HELP! Does anyone work at a Methadone Clinic?

Hi, my first job several years ago was at a methadone clinic in a small town in the pacific northwest. The hours weren't great (opened at 5:00 am) but otherwise I enjoyed it. Most of my clients were very decent people; some were manipulative but there is no escaping that in nursing. I worked with a very knowledgable counselor and very experienced MD so that was a bonus. Every day was a bit different; more difficult on days when someone tested positive for something and had to start mandatory detox and easier on other days. I never had a day that was unbearable. I would recommend keeping an open mind about the possibility and wish you the best!

I also have an interview at a methadone clinic. I'm interested to know what tasks and responsibilities an LPN has in this environment. The company coordinator told me over the phone that I will be having very little patient contact, so what exactly DO we LPNS do? Thanks for any help :)

megan

My mom worked at a methadone clinic for about five years. It was her last job before she retired. She's an LPN. She really enjoyed it, which surprised me, because she never bought into substance abuse and mental illness as being diseases, but caused by weak character! She dosed almost exclusively the first couple of years, then she branched out into other aspects of the clinic...phone calls, tests, paperwork, etc.

She's an early bird so she loved the hours! It was part time, so most days she was home by noon. And she really came to see that the people she was nursing to really did need help and weren't just bad people.