Nurses in Recovery

[ruca30]

Hey all...I'm a new member (this website is a GREAT find by the way - I've been telling ppl about it left and right) so you have to forgive if I screw this up but: I would like some input/advice from other nurses in regards to MHPRC. I've been an RN for almost two years now. Seems like that's the only thing I can ever remember wanting to be! About 8 months ago I became addicted to opiates. Started with legitmately prescribed Vicodin for chronic, intense pain, then escalated from there. Thankfully, I've been clean for 3 months now and working my recovery program. Here's the thing: I self-reported to MHPRC (and still got fired) and am jumping through all the hoops they line up for me in order to keep my license. However, now that I'm trying to look for a new job, I keep running into the same old thing. I'm told "we support MHPRC and our recovering nurses internally, but we don't hire recovering nurses from outside until their contract is up." (MHPRC contracts typically last 3 years.) OK... I can certainly understand the hesitation...but now what? Do I just need to accept that I can no longer work as a nurse? Do I need to find a new career? I had hoped to maybe find a position in a setting where a narcotic restriction wouldn't be a problem, but it doesn't seem to be happening. Any kind of feedback would be great. I guess I'm just looking for some direction here. Thanks

[RN~in~CT]

Welcome! Firstly, congrats on being clean for 3 months!! As for the employment issue, how about an environment that involves no narcotics, such as a physicians office?

Not sure about all MD offices, but the one that I worked in for 2 yrs did not have any narcotics.

In a hospital, perhaps discharge planning or case management positions would be areas in which you would not have to deal w/ narcs.

Just a couple thoughts.

Hugs to you, and best wishes.

:kiss