skinnedknee

I can just feel your tension in your writing! It's really messed up what we did with our careers but you're right, sometimes we need to take baby steps.

Yes, this is true! I try to flaunt the fact that "something" to offer because I have a degree. But everyone does a background check, so if the suspended license doesn't make them worry, it will be my credit that gets me the boot. I interviewed for OutBack Steakhouse a few years back and made it through 3 interviews. It was a position for a general manager for which I have the qualifications (I even told them my credit/background) and everything looked really good, but then ultimately, they didn't move forward because of this. This has happened over 15 times, which is why I have been sticking with serving. But I will keep my head up! Thank you for your reply

Well thank you for your answer. I kind of assumed that and unfortunately, there just isn't a way (short of winning the lottery) I will ever be able to do that. I'd have to pay for refresher courses and retain a lawyer to get my license back in good standing, nor can I go back to school for anything due to a six figure defaulted student loan debt. I guess I'm stuck in the restaurant biz. Hindsight is 20/20

Hi Everyone, It's been years since I've been on here. I self reported in august of 2013 to HPRP (Michigan), stayed in the program for almost two years. I dropped for financial reasons. I will receive my 5 year sobriety chip this coming August. I also have ovarian cancer and am finishing up chemo. This cancer scare has prompted me to re-evaluate my life and how I want to spend whatever time I have left. So I decided to take the steps to work with addicts, considering I have walked the walk. Let me clear, I have no desire to return to nursing! However, every avenue that I consider taking, whether it's getting certified at a peer recovery coach or getting a bachelors in something related, will eventually require that I either get certified or licensed. But my RN license is suspended. How do I navigate through this? Would I have to bring my nursing license back to good before I could get licensed or certed in something else? Because if that's the case, I cannot afford to drop 20k for a licensing lawyer and I might as well forget about having a career at all. You would think that because I'm trying to stay within the addiction field, that the BON wouldn't care. But I'm pretty sure they do. So who makes the final call about this, the nursing board or the board that I'd get a new cert/license from? I just need some advice or stories or anything at this point! Thanks in advance!

I was just reading the instructions on the application to reinstate a suspended license.

In patient detox treatment or Hprp?

Here is what I have to bring to them: Letters my sponsors NA attendance sheets Letter from my PCP with clean urine results Volunteer work Letters of recommendation from employers I just wonder if this will be enough Again, I know I need a refresher course, but I have yet to enroll

Thanks for the reply! When I entered the program originally, I was not required go to rehab or detox. I tested clean at my addictionist/psychiatrist appointment because it had been 6 weeks between the time I was fired at work and the initial eval (which means I was already 6 weeks sober). I haven't picked up since. It wasn't a continual, every day use. Just intermittent. But addiction is addiction, whether you use every day or just a few times a week. I have documentation for everything except for the nurse refresher course, which I still have to take. I kind of figured that I would have to go back into Hprp, I was just wondering what to be prepared for.

I have a very specific question, but let me give you some background first. I started Michigan's Hprp program in sept 2013. I dropped from the program in April 2015. My license has since been suspended. I'm looking to get it reinstated. Now, one of the requirements for reinstatement is completion of a drug treatment program. However, I have been sober since the day I started Hprp originally. Even though I dropped out(due to finances) I remained sober. So my question is, am I supposed to admit myself to treatment program, even though I currently don't need one, just to comply with reinstatement requirements? This is all very confusing. Thanks for the help!

I have been in my HPRP contract since August 2013. I've been on 53 interviews with no luck. I don't want to be a nurse anymore. I'm done. I have no desire to do it anymore. I want to quit HPRP but have heard that there can be serious repercussions but I don't know exactly what that means! Anyone know what happens if you drop HPRP? I've heard that I can get arrested! Is that true?

The first time that happened to me, I was nervous too! I went 6 weeks with no test and then I got hit with 3, one observed! No worries, nothing is wrong!

