Job interviews with IPN

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I recently got my 5 year contract for IPN. I have a 1 year narcotic restriction but I really need to begin working I’ve applied just about everywhere. I have one job interview today at a surgery center where I’d be the only nurse working with an MD and NP. I don’t have high hopes about getting this job once I break the news being that I’d be the only nurse and I’m sure they’ll need me to pass narcs.

I also have another interview tmrw at a HCA hospital on a PCU. I really want this job but have a feeling they won’t want to work around my narcotic block either. I’m sooo nervous and don’t know how to go about this and even though I’m going to go, I feel like it’s jut going to get my hopes down if I get turned down.

Any advice or experience with interviewing with a narcotic restriction would be great!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Women's Health, LTC.

I have heard that dialysis is contract friendly. Also, LTC. I know that is not always the most desired place to work, but, if it gets you through your narc restriction, it may be worth a try.

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Specializes in OR.

You might also try pre-op areas. Depending on the exact position, you might just be doing pre surgery interviewing or if day of, just prep (place IV, consents stuff, antibiotic, etc.). There’s not usually any controlled substances. If there are, it’s low level single dose stuff and there are other nurses around to do it.

There’s also infusion centers. Handy if you’ve some experience in chemo.

General interviewing advice when carrying this ‘scarlet letter’ is to remember that regardless of what got you here, you are NOT ‘damaged goods’ and you do not have to beg for a job. Back at the start, I used to moan that it wasn’t right that I should be expected to ‘crucify myself on the carpet of some manager’s office’ vomiting out my worldly sins, begging for a job (okay, a bit dramatic) because of the restrictions imposed on me by IPN. Well, somewhere it occurred to me that any manager that was worth working for didn’t care *why* I had the contract. They cared if I could do the job, do it reliably and do it well. It was all in how I presented myself. I sold myself as in any interview pre-IPN. I mention the contract at the end. At that point, if they are interested in me, it’s because of my skills.

Try not to let it get you down if these don’t pan out. My experience has been that the rejecting tends to not come from the manager you are interviewing with so much as it does from HR or above. I’ve had it where I could See the wheels turning in the interviewing managers head, until I mentioned the elephant in the room. Management can be perfectly willing to work with your stipulations but they get overruled by HR and people who know nothing of these programs or have any interest in learning, and that is their loss.

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7 hours ago, catsmeow1972 said:

You might also try pre-op areas. Depending on the exact position, you might just be doing pre surgery interviewing or if day of, just prep (place IV, consents stuff, antibiotic, etc.). There’s not usually any controlled substances. If there are, it’s low level single dose stuff and there are other nurses around to do it.

There’s also infusion centers. Handy if you’ve some experience in chemo.

General interviewing advice when carrying this ‘scarlet letter’ is to remember that regardless of what got you here, you are NOT ‘damaged goods’ and you do not have to beg for a job. Back at the start, I used to moan that it wasn’t right that I should be expected to ‘crucify myself on the carpet of some manager’s office’ vomiting out my worldly sins, begging for a job (okay, a bit dramatic) because of the restrictions imposed on me by IPN. Well, somewhere it occurred to me that any manager that was worth working for didn’t care *why* I had the contract. They cared if I could do the job, do it reliably and do it well. It was all in how I presented myself. I sold myself as in any interview pre-IPN. I mention the contract at the end. At that point, if they are interested in me, it’s because of my skills.

Try not to let it get you down if these don’t pan out. My experience has been that the rejecting tends to not come from the manager you are interviewing with so much as it does from HR or above. I’ve had it where I could See the wheels turning in the interviewing managers head, until I mentioned the elephant in the room. Management can be perfectly willing to work with your stipulations but they get overruled by HR and people who know nothing of these programs or have any interest in learning, and that is their loss.

Thank you so much that was very helpful, I will keep all of that in mind!

My interview today went very well for the outpatient surgery center (I would barely be passing meds besides antibiotics occasionally) but I was too nervous to mention my IPN involvement. I have a second interview Monday with the doctor I’d be working aside... not sure if I should mention it to him or if I’ll have a third interview with the manager? Not sure but I’m thinking I’m going to wait until I basically have the offer in hand.

Im not getting my hopes up so I don’t get let down but I also won’t give up going to keep pushing I’ve made it this far. And like you said I know the job that’s meant for me won’t judge based off my past

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Ask your case manager at IPN if you can be evaluated for Vivitrol. If they approve you, it will remove the narcotic restriction.

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18 hours ago, Dizneefan said:

Ask your case manager at IPN if you can be evaluated for Vivitrol. If they approve you, it will remove the narcotic restriction.

I am on vivitrol and still have the restriction ? I will ask

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