How have your career aspirations changed, if at all?

[Umberlee]

I am currently pretty lost in my career path and am wondering if anyone else experienced a "rebirth," forced or voluntary, thanks to coping with recovery issues and/or the loss of a job.

Have you found a passion for behavioral health or addictions, seeing the struggles we have gone through first-hand?

Were you fired and had to start over in another specialty?

Did you ever think about leaving nursing altogether?

I had a very comfy 9-5 M-F type job in case management for years. I do really miss the easy-peasy nature of that type of nursing--I have never been an "adrenaline junkie" or even particularly wanted to do acute or critical care, because I always found myself very stressed out during hospital clinics. Being let go from that job, however, I am lacking many skills I feel like I need to be marketable, so I'm currently working on getting my foot in the door at a hospital here which has been unbelievably difficult!

I bounce around ideas all the time as to where I want to be long-term with my career. Do I want to go to grad school? Should I try to go back to psych nursing? (I did it once for awhile back while "moonlighting" and liked it, just not sure it is where I want to be right now since I'm seeking a higher level of nursing skills.)

I've always loved wound care so I'm planning to get wound care certified, and in the meantime there is a wound clinic nurse opening on our local hospital's website that has been up since January 3 for some reason so I figured what the hell and put in an application. They have turned me down before so I don't have my heart set on it too much but I'm working on my long-term goals of finding a niche and bumping my long-term job off the front page of my resume.

[jwmwinter, ASN, RN]

I completely understand where your coming from. Although my nursing skills are more clinically based, I fear what will come when I eventually start looking for work again. I spent 5 years in a neuro critical care setting where I flourished. I think everyday about all that I through away. If I knew then what I know now. I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about how easily nurses fall victim to this disease. I can remember being in nursing school and having no didactic geared towards the susceptibility of nurses becoming addicts. As speak to my case worker with the state regularly and she has informed me that this disease among nurses has become an epidemic. Education is key and knowledge is power. Granted we are powerless against this disease, but we could've at least had the upper hand.

[Umberlee]

Well, I actually got a call back from the hospital re: my application--when I applied a couple years ago, when I was more new to my probationary program, I just got a rejection email without ever getting past HR. The woman who spoke to me on the phone immediately questioned me about why I had been fired (I put "would prefer to discuss in person" on my application) but then went on to questions about my availability and skills, so that was encouraging. She basically said she would have to check with HR as to whether they would hire me while I'm on a contract or if I'd have to wait until I graduated. There are other nurses on a contract with that hospital so I'm hoping HR gives the green light...sure, I'd still have to hope the hiring manager doesn't have any hang-ups about my past transgressions, but it IS encouraging to get further this time. I feel like I'm slowly making gains and putting the past behind me.

[jwmwinter, ASN, RN]

I think that is great. I hope that everything works out for you. HR is typically the deciding entity in all hires. Managers may have their "say", but each manager looks to HR for support in their decisions. I wish you the best of luck. Your personal gain through this endeavor will give hope to all recovering nurses.

[wish_me_luck, BSN, RN]

I was lucky enough to be blessed to be in love with community and public health. Will keep at that route...

[all_over_again]

I left nursing. I couldn't bring myself to put up with the terms of my monitoring agreement, knowing that getting a job would be next to impossible once I completed it.

I work in a law firm now. I make about a third less money but there's very little stress and it's an opiate-free environment. Win-win. I'm been off of opiates for six years now. I don't know if that would have been the case if I had gone back to bedside nursing. Plus, I still get to use my education and experience in nursing for the personal injury cases.