Need advice - finding a job with stips

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I'll try to make this as short as possible. When I was a brand new nurse I kept making mistakes on my first month on the floor. My manager had then fired me and reported me to the board of nursing. That was back in 2008. I received my orders this year in May. I am currently looking for a job. I have looked everywhere and applied everywhere - nursing homes, clinics, home health, agencies, hospitals, etc. I am told that my work experience is impressive but the moment they discover I have stipulations on my license they give me the "we'll call you" line. I've been hired and let go because managers change their minds with "taking a chance"( problem with at-will states). Or the other way, managers want to give me a chance but the company or the CNO doesn't. Majority of people flat out have a requirement that licenses be "unmarked" so to speak. I talked to a board of nursing representative and she said that yes, people with stipulations gets hired but it seems to me that people that receive stipulations are already employed and their employer just decides to keep them knowing what kind of employee they have on their hands(rabbit I had to chase, sorry). I'm caught between a rock and a hard place. I have to be employed for one year for my stips to be removed but nobody will hire me because I have stips. Anybody been through this or know of anybody who's been through this? Is it time to throw in the towel and get another career? How do nurses who have worse than a warning on their license manage to get a job? Don't mean to sound dramatic but I've been unemployed for almost 3 months now, forgetting how to think or even be a nurse, receiving unemployment, possibly returning back to live with my parents, extremely discouraged due to constant rejections and negative comments nurses and CNO's have told me, and just sad because all my dreams regarding nursing have seemingly been dashed to pieces.

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Specializes in Oncology, Psych, Corrections.

Sorry you're going though this but I have to ask--what kind of mistakes did you make? I made mistakes too as a new nurse but never ones that would get me reported. You don't have to say if it's too personal. If you're lucky enough to find a job, do everything in your power to protect your dang license!!!! Good luck.

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So, you graduated and got your first job as an RN that lasted 1 month back in '08. Now you got the BON tarnish on your license too. I think it's that, and the fact that you are competing with thousands of new grads for an entry level job. Just the fact that you are still new is cause enough to keep you from an RN job these days.

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Specializes in Tele; Ortho; Home Health; Nursing Ed.
So, you graduated and got your first job as an RN that lasted 1 month back in '08. Now you got the BON tarnish on your license too. I think it's that, and the fact that you are competing with thousands of new grads for an entry level job. Just the fact that you are still new is cause enough to keep you from an RN job these days.

I am sorry that you are going through this, as I am sure it is rough.

I do have to agree with what onaclearday wrote though. I hate to say it, but your prospects are dim in my opinion having been a manager. That is my 2 cents worth :twocents:

Good luck for the future and remember the saying 'things are always the darkest before dawn.' :heartbeat

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Specializes in Critical Care.

What are your stips? What does that mean or refer to exactly. Is it something general or something specific? Never heard of it.

Good luck with the Job Search. Nowadays it is harder to get a job than it used to be due to the down economy and alot of nursing schools churning out new grads!

I never realized how lucky I am to have survived this far (almost 20 years) without any major problems. But it has always been difficult and stressful either due to performance anxiety or lack of real world experience to now the increased staffing ratios and computer big brother and basically the lack of control over your work environment.

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"What are your stips? What does that mean or refer to exactly. Is it something general or something specific? Never heard of it."

My license is titled with warning with stipulations. Stipulations are basically what it is that is required or ordered in order to "fix" your licensure status - be it restrictions, supervision, ordered courses, fines,etc. However mine is just what it is, a title. I require no supervision nor do I have restrictions on my practice. I have to take one course on med administration and then be employed for one year before the warning is lifted. I have one of the least "punishments" that the board can impose. You could also get a fine, a reprimand, your license suspended, revoked, you can voluntarily surrender your license, or a combination of these.

"Sorry you're going though this but I have to ask--what kind of mistakes did you make?"

I made one med error, wasting error, and 4 order errors regarding discharge and home health planning.

Thank you for your replies.

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Specializes in Home Health.

This is happening to my daughter due to a single DUI. She was almost killed in the accident; there were no other injuries or real damage to the other vehicle. I've been an RN for 26 years and am going to recommend that she find another career. She will most certainly lose her home, and she is a single mother to a 15 year old. Unbelievable!

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This is just me on a soap box ...

"Just the fact that you are still new is cause enough to keep you from an RN job these days. "

I think that being a nurse for 3 years is still kinda new but like I said it took 3 years for my orders to come out. During the time of deliberation I was employed as an RN on stepdown units taking care of patients on drips and vents. I've been a charge nurse as well and preceptor to new employees. My coworkers in my evals have given me positive reviews. It's like it doesn't matter how well I've been doing -- the title itself is like the scarlet letter.

"This is happening to my daughter due to a single DUI. She was almost killed in the accident; there were no other injuries or real damage to the other vehicle. I've been an RN for 26 years and am going to recommend that she find another career. She will most certainly lose her home, and she is a single mother to a 15 year old. Unbelievable!"

So much for job stability!

A lot of RN's that I've talked to have not realized who our governing authority is. The board is not on our side. To whomever reads this read your nurse practice act. Read your newsletters that come in the mail that informs us of new laws or changes to our "constitution". Not even relying on the fact that you're new at a job is an excuse. You're held liable regardless, ignorant or not. Fight to keep your licenses. Doesn't matter what anybody else thinks or how anybody else pouts up on the job if you actively protect your license.

I'm just trying to find a way out. Trying to find some aid from somebody who's been there done that. But I have yet to hear any success or victory stories. Kinda doubting I will -- but thank you anyway for the comments.

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Specializes in Corrections, Education, Med/Surg, AGNP-HIV.
This is happening to my daughter due to a single DUI. She was almost killed in the accident; there were no other injuries or real damage to the other vehicle. I've been an RN for 26 years and am going to recommend that she find another career. She will most certainly lose her home, and she is a single mother to a 15 year old. Unbelievable!

:eek: It is the boards job to protect the public. As you say she was "almost killed" or could have killed someone else..One DUI is one too many. What I find unbelievable is you blaming the board instead of the one who is to blame..your daughter. She chose to drink and drive and now there are consequences to that decision. Yes i am sure you will find this harsh, but the board is doing their job in protecting the public.

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If the stipulation is that you be employed for one year, haven't you already done that? Seems like it ought to be akin to "time served" for those who are in jail while they await sentencing. You've worked for three years, if I'm understanding correctly. Doesn't that count for something?

Have you taken the class? Is there any chance that is what's keeping you hobbled?

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Specializes in FNP.

The only person I know who went through something similar gave up and opened her own business as a health care recruiter, mostly NPs and PAs, and occasionally allied health positions. She is apparently doing extremely well.

Do you have an entrepreneurial spirit? I think the likelihood of being hired by anyone capable of doing a background check is quite slim. No offense, but here's an unpleasant reality check: at my last place of employment, HR would have shredded your application before it ever made the rounds of the hiring committees. In other words, I'm surprised you are even getting interviews. I'd be shocked if you were hired.

good luck in whatever you pursue.

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Specializes in ICU.

There are so many nurses looking for jobs right now, employers can pick and choose at will. When I graduated nursing school, there was indeed a nursing shortage and employers took anybody with a nursing license. I know of nurses who made serious errors, like straight pushing potassium, etc., that kept their jobs, but again, this was in a nursing shortage. I have also know hospitals that hire nurses with stipulations on their license, so it may be that you are in a very competitive area where there are few jobs available. Keep trying, but also study your basic nursing books at home so you don't forget stuff.

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