Please help. Need job SOON!!

Silverdragon102, BSN · Sep 5, 2008

Welcome to the site

May find it hard but it will be a case of perceiving and contacting hospitals or other health care areas for jobs

Veteran Nurse · Sep 6, 2008

Try LTC facilities. I have had a great experience with an accepting DON, and nurses who passed my narcs for me. I go above and beyond to help the LVN's in any way I can. :up:

RNRutRO · Sep 6, 2008

Dear Lance--

Could it be the way you "interview"? Just asking. Sometimes we are our hardest on ourselves, and when we come accross as being ashamed, worthless, etc. other's perceive us as such too.

Anyway, I've heard that Triumph, NE Hospital, and then there is dialysis (which should eat up your ICU experience) are the best.

For me, I did home health, and now make a good bit of money. But, I've found somewhere that is in "my area" and at first the "face-to-face" check ins were on my own expense. But, you might could try that.

Anyway, PM if you want. Sometimes two heads are better than one.

And, seriously, hold your head up in the interview. NEVER tell the HR person. Get your foot in the door and you'll meet the right charge nurse. Might also try areas where narcs are not greatly used. Pre-Op, peds.

Oh well, I'm going on and on. Good luck. You'll find something.

lance197728 · Sep 6, 2008

That may be where I've made my mistakes. I've told the HR person on each interview. However, they've all been very helpful and even searched for positions within the hospital that would be best suited for me. Most of the time a positions has come down to me and another canidate and obviously they choose the other candidate due to the fact they don't have any restrictions.

I've applied to several dialysis units and I haven't gotten any feedback yet. Hopefully they will get back to me.

Thanks for the replies. I'm confident I will eventually find a job, but with my I'm so finacially strapped right now, I need to find something sooner than later.

I haven't looked into LTC's I may try that.

Ginambamsn · Sep 25, 2008

Hello. I am a nurse in Houston, Texas currently in the TPAPN program. I've been in the program a couple months and have been searching for a job for the past month. I am applied at every hospital in the area and have been turned down at the few interviews I have been too. If I don't get a job soon I will be evicted from my apartment and I dont know where I'll go from there.
I have two years of ICU experience and I'm highly skilled and knowlegeable. I don't have any disiplinary action against my license. I just have the TPAPN restrictions for the first 6 months of employment, but that seems to be too much baggage for everyone I've talked too. I will work ANYWHERE. I just need a job.
Any help or advice would be most welcome.
Feel free to email me

Hello

I have the same exact situation so do not feel alone. I have been in the RNP in LA for the past 15 months and do not have action against my license either just the 6 month restriction on giving narcotics. I have been on 15+ (I stopped counting), with one scheduled for this Friday. I have 8 years of experience, very knowledgeable, skillful but at the interviews they always start off wonderful then when I drop the bomb the whole thing changes. I self reported and I failed my annual drug screen so it was not employment related and it does not matter, I think all they see is a drug addict. It gets hard at times but I was told by someone and firmly believe that if a facility will not hire me because of my illness, it is probably better that way. If they cannot understand that addiction is not all the same and that we do recover. Keep your head up and it will happen. Just remember the Serenity prayer.:flowersfo

KD CVICU-RN · Sep 25, 2008

Lance 197728:

I am in the same position as you right now. I have been an ER nurse for the past several years and am going on my second interview! I have been going to superpages.com and looking at dialysis centers, LTC facilities, and psychiatric hospitals. I sent out cold resumes yesterday and have an interview on Monday at a dialysis clinic. Most of the places ARE hiring, they just don't bother to advertise. I too, have a narc restriction (here in FL it is for one year), and plan to work a less than desirable job during that time period until it is lifted. Remember, it is always easier to find a job once you already have one, so maybe taking anything (like a nursing home pos.) until your narc restriction is lifted might be the way to go. Then you can get back into your specialty. Also, several nurses in my support group did psych nursing. It seems to be easier to get a job in that field when you are in recovery (at least here in FL). And remember, when you do divulge your recovery status, DO SO PROUDLY, but don't give too much info. The line I have been using is: I am a proud participant of IPN. Are you familiar with that? (Usually they are) I believe that while already a strong nurse, this experience has made me a stronger person. Hang in there!

bossynurse101 · Sep 27, 2008

Dear Lance--
Could it be the way you "interview"? Just asking. Sometimes we are our hardest on ourselves, and when we come across as being ashamed, worthless, etc. other's perceive us as such too.
.

