Does is ever end?

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I have been applying for nursing jobs for almost a year now with no luck. Graduated with my BSN recently (had a diploma) and have gotten a lot more calls and even interviews. Even had a company offer me the position and then resend the offer when they decided they couldn't work with my stipulations. I am at an absolute loss for what to do. What companies or types of employment has everyone had luck with? I'm in northern Kentucky and really hoping not to have to relocate as all of our family is here.

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What stipulations are you working with? Have you tried Psych hospitals? I have known a few people that worked with me having stipulations, so,etimes managers are willing to work with you.

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Have you tried Dialysis?

What are your restrictions? Are you on the OIG exclusion list?

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Specializes in ER/ICU.

I am having difficulties finding work in Arizona. I have heard that a nurse recovery group (not sure if you are required to attend or not) is a good place for networking and information sharing. It has taken me months to even get into one of those as they have all been full. I start mine on Tuesday. I am hoping to meet some amazing nurses. With all of the meetings being full and having a need to create new meetings suggests that there are MANY nurses in the same situation as us. The restrictions seem to be blanketed for all nurses regardless of the reason you are in a monitoring program to begin with. The overall lack of knowledge on the part of the employer seems to be the biggest problem. Most employers don't want to "fool around" with an employee on a monitoring program because they don't know what is involved and the overall negative connotation that comes along with the monitoring program.

If any one in this group has any information regardless of state please post to help out a fellow nurse in an unfortunate situation. We all know about dialysis, psych nursing, behavioral health etc... Any new areas or companies that are/are not monitoring program friendly. Whats the worst thing that could happen..... you help out a fellow nurse.

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I have applied everywhere. Had a job offer on the table and they decided they could not guarantee my stipulations would be met 100% of time. No controlled substances, cant work more than 88 hours in 2 weeks, no management or supervising, cant travel between locations, no home health, no agencies, reports 3 times a year, cant be the only RN on site...

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I am in Ohio, I have some of the same restrictions. I just finally got a job at Davita as a dialysis nurse and the only restriction of yours that I can see causing an issue there is the one where you can't be the only RN on site. However, every clinic is different so it may not be an issue. It was hard to find a job! Don't give up. Just keep hounding them until you get it. I wish I had some stellar advice. I also assume you've been given a ton of suggestions on where to look, so I won't do that to you. Good luck, don't give up. You are worth it and you earned it! Keep us posted!

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To answer your initial question, YES it does--there is a light at the end of this tunnel! Keep trying and keep believing--you WILL get a job!

Only 3 reports a year? That's awesome--my stips included monthly reports for the whole 5 years.

I tried numerous places, and only a few would even interview me. I found work at a local prison--they use as few narcs as possible, and you can always put your recovery experience forward as a selling point, because it really is an asset in corrections; lots of substance issues in corrections, and the concepts of recovery are also important in rehabilitating criminals (honesty, accountability, making amends, starting over with a new perspective, etc). So I recommend looking into local jails/prisons for employment.

Best of luck to you! Remember, you are going through a rough patch right now, but if you keep moving forward you will get through it!

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Just wanted to update you all as you have been so helpful! I am happy to say i had an interview at a behavioral health hospital and was offered a job on the spot. I am extremely nervous but thrilled to be in nursing after 6 long years and FINALLY start working off this contract!!

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Thank you so much for your reply CryssyD. I have heard Ohio is one of the worst states as far as recovery goes. If you don't mind sharing some more personal information please PM.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, LTC, Internal Medicine, FP.

You guys all give me hope! I am waiting on my level two background check to come back and while I have no convictions, I do have two arrests. Florida is so weird about laws with healthcare workers. Im so worried I will be disqualified to work via the ACHA disqualification list.

I haven't even gotten my results back but I am driving myself crazy via google and I was just laying in bed thinking about what I would do if I can't work. Nightmares about working in restaurants forever, or going back to school to start over.

Thanks for this thread. It really helps.

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You guys all give me hope! I am waiting on my level two background check to come back and while I have no convictions, I do have two arrests. Florida is so weird about laws with healthcare workers. Im so worried I will be disqualified to work via the ACHA disqualification list.

I haven't even gotten my results back but I am driving myself crazy via google and I was just laying in bed thinking about what I would do if I can't work. Nightmares about working in restaurants forever, or going back to school to start over.

Thanks for this thread. It really helps.

It has been a long road for me. I spent 3 years fighting my original state for my license back. Entered into a new 4 year agreement in my new state and have been job searching for over a year. I do have an arrest and conviction on my record from after I received my original nursing license. I've done a lot to get here and spent thousands in the process. It was not an easy road but I put myself on it and was determined to get back to doing something I love and providing for my family. I am not familiar with Floridas licensing board but I wish you the best of luck!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, LTC, Internal Medicine, FP.

Thank you for the reply! And firstly, congratulations on everything you have accomplished!

I also spent 2 years fighting the state of Missouri to get a license right out of nursing school. (I was arrested and had substance abuse issues PRIOR) to even entering nursing school. They required me to jump through very expensive hoops, which I did, however during that time I started feeling as if I would never get a license.

I met my now ex husband at an NA meeting and believed that he was clean. Long story short, he was still using and after a few months I realized this. I did not run away (as I should have,) but instead I stayed, and I wanted to "help him." *eyeroll* What a big mistake! Add it to the list of many that I have made over the years. I ended up making bad choices with him and ended up fully relapsing. I went back to rehab and then decided to end the marriage as I was now clean and he was not going to change. My parents moved to florida to retire and I followed. Fast forward to current times. I applied for a florida license almost 2 years ago. I was recently granted it as long as I participate in IPN. Which I have been in for 8 months now.

I sometime feel like a fool. Like, I have done all of this, spent all of this money, and I am still not working. But then I realize nursing is what I want to do. THIS IS WHAT I AM GOOD AT, and this is what I love.

I had to do this level two background check thing for my initial license and now I am doing it again via an employer. I am so very confused. One of this things I have an arrest for is something that is on the list of disqualifiers, however I was never convicted. I was though, put on probation and in MO the type of probation I was given is where you don't get convicted and it all goes away after you complete successfully. (goes away, or so I thought, because here we are, revisiting an issue that is from 2007-2009.)

I am sorry for the novel. I just literally have no one else that understands. I have my parents who are very supportive but they don't understand all of this technical stuff. And my nurse support group, well, they are great, but I can't use up all the time in the group on me, and everything I have to say seems like its so long and complicated.

After all this is said and done though, at least I still have my sobriety, and my recovery. Now all I can do is wait, and try not to drive myself crazy with the "what if's."

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