BaseballNut

I just signed transfer paperwork to move from my outpatient psych med clinic job of 3 yrs to the states (Nevada) Dept. of Corrections. The new position is 12 hour day shift in the Mental health unit. While I am looking forward to this new opportunity, it is my first time in a corrections setting and I am feeling quite a bit of "nervous anticipation". I have been around awhile, ER, Med/Surg, out pt psych.....but this is a whole different animal. Anyone I've told responds with "I hope you like it", as if I won't! I really don't know what to expect. I have read the forums here and of course spoke with my interview panel, it has just become very "real" now that I've committed. I am a big guy, 6'00, 215 lbs, but I can honestly say safety and security is one of my primary concerns. Also , the boundary issues. I keep reading how inmates try to "play you" for favors, special attention, contraband.....I just keep thinking about how to be firm and consistent without angering someone to the point they want to "gas" me or put a pencil in my neck!!! LOL(Kinda). Any advice or encouragement is welcome.

I found the most receptive employers were ones where narcotic passing, and hence your narc restrictions, were not an issue; op med clinics, dialysis, corrections, etc. I was able to get a job pretty quickly in OP Psych. It's pretty much a desk job, but the lack of contact with narcs has been very nice as it just doesn't cause me the potential anxiety. Almost 3 yrs in this position and I'm starting to think about a return to acute care in some fashion. Remember, it's all Higher Power driven, you will end up where you need to be!

Congratulations to you! I'm so looking forward to typing the same, 2 yrs and change to go!!!

There IS hope, and rest assured we all have felt like you felt at first. It gets better, I promise. I've been working with the BON x 4.5 yrs and on monitoring >2.5 yrs. At first, totally overwhelming board requirements to go along with the guilt and shame, but it gets better, you get into the grove and the requirements they put forth become the norm; go to AA, nurse support group, call for drug test check in, yadda yadda yadda. Focus on your recovery, commit to sobriety and you'll make it. I still have great frustrations with the BON at times, but then I have to remember I put myself in this position and self reporting likely saved my life!

How is your case going? Did you meet with the board? I too am under monitoring with the NSBN!

I was fired as an ER Nurse and found work in a mental health clinic where my narcotic restrictions weren't an issue. It was a big change but it has allowed me to start working off my contract. Best of luck to you and congratulations on your sobriety. I like being a nurse but I love my life in sobriety!!

This site has been very helpful to me and I have received a lot of encouragement over the years from the other Nurses here. "We" only know what we do, "they" don't understand- peers helping peers, it's a beautiful thing! It is often said how veteran Nurses are cruel to the newbies and we "eat our young", I think Allnurses shows that is not always the case.

Congratulations!!! Becoming an RN is a BIG DEAL and a lot of hard work, you should be VERY proud of yourself!

Congratulations on you decision to become a Nurse. Personally, I chose Nursing as a career as my mother was a Registered Nurse and Nursing and medicine were things we talked about a lot as a child, it was familiar. I also used to visit my mother at the hospital and became very used to the sights, sounds and smells of that environment, it became a comfortable place to be. I am also a very curious person by nature and the human body and humans behavior fascinate me, it's a study that is ever changing and a Nurse has the opportunity to never stop learning and growing in his/her knowledge base. I also love and appreciate the variety of different jobs a Registered Nurse can perform; at the bedside, administration, IT, teaching, etc. The options are limitless and if your someone like me who tends to get bored easily it's never going to be a degree you'll regret. I started as a hospital orderly, then a CNA, then as an LPN/LVN, then finally an RN. I would recommend you do the same for a few reasons. First, starting in an entry level position will place you first hand working with people who are not at their best (sick people aren't on their best behavior) and you'll really find out if that is something you can deal with without a huge time or financial commitment. Also the blood, the stool, the urine, the phlegm- these are unpleasantries that can come with the job at some point and you will need to find out if you can overcome them, not look affected and still care for the patient without becoming one! LOL. Secondly, working in a lower level/entry level position will help you develop respect for those working in the same positions as you advance yourself to the level of RN and you become responsible for delegating tasks to those below you. It is often said, "Nursing is a thankless job", and for the most part it is. Don't become a Nurse to get rich, for fame or glory or because someone pressures you into it. If you do you will become bitter and resentful. Chose a career in Nursing if you believe that it is important to help other humans improve their lives, you desire to help alleviate suffering or you want to make one of the worst experiences in a persons life; failing health, impending death or traumatic injury a little bit better with the love, care and compassion you have the ability to share. As far as long 12 hour shifts, you get through them by getting proper self care; good rest on your off time, nutritious diet, regular exercise, engaging in pleasurable activities and lots of humor. You support you co-workers and they support you. Never forget they are not "my" patients, they are "our" patients and if all on a unit work together, the job gets done, everyone stays safe and you go home exhausted knowing you affected lives in a positive way, Priceless!!! Best of Luck.

We went from hopeless dope feigns to dopeless hope feigns! Life is good! So happy for you!

Got it! Thanks:up:

Please don't follow my example but since 2/2012 when I started the alternative program and daily check in requirements, I have missed check in's 12 x's. I cringe when I think about it! **** happens! I always notify the board and with complete sincerity apologize and offer a correction plan. Our compliance coordinator is quite strict, but so far I have had no additional discipline other than an increase in testing after a few occasions! Like the others I too have a routine, 1st thing when I awake and before I make the morning coffee. It's when the routine is broken that I have the biggest issues...... Take a deep breath, what's done is done and currently out of your control. All will be well!

