and one will give you the op,dont dismay and be persistent ,you can beat this ,

Specializes in OR, Med-Surg/Ortho.

I too am finding it so hard to get back into the nursing field. My license was summarily suspended after I was accused of diversion. I was not diverting, however, I was honest about a rx addiction I had at home. I went to treatment and have been clean for 2 years. I approached the board after my suspension was up, which was 1 1/2 years ago and did everything they asked me to do, but to no avail. I did many random U/A's and letters of recommendation, and they seem like they are just avoiding me. I am broke and on the verge of being homeless. I am beginning to think I should find a new career. I am also so terrified that if I do get a conditioned license back, that I will never find a job around here. Does anyone have any info about having trouble with the board such as this? I am totally willing to enter the nurse recovery program, but I can't seem to even get in. :confused:

Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.

Can you let us know what state your in? Maybe someone else in the ethernet has been through something similar with your state board.

Specializes in OR, Med-Surg/Ortho.

I'm in Vermont, if anyone has any advice, thanks

Specializes in SNF/Long-term care facilities.

I first obtained my LVN license in California but I was placed on a 2 yr probation because I was an interim permit holder at first after graduating from LVN school. To make a long story short- the permit expired and I continued to practice. My probation would've ended last month, but due to other circumstances I moved from California to another state and applied for licensure in that state. The board of nursing in the other state awarded me an interim permit good for six months but also they decided to place me on probation as well for that duration based on what has taken place in California.

Now basically, its very difficult and really challenging for me to find a job. I applied for that interim permit back in April. The board of nursing wanted me to meet with a compliance officer in person and that took place last May 12th. It has been almost a month and I still don't have my interim permit but my information is active in their system where you can actually look me up and all my info is there posted on their website.

I've always worked in the SNF/Long-term care field and I would really love to explore others but with terms of my probation, I might have to stay in that field until I get my actual license. Some of the terms is that I remain supervised by an RN or LPN at all times (meaning if they go and take their lunch break I better be right behind them taking my lunch break as well), I cannot work for agencies/hospice/home health, and I have to submit to day-to-day and monthly evals which will be focused on patient care. So far when I look up job openings, most of them (if not all) are in those fields which I cannot work in for as long as I'm going to be under probation! It is so frustrating!!! ... so does anybody have any suggestions??? anything??!! Im desperate, I want to work and not only that, I am planning and is very interested in furthering my education. I want to be an RN one day! So if anybody has any suggestions I'm open to them because at this point I don't know what to do anymore.

I'm in a similar situation. I was turned in for stealing syringes after I refused to comply with someone's blackmail demands. The syringes weren't even for me, but because they were for someone else's addiction I got caught in the middle. Now I'm in the same boat. It doesn't matter how many applications I fill out; either, I never make it to the interview process or I call back as instructed just to be told "we went with someone else". It's very frustrating. Sometimes I really feel as if this is a form of discrimination. My license has no restrictions placed on it. Simply probation with random drug screens, employer reports, individual reports, and fines. I find the state board of nursing little to no help in giving me direction. I understand what you are going through. I'm currently thinking about going back to school for something unrelated to the healthcare field.

My license too was put on probation last fall. It was been a living nightmare trying to find a job. I have an interview Monday at a state prison... Does anyone know if I am wasting my time? I have lost everything (home, car, confidence) and just need someone to give me a break..Thanks

To make a long story short, 2 years ago the Board started investigating me after some coworkers said I was acting "goofy" at work. I had excellent patient reviews, etc.. I had recently started on 2 antidepressants and worked 12 hour midnight shifts so I do think the medications were causing me to be a bit "foggy" at times but I always got my job done and done correctly....That job decided to fire me, I had a panic attack at home and took too many klonopin to try to calm down, my husband took me to the hospital so now I am labelled as "overdosing on the klonopin and suicide attempt"

Skip ahead to this past March, my nursing license was placed on "Probation with restrictions".. The only "restrictions" I have are 1)to not work for a staffing agency 2) to not be a nursing supervisor... I have NO narcotic restrictions or other practice restrictions.. I have no criminal history whatsoever.....

I'm an R.N. and I am unemployed. No one seems to want to hire me but yet I have worked with people in similiar situations in the past so I know nurses on probation do get hired places, but where?

My husband works full time but still we are on the verge of bankruptcy right now. I have to find a job. My husband has MS so while his work is regular, if he has a relapse, well then he is off of work too. Does anyone have any advice such as where they were hired after being put on probation, or certain types of facilities that tend to hire nurses on probation?? I appreciate any advice, I feel beaten down, confused, scared and pretty low right about now so any advice would make my day! Thanks.

There is hope. I'm working on probation, would love to chat.

Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.

Go2Girl: I think you've done nothing wrong to be placed on probation. It's estimated that 25% of the population lives with an anxiety disorder. I think you made the mistake of showing up for a board hearing without a lawyer (?). Please, EVERYONE, hiring a lawyer is cheaper than having an action against your license.

+ Add a Comment