ABSOLUTELY TRUE!! From my experience with this issue, it is almost always how and WHEN you present your participation. I counsel nurses to wait til a final interview before you divulge ALL of your PERSONAL info, things almost always turn around for them and WALLAH, they get hired. Narc restriction? No biggee (or at least portray it that way) trade off some treatments, etc with someone else. Humbling? Yes. But that is one of the consequences, and if it didnt hurt, we may be tempted to repeat the past if you know what i mean! The more you downplay, the better. Most people have no idea what the programs entail, so if you appear embarrassed, ashamed, etc, can you imagine where their imagination goes? Noone's business except your direct supervisor. I used to tell my coworkers, I cant take the keys because I am straightening out an issue with my license. They usually dont question it. Let them get to know you, and the wonderful person you are before they have a chance to judge. Good luck!!

mzloco · Oct 3, 2008

Lance...Im in the same boat....After interviewing GREAT and then being hoinest and upfront it seems no one is willing to " take on the baggage" I have been going on interview after interview...to date probably about 10 ( with over 30 apps submitted)and I have had one offer that has not panned out just yet. I too have about another month before I really start to be in dire need of a job. I have three boys and am a single mom so if i don't get a job soon I don't know what I'll do. I just keep praying and pushing forward. sooner or later I'll get an offer. When they find out my lic. is on probation it turns them off. I usually wait till after the interview to tell them my prediciment. If I think they would understand I would tell them about working a good program but from the gist of the way things have been going it looks like most are close minded! Im rambling....but still in need of a job. I hate sitting around waiting for the phone to ring!

loricatus · Oct 3, 2008

Have you tried local agencies like Nursefinders, Favorite, etc so you can get some per diem/prn work?

I am not sure about the restrictions the BON has put on you, so I am not sure if this is a viable option.

Magsulfate, BSN, RN · Oct 4, 2008

Have you tried local agencies like Nursefinders, Favorite, etc so you can get some per diem/prn work?
I am not sure about the restrictions the BON has put on you, so I am not sure if this is a viable option.

In tpapn, you are not allowed to work for an agency.

All of these replies are good suggestions. I have been the same boat as you all, but I am at the end of my run. I will be graduating from tpapn in just two weeks. YAYYY!!! Doing all of my final paperwork now.

Anyway,,,, I went on over 20 interviews and with each one I learned a new lesson of what to do and what NOT to do. Never tell the recruiter,,,, wait until you are well into the interview with the person who is hiring you. Never tell HR. And make sure you tell the manager all of your good qualities, all of your experience,, your strong traits,,, and then tell them about tpapn.

It also helps to have letters of reference. One or two that know you are in tpapn and know what a good nurse you are.

I have been at my job a little more than a year, and I have worked harder and been a better nurse now than I was before tpapn. I HAVE TO,, to make up for the fact that I am in tpapn. And guess what,, this has really paid off. My boss gave me a raise. He didn't want to lose me.

Anyone who has questions or is frustrated and needs help or answers with tpapn, feel free to email me. I was there and at times felt very alone,, like there was no one else out there going through the same thing....

lance197728 · Oct 4, 2008

Today was a wonderful day. I got a job!!! They are going to let me do my narc restriction time in med/surg and then talk about transfering up to ICU. I didn't say anything in the initial interview, I just called the director a few days later and told her my situation. She was very nice and understanding and arrainged a meeting between me and the CNO. Things went well with the CNO interview and just as I was expecting them to tell my 'they will let me know', she started explaining my expected salary and shift difs. I can't remember when I've been so happy. Its funny, I would have never imagined being so excited to work med/surg after 2 years of ICU and 3 years as a flight paramedic, but I have never been more thankful.

Thank you all for the replies of hope and advice. Its wonderful to FINALLY be able to concentrate on nothing but my recovery and not have this huge cloud haging over me.

Anyone else still struggling for a job, just keep trying, don't give up. The harder it gets the happier you will be when you get that first offer.