bipolar recovering addict cant get job ! is it over

Eru IlÃºvatar · Feb 21, 2015

Its over guys. I've lost my car , my home , my spouse left me and I don't have money to renew nursing license. My family and old friends won't help. I'm in a damn shelter.why are nursing students not told about what happens if you make a mistake ? There is no forgiveness in nursing ! I never belived that until now.GOD must be helping someone more worthy

This is not unique to nursing. You made a mistake and now are facing the consequences of that mistake. Is a part of being an adult.

I am not going to assume anything and there are probably reasons that made you do what you did, thats bot my business to meddle into. But like with any other profession there are rules in place to ensure proper and standard behaviors/outcomes.

Wanting to be a nurse does not means that everyone can or should be a nurse! Seek help, approach the resources available to you, try to recover from this blown and then you can show that you deserve a chance based on the corrective actions you have undergone.

Do not blame a profession for your own mistakes. And do not expect your actions to be forgotten so easily, take responsibility for them and seek a solution.

Also nursing students are tough since the beginning of the program how a little mistake ( medication error, ethical, etc) can be career and life destroying. So we are tough to be safe and careful nurses, as to avoid any kind of situations happening to us. You have people lives in your hand, so a mistake is punished based on that assumption.

Goof luck...

Earthmama · Feb 23, 2015

This is not unique to nursing. You made a mistake and now are facing the consequences of that mistake. Is a part of being an adult.
I am not going to assume anything and there are probably reasons that made you do what you did, thats bot my business to meddle into. But like with any other profession there are rules in place to ensure proper and standard behaviors/outcomes.
Wanting to be a nurse does not means that everyone can or should be a nurse! Seek help, approach the resources available to you, try to recover from this blown and then you can show that you deserve a chance based on the corrective actions you have undergone.
Do not blame a profession for your own mistakes. And do not expect your actions to be forgotten so easily, take responsibility for them and seek a solution.
Also nursing students are tough since the beginning of the program how a little mistake ( medication error, ethical, etc) can be career and life destroying. So we are tough to be safe and careful nurses, as to avoid any kind of situations happening to us. You have people lives in your hand, so a mistake is punished based on that assumption.
Goof luck...

This is exactly the type of attitude that we must all fight against. She has sought help, gone to the available resources, and been deemed fit to work while under a monitoring contract. She is no longer a student, she is having difficulty finding work - because others, such as yourself, do not think she deserves a chance. Your post reeks of judgment and superiority.

Rest assured, none of us are under the impression that anyone is to blame for the mistakes we made while in active addiction. We are well versed in consequences. We all well aware that our actions are not easily forgotten - we get a healthy dose of humility and acceptance every single time we check in for a drug screen, urinate in front of strangers, hit our required 12 step meetings, attend our counseling sessions that are anything but private, or any other of the steps we take for five years in order to remain licensed. We know that we are fortunate for a second chance, and please understand that the BON does not hand out those second chances indiscriminately - we work very hard for them.

The aspect of all of this that is often the most frustrating for us is that after everything, after we have been deemed fit to practice, we often struggle for years to find someone willing to hire us because of our past. We as a profession, who should understand that addiction is a chronic disease that can be managed, are much harder on each other than is necessary. If the BON deems that we can work, knowing all they know of us, then that should be the end of it.

To the OP. I'm very sorry for your circumstances. All I can say is that the best course of action for you is to throw yourself into your recovery and keep doing the next right thing. When we do that and trust that our HP will guide us in the right direction, opportunities open up for us that are better than we could have ever dreamed. I looked for a job for three years and found one in a treatment facility where I often spoke with my NA group. They knew me, knew my story and wanted me not in spite of it, but BECAUSE of it. Just don't give up, you can make it through this.

Eru IlÃºvatar · Feb 23, 2015

This is exactly the type of attitude that we must all fight against. She has sought help, gone to the available resources, and been deemed fit to work while under a monitoring contract. She is no longer a student, she is having difficulty finding work - because others, such as yourself, do not think she deserves a chance. Your post reeks of judgment and superiority.
Rest assured, none of us are under the impression that anyone is to blame for the mistakes we made while in active addiction. We are well versed in consequences. We all well aware that our actions are not easily forgotten - we get a healthy dose of humility and acceptance every single time we check in for a drug screen, urinate in front of strangers, hit our required 12 step meetings, attend our counseling sessions that are anything but private, or any other of the steps we take for five years in order to remain licensed. We know that we are fortunate for a second chance, and please understand that the BON does not hand out those second chances indiscriminately - we work very hard for them.
The aspect of all of this that is often the most frustrating for us is that after everything, after we have been deemed fit to practice, we often struggle for years to find someone willing to hire us because of our past. We as a profession, who should understand that addiction is a chronic disease that can be managed, are much harder on each other than is necessary. If the BON deems that we can work, knowing all they know of us, then that should be the end of it.
To the OP. I'm very sorry for your circumstances. All I can say is that the best course of action for you is to throw yourself into your recovery and keep doing the next right thing. When we do that and trust that our HP will guide us in the right direction, opportunities open up for us that are better than we could have ever dreamed. I looked for a job for three years and found one in a treatment facility where I often spoke with my NA group. They knew me, knew my story and wanted me not in spite of it, but BECAUSE of it. Just don't give up, you can make it through this.

You totally misinterpreted my post.

