santi_05

A lawyer can help but you gotta talk to one about what they've done for past clients and what is reasonable expectation in your case. A nurse in my group had a drug possession charge, but didn't get a narcotic restriction when she went back to work. You can search for RN lawyers (look for ones that specialize in defending license to the board) and ask their advice. A lawyer is not worth it if you've already signed agreement to monitor, but if you're in probation period it might be worth it.

Interviewing for jobs now. I have a narcotic restriction. I'm applying for jobs that do not require giving controlled substances. My question is when do I disclose? Should I put it in a cover letter? In the interview? Or, if I get hired, during the onboarding? Also, employers will know I was referred by hospital to the board (required to disclose this in background check). But the monitoring program won't tell the details. How should I put it? I want to highlight the positives, and I know I need to sound confident. I go to these weekly meetings and everyone just says it's hard to get job with narcotic restriction. None of the nurses in my group had to find a job, and were able to stay with previous employers. The ones who are looking for work say that they were transparent and made it to the end of the interview process, but were passed on because of the restriction. I feel a bit at a loss of what to do.

The way I think about monitoring is that I am proving myself to the board of nursing. It is in no way about helping or supporting me through anything. It gets confusing sometimes because the case managers talk like it's about helping us through recovery, but there is literally nothing about monitoring that is intended to help the nurse. I also keep in mind that nurse leaders who should be pushing for better working conditions aren't doing much. I mean these nurse orgs can lobby for NP autonomy, but there's not as much being done for safer working conditions. We are truly on our own

Patient know that you're judging them. One of the most cringe things I've witnessed is other nurses talking to their patients (who have addictions/drug seeking) but it's so obvious from their tone/language that they feel contempt for the patient. I'm just saying that having an addiction doesn't make people stupid.

I've only done it once. I booked it for the entire contract. I used that one website that everyone uses, and some people list minimum number of days. The place I rented had a minimum stay of 90 days, but I paid for it on a month-by-month basis

I've done volunteer work through Public Health dept. In my state they have medical reserve corps, which help during disasters but also things like flu shot drive. I would look to see if your state has something like that (state department or county public health site). I would also check out Americorps. If they have a public health corps in your area, you could work part time. It's barely any pay so it will feel like volunteer work LOL

Girl I hope your insurance is good! I am sorry you had to go through that. I know I'd feel just as embarrassed. I don't know, I'm used to people falling asleep on nights so it seems like a crazy reach to think you were intoxicated. In any case, once the allegation is there they have to follow through. So, don't take it personal that they were following their protocol. It'd be great if people were respectful to you as a colleague but well that's life.

That's wild. Did you get diagnosed with SUD by the same addiction specialist? Have you ever asked your case manager if you can stop going to the addiction specialist at least? It doesn't make sense if they aren't actively treating you

What do you do with the addiction specialist then? That is so corrupt OMG so these ppl have a guaranteed income and every incentive to keep you in tx for as long as they get paid. Damn so sorry you have to go through that.

You can't see someone in network? I wonder how they chose therapists. It seems fishy that they make you go to their therapists. Can you be discharged from therapy?

3 times a week. I don't even go I just log them on the app. My program lets you go remotely but doesn't require signatures. That's crazy they have to go in person I thought because of Covid everything was remote

I am a fairly ambitious person, who has largely defined themselves by their career/accomplishments. Sometimes I wonder if I should have had a kid/spouse, especially when I hear other nurses talk about how their families give them a sense of purpose/meaning. I just have absolutely no desire for it though. I am 35 years old. I have most of my life ahead of me, and 4.5 years of monitoring is not a long time in the grand scheme. I was planning to apply for school to become a CRNA before this happened. Now, I know there is still a chance I can work in the ICU so I can apply once I finish. I am fortunate to be in a position where I don't have any debt or obligations, and enough savings that the reduced income and monitoring fees, etc. I am grateful, don't get me wrong, but it's still a loss to think I have a job, not a career. It's been 7.5 months, and in that time I have gone from truly despondent and hopeless to functioning. I started anti-depressants to blunt my emotions, and it has been working tremendously (at one point was worried I would descend into alcoholism). I do everything I am supposed to do, when I am supposed to do it. I wanted to share this because it's in our contract that we have to be positively participating in support group so I don't feel comfortable sharing it with the nurses there. If you read this far, thanks I appreciate it!

Has anyone gotten a part time job while in monitoring? I can't do overtime and make less hourly so my income is significantly (~35%) reduced. I was thinking of getting a part time job in a non-nursing position. I haven't worked in any other field in years but was curious if anyone has any suggestions. I was thinking of doing my BLS instructor certification or maybe working as a tutor.

After 2 years, you are allowed to use substances?

My guess is that if we knew, it would be more extensive testing. And in my program, I think the more drugs/metabolites they screen for, the more expensive the test. Not knowing what the tests means participants will just abstain from anything that would result in a positive.