I got a job!

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Specializes in Emergency.

I really didn't feel like it would happen for me while in monitoring but I actually got a job. I'm sort of in shock but also feeling really grateful. The anxiety is finally starting to subside, realizing that I will actually have an income soon.

I self reported at the end of February. Then had my crazy expensive evaluation by an addictionologist (what a freaking joke that was by the way). He, of course, recommended inpatient treatment which I completed by the first week of June. I started frantically applying for jobs as soon as I possibly could after I completed that. I had a total of 21 interviews (including phone interviews). Most were very receptive and encouraging when I disclosed that I was in a monitoring program. However, not all of them could accommodate a 6 month narcotic restiction. Understandable. I did mainly avoid positions that I knew could not accommodate some of the restrictions.

I know compared to many, this was a short time of unemployment and I should consider myself lucky. And I do. Still, 5 months without working is insanely difficult. I can't imagine really going much longer.

I honestly had about a week or so in that time period of looking for jobs where I was so depressed I couldn't even get myself to get on the computer and keep searching. Luckily I came out of that funk but it was not pretty. I did have a couple of angry outbursts too when I felt like I was having to tell the whole world how badly I'd messed up. One day I actually called my sponsor crying and yelled that I might as well just advertise it on the side of my car or wear a shirt around explaining my crap situation so I wouldn't have to say the words all the time. There was a lot more swearing in that conversation though. It helps that my sponsor went through monitoring and very recently completed the program.

Finally I see a light. Even though this is just the beginning of my contract, I finally feel like I can conquer this thing. It took a long time for me to get to that though.

I guess I just wanted to share this because the situation is so stressful no matter who you are and any ounce of hope helps.

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Congratulations! That is great news! What job did you get? How did you bring up the monitoring program?

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Woot woot!!!! Congrats! Can you tell us when you brought up the restriction? For those that were receptive, what did you say? For the positions that could not accommodate a 6mo narc restriction, did you find a common theme? ( like it was critical care/ interventional rad/ very small facility/ outpatient, etc?). For the position you were offered and accepted, do you know the general plan to work with that restriction?

Please share your "experience, strength and hope" with us ! [emoji4]

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Specializes in ER, ICU/CCU, Open Heart OR Recovery, Etc.

Congratulations!

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Specializes in tele, ICU, CVICU.

congrats!!! I'm also curious, what type of facility/specialty etc.

and yes, 5 months is relatively short. (I've been out of nursing work for 34 months... and return to it this week! FINALLY!!!) But congrats again & hoping everything goes well.

I understand the whole depression thing at some point in the journey as it's hard to remain positive when all you hear is no. All the "I'm sorry" doesn't help pay the bills or improve your mood/make you feel productive. I was there too. And the whole feeling like wearing a sign/shirt to let the whole world know what happened... it seems society makes it so difficult to do the right thing & become a contributing citizen. But you've gotten beyond it. Only up from here!!!

Congratulations again!!! :-)

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Could you pm me your email address or a number I can reach you at? I can't message you back through here bc it won't let me since I haven't made 15 topic posts. I'd put my email on here but my name is in it.

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Congrats. What job did you get? Ltac, home health, dialysis?

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Awesome!!! Congrats!!!

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Specializes in Emergency.

It's dialysis. I've only ever worked in critical areas so it will be a HUGE change for me. Initially, I was really lamenting the fact that I would not be able to return to those areas. Huge blow to my ego I guess. But I swallowed my pride and just started applying for jobs that I knew could accommodate restrictions.

There were a couple of different ways I would bring it up in the interview. The easiest transition into the conversation was usually when they asked me to tell them about a time I made a mistake and how I handled the situation. I didn't go into specific detail about what I had done except to say that I made a mistake at work that led me where I am today and then went on to explain that I voluntarily reported myself to a monitoring program. I always spun it into something really positive.

