I LOVE IPN!!! for i am a success story!

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Specializes in Main O.R. and CVOR.

hello all my dear fellow nurses in recovery!

I love you all. I know I sound stupidly happy, that's because I am. you see, I've been on a long, hard journey trying to get back to where I got lost! I am finally there, except I dumped off some really bad junk I had picked up before I got started.

my story sounds like so many on here. I could take bits and pieces of all the stories and put mine together. nurse who used drugs/alcohol and got in trouble with the law (dui's, poss of pot, domestic disputes), had to face the nursing board, copped a 5 year contract with a monitoring program, couldn't find a job, struggling with finances, got on food stamps, minimum wage job (7.50 per hr), depressed (so very depressed), hating myself (oh, wait that's depression), got on antidepressants, cried and begged God for mercy, an open door or some kind of relief from the pain. sound familiar?

well, I tell ya, if you keep the faith, stay honest with yourself and never give up, there's a light at the end of that really long and torturous tunnel..... and it's not a train. :) it's a job!!! I was on this journey for 4.5 long years before I turned myself into IPN. now I've been in IPN for 1 year and 4 months and just got my second job (that is if they don't reject me after the background check). I got the first job in march working in long term care. OMGSH! I believe this was part of my punishment. (sorry all you LTC lovers), but this is the dregs of nursing. BUT, i'm very thankful for this job because I didn't have to go hungry anymore. I have prayed and prayed to get back to the O.R. where my heart is and God finally answered my prayers. After over 100 doors (apps filled out with a "NO" answer) for an O.R. job, someone finally called and gave me a second chance! I've turned in my resignation (happily) to my current employer and start my dream job in august.

I write this for all you new comers and the ones giving up hope! PLEASE DON'T GIVE UP. HAVE FAITH IN YOUR HIGHER POWER, BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF AND DO THE WORK TO KEEP SOBER!!! it may take awhile, but there are people out there willing to give second chances. I found one!!!

if it wasn't for IPN, I would have lost my nursing career! they are NOT the bad guys, you just have to work the program and be honest! I've never had an issue with them (knocking on wood) because I do what i'm suppose to do!

love to you all!

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Oooooh mmmmyyyy gosh! I have been wondering about you! I even PMed a Couple folks on here to see if they had heard anything about you! This is so wonderful, really truely. Congratulations on the new job!

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Specializes in Main O.R. and CVOR.

aww thank you! I just tried to reply to you in a pm but it says your folder is full. here is the message I typed:

lol! well, I love that you are happy and that's the most important of all. having a healthy outlook and being at peace is the best. everything will fall in place. I hate LTC! LOL!! it's so boring. I am so thankful to get back to the hospital in the O.R. life is so good now that I am getting out. I love that you are going to be a sponsor! you'll be great at it!!! i'll try and keep in touch.

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LTC certainly isn't for everyone but once you've mastered the demands of that job you can work anywhere. Those poor old folks need caring efficient nurses at the end of their life,they deserve it.. BTW for all of the addicts on here wonder why LTC is so forgiving? Answer is because there is such a desperate need so they take a chance with you. Be grateful.. And "hate" is not a nice word, I'm just sayin...

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It's so funny how the universe works. You see, I do not like OR work, but am absolutely enamored by long term care. It will always have a special place in my heart and I hope to get back there some day. For now, and for the next few years I think it will be a trigger, ESP when monitoring ends. Because of dynamics there is such little oversight. But my word, those older folk. I miss them so much.

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Specializes in None yet..
LTC certainly isn't for everyone but once you've mastered the demands of that job you can work anywhere. Those poor old folks need caring efficient nurses at the end of their life,they deserve it.. BTW for all of the addicts on here wonder why LTC is so forgiving? Answer is because there is such a desperate need so they take a chance with you. Be grateful.. And "hate" is not a nice word, I'm just sayin...

Thanks, Tigerboy1! I agree! I'm just finishing orientation at my first CNA job; I'll be starting nursing school in the fall. My facility has TCU and LTC; in-and-out patient care is psychologically easier than the LTC. I am grateful for this job because if I can become competent at all the aspects of this work - physical, psychological and spiritual - I believe I will be able to succeed in any setting. And besides, it is incredible service work.

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Specializes in None yet..
It's so funny how the universe works. You see, I do not like OR work, but am absolutely enamored by long term care. It will always have a special place in my heart and I hope to get back there some day. For now, and for the next few years I think it will be a trigger, ESP when monitoring ends. Because of dynamics there is such little oversight. But my word, those older folk. I miss them so much.

There is something incredibly sweet and wonderful about people at the ends of their lives. I only wish we had more time to connect with them. Caring for their physical needs with minimal staffing takes up almost every minute of the day!

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