Please help. Need job SOON!!

Nurses Recovery

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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

Lance197728

THAT MY FRIEND IS FREAKING AWESOME!!!! I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU. I REMEBER THAT FEELING, AND ACTUALLY TWICE, SINCE I HAD TO FIND ANOTHER JOB WHILE IN TPAPN.

Just remember you have been given an opportunity---So do NOT screw it up. Remember how you act will also effect if they will hire other TPAPN nurses in the future. I found when I was out interviewing, some people were just not interested due to being burned by TPAPN nurses before. And I would say---"But that's not me"" Didn't matter. Mind made up.

Now, the after you are hired advice. It is NO BODY'S BUSINESS but yours, your boss and HR. There will be those that talk about you, others that have an opinion of you, and then those that admire you. If anyone complains about giving your narcs (they shouldn't) say, I have an allergy to them, and then blow it off. People will take your cue. If you feel guilty, and ashamed for your "sins" then they will think of you that way also. Approach it as a veer off track, but now you are back in line. Everyone does stupid things. Whatever your "sin" is, it's all the same! You are no different or better than anyone else.

When I realized that, I held my head up. Are there those that I never shared my status with? You bet. But then other's, after they got to know me, I'd tell them. If they wanted to know what I did, I just kept it "general" terms.

GREAT NEWS!!!! I am so happy! Curious to know, don't say where, but what area of town are you going to be in? Is it a BIG hospital?

God bless. And those 6 month restrictions will be gone before you know it!

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Thanks. I actually got a job in Victoria wich is about 2 hours south of houston. My parents live there and I'm just going to live with them for about a month and then get my own place again.

I know what you mean about not screwing it up for other people because the CNO said they had been burned by a few TPAPN nurses

I was surprised at how confident I was in the interview with the CNO and I think that made all the difference in the world

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Specializes in ICU.

YAYYYY LANCE!! Ditto on everything RNrutro said. SHe and I held hands through our tpapn experience.. without her I would have been sooo alone!!! But she is right,,, Don't screw it up,.. be the best nurse they've ever had. I did that and it worked. Even the people that know I'm on tpapn are cool with it, atleast on the outside. Go above and beyond and never give up. You know it's going to be hard switching to med/surg after being in icu... just keep the attitude that you have right now,,, be grateful for the job. Hopefully they will send you to icu when your restrictions are off.. I personally found it easy to be in icu even with restrictions. YOu have less patients and therefore give less narcs anyway, and there is always a nurse there to give it for you. On the floor everyone is so busy,,, at first, just tell the charge nurse that has to give the narcs,, don't tell anyone until you feel completely comfortable with them and know they won't run around telling everyone. Because not everyone will understand, even though you think they're your friend.

Good luck and keep us posted@!@!

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Hi, actually as a previous participant in ISNAP, I know the monitoring group would not allow a participant to work for an "agency" because you need to have a direct supervisor that is always monitoring you and your work, and alot of times, you are not allowed to work at home health or 3rd shift because your not being monitored, check with your program coordinator, its very hard finding a job with narc restrictions, but if you are truly sorry about your past mistake , they'll be able to tell and one thing I told to my DON was with the random drug test I get 5 out of 7 days, Im actually "more" safe than other floor nurses because usually they aren't getting drug tested, good luck and let us know how your search goes:)

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Congratulations! I wish the best for you and your new job!

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Great news on the job Lance. Make sure to let us know how it goes :D

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

I agree with trying LTC. They have a more urgent need for staff so will probably give you a chance. Once you establish yourself as stable and proven, then you can start exploring other options as they open up.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Rehab, Infection, LTC.

Also try out phone triage. i know, i know...i say this all the time, lol. but many of my peers worked phone triage during their entire contract. it gave them the time they needed prior to getting back into direct care to prevent relapse.

i also have to caution against LTC. drugs are so easy to get in LTC that relapse is always right there.

good luck to you!!

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Specializes in Med Surg, Nursing Administration for SNF.

Congrats Lance! Just dont forget that altho you are done with tpapan, you never "graduate" from recovery (which altho you didnt say, Im assuming you are as you have narc restriction) Good luck!

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Specializes in ED.

wtg!....my prayers were answered also. just when i was getting to the end of my finances i got an offer for an excellent position, although i won't draw a pay check till nov7.

i learned a lot thru this process. mostly honesty, spirituality and humble pie. i was able to get food stamp assistance of 493$ for the month ( i have 3 boys, one teen and 2 pre teen), am waiting on unemployement or cash assistance from the state. my friends in the program are always there for me. one woman gave me 500$. my youngest son now gets on his knees with me and we pray for others.

i was at a meeting last week and recieved this i thought i would pass it on......

to get something you never had you have to do something you never did. when god takes something from your grasp. he is not punishing you but merely opening your hands to revcieve something better. the will of god will never take you where the grace of god will not to protect you.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU, Geriatric Rehab.

Congrats on the job!! That is wonderful news and it really gives me hope. I have been working as a waitress and volunteering as an RN to get through my restriction time b/c I was having no luck getting a job for pay and I just wanted to get the six months started. Now its almost over and I plan to start the hunt again. I appreciate the interview insight I have read here!! I ALWAYS told the HR person and I actively felt ashamed while saying it. I am proud of the fact that I am a survivor, but still feel shame that I let it happen in the 1st place. I should have known better, yada yada yada. I will try to project less guilt and more pride in my future interviews. And again, great job man.

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Specializes in Impaired Nurse Advocate, CRNA, ER,.
Congrats on the job!! That is wonderful news and it really gives me hope. I have been working as a waitress and volunteering as an RN to get through my restriction time b/c I was having no luck getting a job for pay and I just wanted to get the six months started. Now its almost over and I plan to start the hunt again. I appreciate the interview insight I have read here!! I ALWAYS told the HR person and I actively felt ashamed while saying it. I am proud of the fact that I am a survivor, but still feel shame that I let it happen in the 1st place. I should have known better, yada yada yada. I will try to project less guilt and more pride in my future interviews. And again, great job man.

Ya didn't "let it happen" anymore than any other chronic disease. Yes, we make bad choices, but I don't of anyone who has said, "I'm going to grow up to be the best darn addict I can be!" Genetics, exposure, poor coping mechanisms, etc. You aren't a BAD PERSON! You have a crappy disease. Now you know what needs to be done to maintain recovery...so keep doing those things, one day at a time!!

Jack

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