A running list of low abuse specialties

wubbzy · Jun 18, 2009

A lot of great suggestions here. I'm leaning towards trying to eventually work in a treat/rehab facility. I would love to help people the way I was helped.

LilRedRN1973 · Jun 18, 2009

One of the jobs I'm waiting to hear back from is at a residential eating disorder facility. I think working in that kind of environment would benefit not only the patients (as someone who understand the compulsion/behavior surrounding addiction issues) but would also be a plus in my recovery. The facility is a huge Victorian house on grounds with multiple koi ponds, porches, and walkways. Very tranquil and peaceful. They are looking for an RN; no experience necessary with eating disorders.

Another job I've interviewed for is at an outpatient mental health medication clinic. No narcotics/controlled substances and you are dealing with a variety of mental health patients, including many addicts and alcoholics. That job comes with an enviable Mon-Fri, 8-5pm with an hour lunch. I can't even imagine that, working for years inhaling my lunch at 2am while keeping one eye on my vented patient, not daring to leave the floor for fear they would extubate themselves while I was on break....lol. They are very much pro-Recovery at this clinic and I was upfront about my situation when I interviewed. We'll see how it turns out.

I am also trying to get my foot in the door at a step-down type unit, where I would be familiar with the type of patients admitted there. It's where we used to send our ICU patients when they weren't sick enough to be in our unit but too sick/still vented to be on the floor. She wasn't sure about my narcotic restriction but after I stopped in and talked to her face to face, she seemed to reconsider. She asked how much sobriety I had and it turns out she's a recovering cocaine addict, sober 23 years. She said she is a big believer in second chances but she would have to run it by the higher ups to see if it was even possible to take me on.

I am touring one of the detention facilities on Tuesday in hopes that may pan out to be a prospective job. It pays very well and working within a correctional setting wouldn't be too foreign as I've been married to a correctional Sergeant for the past 7 years. I also feel better after talking to my current boss (yes, I have a job but just gave notice due to the toxic environment). He stated he would give me an excellent reference and that the wrong nurse was leaving. He told me he really wanted to have me working in his clinic but the other nurse doesn't give enough reason to fire her and she's not going anywhere. It was nice to hear and nice to know he will give me such high marks to prospective employers!

Quitting my job was really scary but I've been sick at least 5 times over the past month and I truly believe a lot of it has to do with the job. I need to at least like going to work and it's gotten to the point where I dread having to be there. I have tried everything, from talking with this other nurse to trying simple acceptance. But when my co-worker starts telling me that she can make me do this and make me do that, that I'm her "grunt" (in front of patients, mind you)....that does not sit well with me. Dialysis was a unique experience and I'm grateful for the experience but the best thing for me was to start looking elsewhere. And if I can't find a job right away, I'll spend the summer with my kiddos and doing little projects around the house....even if we'll be completely broke!!

shopgirl44 · Jul 3, 2009

What about GI nursing?

shopgirl44 · Jul 5, 2009

They are very much pro-Recovery at this clinic and I was upfront about my situation when I interviewed. We'll see how it turns out.

I was wondering how this approach turned out? I was thinking about interviewing with an eating disorder clinic and wasn't sure whether to mention my battle with bulimia. One would think having the disease would be the "ultimate experience" employers would want, but on the other hand it does leave room for them to question whether we are fully recovered or not. Just curious! Thanks!

LilRedRN1973 · Jul 6, 2009

They offered me a position but unfortunately, due to my restrictions, I was unable to acccept. I am not allowed to be the only RN on duty and at this facility, their DON is not present at all times on the premises. They encourged me strongly to come back once these restrictions are lifted because they said I was just the kind of nurse they would want working with their residents.

On another positive note, I was hired at the outpatient medication clinic...I'm am THRILLED!!! It's the job I wanted and I'm ecstatic they are willing to hire someone with no psych experience (they were actually looking for a Psych RN II, which is someone with at least a year of experience). Regular hours, great benefits, no problem fitting with all the restrictions placed upon me by the Board, and the pay is actually more than what I was making at the dialysis clinic (I had thought I would be taking a pay cut). Very happy to be getting on with the state and after a year, I will automatically go to a Psych RN II, which is a decent pay raise. They were great when I talked about my recovery and all that it entailed and understood how important it is to me. I actually had my second interview on my sobriety birthday and was given the good news later in the day!

When you mentioned GI nursing, were you talking about stuff like endoscopy, etc.? I know for me, I would not be approved because that position requires me to administer midazolam and fentanyl, which I'm currently not allowed to give. But it was part of my plan that once I received my narcotics privileges back, I would look for a position in an outpatient GI clinic. Good hours, one patient at a time, no holidays, etc. And having ICU experience is required, at least here in my area, to work in that type of nursing position. But if I'm happy at this new job, I don't plan on going anywhere. The group of RN's I've met thus far are really down to earth and seem to be a great bunch. The nurse facilitator for my nurse support group knows the supervisor and says he's a really good guy. It sounds promising and I'm thrilled to not have to continue at my current place of employment. It's not a good environment for me to be in and tomorrow will be my last few hours working there. I will miss the patients, my techs, and my boss tremendously, but I won't miss the 14 hours or the other nurse I work with who continuously dumps all her work on me and attempts to leave me alone as the "charge" RN (which is a HUGE violation of my contract) so she can take off for lunch or some other errand.

UKauxilliarynurse · Jul 6, 2009

DO NOT go acute elderly medical...we get a tonne of alzhimers and dementia patients come through and all the do is kick/bite/punch/scratch.

MizChelleRN · Nov 26, 2009

Just wanted to bump this thread since Wednesday I've been approved for active job search...woohoo! A lot has changed since I posted my ideas last June. Oh and what job search engines do you guys use? Monster? careerbuilder? Thanks for the advice. xo

RNRutRO · Dec 7, 2009

Didn't see anyone mention Home Health. I know that not everyone can do it because of their restrictions, but I find it to be a very low abuse specialty for me. Good luck finding a job.

sharona97, BSN, RN · Dec 7, 2009

Regarding Dialysis, My son worked as a tech in a dialysis center and one of is triggers for his addictions is needles. So not knowing if "triggers" are an issue for you or not at this point, I thought I'd mention that.