I have not attacked her and there is nothing judgmental or presence of superiority in my post. I pointed out to the fact that I am not judging how it got to the point that lead to the situation she is now. That I understand is a complex issue, however she has been attacking nurses and nursing by saying that "we are not forgiving profession", " that why is this happening to me". All i did was kindly point to the reasons this is happening, and that she has been forgiven if she still holds a license and is not in jail.

I understand to give support is important, but being realistic is much important too, when people make mistakes there is consequences, no matter how many times they say they are sorry. Imagine that it would had affected the life of a patient, no matter how many times the nurse says sorry, it will not bring the patient back to life. So i stand by my statament, which is factual and not judgemental, beacsue i dont know her specific situation.

dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN · Feb 23, 2015

You totally misinterpreted my post.
I have not attacked her and there is nothing judgmental or presence of superiority in my post.

No, let me be the second person to assure you that your post reeked of a superior, judgmental attitude.

Omaapecm, ASN, RN · Feb 23, 2015

It's hard to take a stance when you don't know the whole story. How ever this is a support group and pcorral obviously needed support and kind words! It's the boards job to determine if she is safe and considering how strict they are I am totally ok with there judgement. If they have given her a monitored license they obviously see something in her! Have a good day every body

Big Blondie, ASN, BSN, MSN, APRN · Feb 24, 2015

I dont see any reason to believe this person should feel lucky they arent in jail. They never mentioned the commision of a crime...and the statement about being forgiven was uncalled for. That attitude was not supportive nor sought out. To the OP...many here are praying for you. Keep your head up, this too shall pass. One day at a time. Dont give up

seanzilla · Mar 18, 2015

No, let me be the second person to assure you that your post reeked of a superior, judgmental attitude.

Let me THIRD that sentiment, especially since it sounds like it came from a heartless LCDC counselor, and certainly NOT a nurse -- at least not the kind of nurse that I would ever associate with. Making charged statements like "Wanting to be a nurse does not means that everyone can or should be a nurse!" most certainly promotes the suggestion of "superiority" in this matter, and falls critically short of demonstrating any sense of support, care, or humility. Sorry to be inflamed about this, but that was just a terrible statement.

mclennan, BSN, RN · Mar 18, 2015

Let me THIRD that sentiment, especially since it sounds like it came from a heartless LCDC counselor, and certainly NOT a nurse -- at least not the kind of nurse that I would ever associate with. Making charged statements like "Wanting to be a nurse does not means that everyone can or should be a nurse!" most certainly promotes the suggestion of "superiority" in this matter, and falls critically short of demonstrating any sense of support, care, or humility. Sorry to be inflamed about this, but that was just a terrible statement.

I'll FOURTH the sentiment. This person made a mistake yes. She's quite well aware of it and sounds to me like she has paid quite the penance. She's in a shelter and has lost everything & came here for support and resources.....not to be torn down further by some preachy bootstraps lecture. Come on.

PCORRAL · Mar 18, 2015

I thank all of you who were able to hear my cry for help. Although I have lost all material things and some relationships , I have not lost faith in myself or GOD .It is those of you who were able to read between the lines and heard me that keep me hanging on.Thank you

june2009 · Mar 19, 2015

I would like to say that I fifth the sentiment. OP, you are having a difficult time right now but to say it in the words of my fellow addicts, "keep coming back". You will find the support you need from other nurses here on this forum. Keep your head up and just do the next right thing. Things will work out the way they are supposed to.

catmom1, BSN, RN · Mar 21, 2015

I have been standing on the sidelines on this thread and every time I read the posts of Eru IlÃºvatar, I am left wondering what made this person (is it a male?) so persistent in offering to "rub the OP's nose" in Eru's so-called reality. This passion for condemnation is fueled by something in Eru's psyche, I believe. I am not a religious person, but all I can think is "Thank God" not everyone has this attitude.

In addition, as a middle-aged person, I also attribute Eru's judgmental stance to his (?), to me, very young age of 25. After you have seen and felt a few hard knocks in life, many things are not so black and white. I feel fortunate that I have a more merciful attitude now than I probably had 30 years ago, before having "life happen" to me in subsequent years.

Namaste and best wishes to PCORRAL. You are NOT alone sweetie! :hug:

Catmom :paw:

Eru IlÃºvatar · Mar 21, 2015

I have been standing on the sidelines on this thread and every time I read the posts of Eru IlÃºvatar, I am left wondering what made this person (is it a male?) so persistent in offering to "rub the OP's nose" in Eru's so-called reality. This passion for condemnation is fueled by something in Eru's psyche, I believe. I am not a religious person, but all I can think is "Thank God" not everyone has this attitude.
In addition, as a middle-aged person, I also attribute Eru's judgmental stance to his (?), to me, very young age of 25. After you have seen and felt a few hard knocks in life, many things are not so black and white. I feel fortunate that I have a more merciful attitude now than I probably had 30 years ago, before having "life happen" to me in subsequent years.
Namaste and best wishes to PCORRAL. You are NOT alone sweetie! :hug:
Catmom :paw:

First of all I am entitled to my opinion in the matter. I stopped commenting once i realized this was posted on the support section of the forums, so it was not the proper place for me to argue with the OP or any of the posters points.

Second of all you dont know my life or my history, so blatantly saying things about me ( because I am male, because I am 25) is not in your place. Again I am entitled to my opinion, and I gave it, also I don't know your story but seen what you just wrote to me I can for sure assume I have been through more in my 25 years of life than whatever you have gone through in yours, life is measured in the experiences lived, not the years passed. Good luck and goodbye...

Respectfully, Eru.