Do you check in for UDS with Affinity? If so they have a medication guide for meds you can and cannot take.

Someone please enlighten me. I read so many acronyms, what does IPN stand for? Thanks

So happy for you that your journey is heading in a positive direction. It can be a long ardous task at times, and often the ride gets rough, just stay the course , pray to your higher power, be brave and hang on. It does get better and you will get through it, we will get through it(I often remind myself of the same)! Congrats on todays great interaction with the BON!

I echo many of the above comments and will share my own story. I was an ego driven, hard working, hero complex having ER nurse who happened to also be a pot smoking, poly-substance abuser who eventually became an on the job, in the bathroom, narcotic diverting IV drug user. I was still a good man, a caring and compassionate nurse and a friend to my colleagues, I just lost control of my life! A lack of self care will do that!!!! Three months before I lost my job and had to self report to the BON, I lost my wife (and daughter) who got on a plane to her mothers and texted 3 days later to tell me she was never coming back (and hasn't)! I was in the lowest place I could ever imagine...... Lost my wife and best friend, my daughter, my mother to cancer 2 years before that, the career I adored, my identity as a nurse, my income, my apartment and most of my possessions (except the dog, the motorcycle and some other sentimental items). Suicide? oh ya, I considered it! But I decided to get the offered recovery, found non-nursing work until I got my monitored license back and just completed my 1st year of employment in the outpt clinic of my states mental hospital. I really enjoy psych nursing, I never thought of it before. Don't be alarmed about finding a nursing job with restrictions. Addiction touch so many lives, the lives of hiring nurse managers as well.! Now 2.5 yrs or recovery later, I can see this was the best thing that ever happened to me. Was it hard to trudge this path, your dang right! Worth it? Every step of the way!

I am in the alternative program for chemically dependent nurses here in the state of Nevada. I was fired from my job for diversion of narcotics and self reported to the BON. When I did I was COMPLETELY honest about my past drug use/addiction hx (I was a chronic pot smoker and general poly substance abuser). Honesty is the cornerstone of any true recovery program and indeed an uncovered lie down the road will not be appreciated by your states BON. You husband has violated the Nurse practice act and the BON has all the power and every right to take his license forever. My plan was and I would recommend COMPLETE HUMILITY! HIRING A LAWYER IS ONLY GOING TO INFLAME THE SITUATION AND LIKELY LEAD THE BOARD TO ACT WITH A LESSER DEGREE OF COMPASSION, NOT TO MENTION COSTING YOUR FAMILY $$$$ THAT YOU CAN'T AFFORD NOW THAT YOUR HUSBAND HAS TEMPORARILY LOST HIS EARNING ABILITIES. I first completed a temporary voluntary surrender of my license contract and am now 2.5 years clean and sober with 1 year worked off my 5 year monitoring agreement. I currently have restrictions but am at a place to start requesting their return, about 1 every 6 months starting with my narc privileges. Best of luck.......after my resentments faded I realized this process actually saved my life and likely that of many patients I cared for while impaired.

FYI, peoples of Hispanic decent including many Mexicans speak SPANISH, not "MEXICAN"! There is no such language as far as I know.

You are in no way a failure! The NCLEX is a VERY hard test, even if english is your first language. You have nothing to be ashamed of, after all you did pass nursing school and we KNOW how hard that is. Go buy an NCLEX study guide, see if you can hook up with someonelse in your area to study with and study , study, study hard!!!

I echo intuitions comment above, take the time to read about the procedures and then get into your skills lab and practice until your comfortable and confident. Good Luck

Honestly i'm sure there are PLENTY of people trying to get into both ASN and BSN programs in CA. A more important question you must ask yourself is do you want to work for your ASN (shorter-2yrs) or your BSN (longer-3yrs) because that will decide which school you choose. "I dont really wanna wait two years..." Listen,if you want this, I mean REALLY want this, which is what you must have to make it through anyways, a real burning desire, two years is a small investment to wait for something that will have such a positive impact on your life. Best of luck to you!

I am just finishing my ASN-RN after 4 years , 2 yrs pre reqs and 2 yrs program, and I have been working part-time nights the whole time. I work 9p-7a fri/sat nights homecare plus an additional shift mid week on weeks my load was a bit lighter. Prior to going back to school, for 11 years I only worked acute care ( med/surg, ER, minor injury clinic), but doing Homecare is very student friendly for a few reasons; I can sit and study virtually undisturbed all night, I can doze off/nap while my client is sleeping, I can work the night before a class day (which I could never do if up and working all night in another setting where I wasnt resting) and.....well that's all I can think of now, i'm sure there are other benefits! LOL Anyways, It might be worth your consideration. I should add, I never liked homecare, still dont. I am a "people person" who would much rather work acute care or at least be with peers and colleagues, but doing this has allowed me to be a successful student and still help to support my family. It all boils down to how committed you are and how much you are willing to sacrifice to be successful. I personnally was willing to do basically whatever it took and G-D willing I'll graduate in 14 days!!!! Best of luck to you

I have the same question! I too live in Hawaii and am considering multi-state licensure once I pass NCLEX. When I moved to Hawaii with my LVN from CA, I just had to pay a fee to obtain H. licensure. I'm told by my classmates who have investigated that the same is true for RN, just pay up the $$$ and you can obtain dual licensure. Of course the CAHI board can clarify for sure.

THank you all for your time and responses

That is an excellent suggestion!!!