IPN contract received...now to find a job!

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IPN contract received; no treatment required! Only 2years monitoring with a 6month key restriction! I'm super happy but I'm nervous about the next step; finding a job!! I have read as far as IPN friendly jobs go, Dialysis is a good place. However, I'm seeing that they require 1 years nursing experience (I only have 3months in ICU and 4years as a tech, not like that part matters). Some SNIFS/LTC places even prefer 1-3years. Any suggestions as to where to look?? And how often and how much do drug screens typically run? Currently broke as all get out :(

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I'd apply anywhere that's within your contact! Take what you can get. I know some jails/prisons don't mind hiring nurses in recovery as they don't even have the options of administering narcotics. They're actually very safe ad everyone is searched and goes through a metal detector prior to entering, and you have a guard by you at all times. And the inmates usually like the nurses.

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Hey! How is your job search going? I am in a similar boat so just curious about your search and what you've encountered.

Thabks

Jas

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Jas10 did you have to do treatment? Did they make you go for more neurocognitive testing after your eval?

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Hey Austin, no treatment (I wasn't found to have a substance abuse disorder) and didn't have to do a neurocognitive test at all. I started my contract nearly 3 weeks ago and just got my license approved so ready to start looking for a job at this point.

Are you having to do more testing and evaluations?

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The job search was quite easy actually. I filled out about 25 or so applications through Indeed for anything and everything (lots of LTC) on a Saturday and immediately got calls Monday morning. I had a job by the end of the week. My problem was I said yes to the first people that Monday rather than going through the other 5 interviews I had lined up that week. That place was definitely hard up for nurses but it was work. I'm off on maternity leave now and will be looking for employment somewhere else when I'm ready to go back to work 6weeks or so after the baby is born.

And for anyone interested in how pregnancy and IPN works, they're really understanding. I've heard people have crazy amounts of dilute urine from peeing and drinking so much but I never rand across that problem so far and I'm almost done cooking lol. And when she's born, I just submit a monitoring interruption as soon as I can. My case manager made it clear if I go into labor randomly before expected and before I submitted paperwork, to just call and let them know ASAP so they know what's happened and then submit my interruption afterwards. She said typically the interruption is 3-4 weeks or so.

But anyway, IPN has been annoying but it's definitely doable. I had them approve me for an office job but because the employer has said i would have 2hrs a week of overtime, they denied me starting there literally the day before I was to start which was very disappointing. But I picked myself up and found something else. Just follow their picky and annoying rules and you'll be fine!

Also, as far as disclosing my IPN involvement, I never do it on interviews. I literally wait till the offer is in hand then tell them. This is what I've come up with to say every time "I just wanted to let you know I participate in a voluntary nurse program called IPN that provides resources for nurses who have struggled with addiction in the past. I meet once a week with other nurses in a support group to discuss work life and stressful issues. I have a case manager that calls me periodically to see how I'm doing and she will need to call to introduce herself to my direct manager before my start date of blah blah and, once a quarter, she will email you a work evaluation form so she can see how good of a job I do at work. I'm very grateful to be apart of the program and I wanted to thank you so much for the opportunity to come and be apart of your team. "

Super simple and sweet. I don't tell them I do random drug testing cause I don't find it to be a big deal or a hinderance with the job, plus, my case managers says she mentions that in her speech to the employer.

Let me know if you have anymore questions!

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Hey so I finished all the testing, wasn't found to have a supstance abuse disorder, they just want me to be monitored. The evaluator said he had no problem with it being a 2 year contract with one year early termination if everything goes well for that year & he had no problem with me going back to my unit and not having a narc restriction. He sent in his 24hr report but is still working on his final report. All my hair and drug tests have been negative (total of 7) just waiting on ipn to send me my contract. How long did it take for you to get yours?

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This post gives me hope! thank you!

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Specializes in 18 years in a hospital.

Anyone still with IPN contract. Haven seen any new Q&A.

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