Now, if it was more than one person interviewing me, I did not bring it up at all. My feeling is, it isn't necessary for more than your immediate supervisor to know you're in a monitoring program so there's no need for me to tell more than that person. In that situation, I would make sure to get the supervisors name from the interview and call them either later that day or the next day to let them know my situation.

I believe that being up front about the monitoring program is best. I know some people may disagree and that's fine. One way to spin it in a positive light is to say, "the reason I am telling you up front is because I believe in transparency and doing the right thing. I want to be up front and honest with you because that's just who I am and I also don't want to waste your time if it's something that can not be accommodated in this position."

I had supervisors tell me that I was courageous and they really admired what I was doing and how I was going about it. If it was a job that ended up not being able to deal with restrictions they would tell me up front and almost always say something like, "I wish you the best of luck, I know you're going to do great with this, you'll definitely get the job you want just keep pushing". Another one told me that she was really sad that the position couldn't accommodate the restrictions because she knew I'd be a great employee and to just "Keep doing exactly what you're doing in your interviews because I see something in you, someone will hire you and they'll be so lucky to have you". Some of those interviews were really a boost of confidence. A few of them said, "hey I'm not judging you at all, we all have skeletons in our closets". Made me feel like less of an outcast for sure.

I do feel like those responses came out because I approached the whole thing with confidence and positivity. It probably helps that I really do feel that way about my situation now because I'm terrible at hiding how I feel.

The job I interviewed for that I thought I wanted the MOST turned out to be the one with the least desirable response. While the response wasn't necessarily rude, it was very cold and she told me that they don't hire anyone in a monitoring program and I wouldn't be eligible to work there until I was completely finished. I got over that job real quick. What I learned from it was that if I had withheld the fact that I was in a monitoring program, I would have gone through that whole process thinking the job was still a possibility and they would be thinking the same thing. Until I got an offer. Then it would have been retracted and that's a lot of wasted time.

So, DON'T waste your time or anyone else's. It's hard to say those words over and over. But, there is a graceful way to approach it, I promise.

As far as dialysis, I am so over feeling like that job might be "beneath" me because I ONLY work critical care. I honestly didn't know much about it. So when I interviewed and learned about it, I actually got really excited and I can't wait to start.

Oh, I pretty much completely stayed away from any job that I KNEW couldn't do restrictions. Basically any acute care Hospital position I did not apply for.

Wow this post is insanely long, I'm sorry. On that note, I'm out. But, if you guys have other questions I'd be happy to answer them.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

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Specializes in ER, ICU/CCU, Open Heart OR Recovery, Etc.

Thank you for sharing this! It is helpful to those who are in a similar situation and will need to know how to approach this with potential employers in a positive, honest manner. Good luck to you and keep us posted on how you like things.

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Did you have a problem finding an insurance carrier that would write you a professional liability policy? Were you required by the board to carry one? My wife has been an RN for 12 years, she worked at a hospital for 6 and was selected for a random drug screening. Her mother had passed away a year previously and she was prescribed xanax during this time. She didn't take many of them but took some after the prescription expired and it showed up on the random test. It's illegal to take your prescribed medications if they have expired. They fired her and reported her to the board. She voluntarily surrendered her license for a year, attended NA meetings per board order and did the affinity screenings for a year. Back to the board reinstatement hearing and they reinstated her but she was ordered to complete refresher course, pay $500 fine, do the drug assessment for $350, refresher course was $495, and now she is starting the 100 clinical required by the college where she completed the refresher course. The college required her to obtain professional before she started the clinical. That was the problem. Took a month to find a carrier that would insure her and the premium was $2000. NSO and Proliability stated that they do not insure nurses that have been disciplined. The board issued her a temporary license to complete her clinical and after that she will receive her regular license reinstatement. But for the next four years she has to attend 3 NA meetings per week, Affinity testing, can't work more than 84 hours in a two week period, no home health and her employer has to submit quarterly reports about her work. The good thing is she has no med restrictions. But has been a trying 3 years. The hospital where she is doing her clinical is going to hire her.

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