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

Nurses Recovery

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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.

Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.

Brenna: Are you in an alternative to discipline program? Why are you being charged $500 and what is a "different department"? Any program is going to require at least two years of urines but that doesn't mean that you can't work during that time.

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Subee -

The $500 was a combination of costs for relicensure - including retaking state boards. I went to rehab back in 1994; my license expired in 2000. I found out online that they had placed me on probation 2 months *after* my license expired (my lawyer had long been dead by then). I also graduated from MSU in 2000, so I just didn't pursue the nursing license. Fast forward some more - I want to get my license back, so I followed all the rules and fees for "Relicensure". Ok - well, now they tell me that was the wrong department, and that I have to apply to a different department called "Reinstatement". New application fees as well, and the other fees paid don't transfer. I'm hoping the CEU's I completed will at least transfer.

2 years worth of urines seem kind of ludicrous since this happened what - 17 years ago? But, whatever, I guess - they probably need to make sure. I'm just worried that there won't be any work available. Heck, I'm not even sure what they'll do! Frustrating...it's been 2 months, and nobody knows anything - still. Just frustrating.:rolleyes: I'm just hoping that it'll be worth it...

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Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.
Subee -

The $500 was a combination of costs for relicensure - including retaking state boards. I went to rehab back in 1994; my license expired in 2000. I found out online that they had placed me on probation 2 months *after* my license expired (my lawyer had long been dead by then). I also graduated from MSU in 2000, so I just didn't pursue the nursing license. Fast forward some more - I want to get my license back, so I followed all the rules and fees for "Relicensure". Ok - well, now they tell me that was the wrong department, and that I have to apply to a different department called "Reinstatement". New application fees as well, and the other fees paid don't transfer. I'm hoping the CEU's I completed will at least transfer.

2 years worth of urines seem kind of ludicrous since this happened what - 17 years ago? But, whatever, I guess - they probably need to make sure. I'm just worried that there won't be any work available. Heck, I'm not even sure what they'll do! Frustrating...it's been 2 months, and nobody knows anything - still. Just frustrating.:rolleyes: I'm just hoping that it'll be worth it...

Brenna, If you can get your profession back, it IS worth it. The state's first interest is public safety. It's not about doubting your recovery but about them performing their duty to the citizens and PROVING that you are safe. The only objective measure they have is urines. Your experience is the very hard way to learn that it's easier to just get enrolled in the alternative program IMMEDIATELY and get through your 2 years of proven sobriety then to try to put the bricks back together 17 years later. I think it stinks about you having to pay an extra $500 for their incompetence. Don't let it get you down and keep in touch here so we know

the end of the story.

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I would love to talk to you. I have a documentation restriction on my license, and can't get anywhere with employment process. Running out of hope.

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