joe3

Today is April 6th ........ I just found this forum. WHERE did you choose? Nice warm sunny FLORIDA with its low pay? OR Cold dark dank MICHIGAN with its better pay? A CURIOUS mind in Florida wants to know ..........

Congradulations, I'm glad you like it. It IS the best job I've had in 10 years of nursing, the unfortunate part is I can't afford to purchase a home in this area because the wages are too low. So I gotta go somewhere else. I'd love to stay in the field. What state are you in? Joe3

I don't know that answer, I do know here in Florida and at this facility you would not be hired. Squeky clean.......You would need to ask where ever you are, I'm not sure if it is a state or facility mandated issue, I know several patients here have wanted all staff to be recovering, my nurse managers comment was " the law doesn't allow nurses in recovery to work here ".....corporate law or state ?? I don't know. I do know that with your background you can and will relate very well with this type of patient. We have a tech with 20 + years of sobriety and he does very well with the patients, they really respect him. Please let me know what you find out, I'd be curious. And after the holidays I'll ask the NM what she knows. Merry Christmas, Joe

As a RN in CD I can't have anything on my record, CD requires a squeaky clean slate & we also take adolescents as pts. There is a page and 1/2 of disqualifying incidents that could keep a person out of CD. To answer your question: IMHO............yes, it's a been there done that and have the experience to relate to and with. After a year in detox, I can relate well because of my experience. Personal addiction would give you a better feeling for those pts in CD. MI......I wouldn't have a clue....although we all are a little crazy Most of our counselers have been addicts, patients relate to them better than those that aren't ( per the pts. ) It's not the rule though, we do have one retired military counselor who has a great rapport with his patients, he is straight forward, takes no BS, and is well respected.

I've been working at a detox/ rehab center for a year. It's the best job i've had in 10 years of being a RN. The staff here is great, easy to work with and the nurse manager is very nurse friendly. Sure, it gets frustrating at times--seeing the frequent flyers--but better than the ER. There is more interaction with the patients, I get to see them detox, get better as the weeks go by then they are on their own. There is more of a sense of satisfaction here than in the hospitals. The only downfall is the pay is lower than at a hospital. Like what was said in the above posts, you really have to try it to see if it is for you.