In Michigan, it's so much better to self report than have someone else report you! Here,if you don't self report, the contract is much more grueling from what I've heard. But my question is, if you didn't divert and truly aren't an addict, maybe you need a lawyer (maybe someone can provide more info on this) to help you sort through all of this. Every state is a bit different from my understanding. It's better to me safe than sorry! Good Luck!

Honestly, I just tell them that nursing wasn't for me. I know this is a bold face lie, but a non-nursing doesn't require you to disclose anything! I've been on several interviews (waitress and retail) and I just tell them that I'm looking to go into hospitality!

I'm in Michigan and we don't call on weekends, just Monday thru Friday.

Thanks everyone! I have tried everything from physician's offices to dialysis to jails. I do have hope. I'm a pretty determined person. I did have an interview on Monday at a psych hospital who gladly accepts participants from my program. So I am keeping my fingers crossed! On the day I posted the OP, I was just so frustrated. But I will keep on truckin!!!

There is nothing you can do to help her. Several of us have said that. Now it's not a mean thing we're saying, but it's the truth. Every addict has to come to a point where they are serious about recovery(or hit rock bottom). That being said, relapse is also part of recovery. She has to be in the frame of mind that she needs help. Not just on her bad days but on her good days as well. NA meeting should become part of her regular routine. She may reject them at first, but will hopefully soon come to find that they are beneficial. I wish you guys luck!!!

You get out what you put in... and I'm not saying that in a mean way. What I'm basically asking is, are you putting yourself really into it or just going because you have to? This is an important question to ask yourself. I've been in my program for a year and at first, I went out of fear, then I went "because I had to" now I go because I want and realize that I need to. On my bad days, these meetings are the only thing that hold me together. Also, at NA is where I found my missing puzzle piece. What do I mean by this? I believe that all addict are missing a puzzle piece to their puzzle; meaning there is a hole somewhere that needs to be filled. This is what drugs did for me, but NA has helped me fill that void. You've been in the program for 3 years? Perhaps becoming a sponsor, if you haven't already done so, will help you feel more connected!

One year!!!!! Congrats on your sobriety! The first year is tough, but you made it!!!! We are all so proud of you!

A drug is a drug is a drug, meaning his contract with this monitoring program will not change just because he also used morphine nor will it be any less stringent because he "only" used marijuana. Always be honest, that way he will get the most appropriate treatment possible. You husband has a problem ( just as I did) and starting out a program like this, by lying, is not a good start for anyone's soberity! Good Luck and keep us posted!

Tips for a rude casemanager: When they say mean or hurtful things, say this in your calmest voice possible: I understand the benefits of us having a good relationship and that you are working very hard at your job to keep my case open and active, however I find your words hurtful and offensive. Can we start over and talk like one adult to another. It's the whole "sandwich cookie" constructive criticism approach. You start with something positive, put the crap or not so nice things in the middle and then add another layer of kindness. They won't know what hit them!

1sttime, I struggled with that at the beginning of my program, whether to tell them at the interview or not. The reason I do now is because I've had so many potential employers tell me this: I wish you would've said something at the interview because we just can't work within a narc restriction, it's again policy. Or something to that effect. And typically it's not HPRP itself, but rather the narc restriction. I've had many potential employers tell me to call them once my narc restriction is lifted. The good news is that I just received a call yesterday for an interview with a place that is known to work with HPRP and their restrictions! So fingers crossed!

I think it's normal to feel this way. Perhaps always calling at the exact same time every day will help build a solid routine for you and let up some of the anxiety you have about it! Good Luck and keep us posted!

See, the other nurses with restrictions, the ones in my group therapy, have jobs. In Michigan, we only have a narc restriction that lasts 6 months.

I have 15 months sober! Yay! But oh my, has it been a tough road! I have had 48 interviews and sent out 1,434 (but who's counting right???) resumes. The interviews go very well until I tell them about HPRP (michigan's health care recovery program.) Some can't work within my narc restriction and others just turn their nose up at me at the very mention of HPRP. I just can't win!!! Anyone else having trouble too?

Hello again, So I'm about a month into my monitoring agreement with Michigan's HPRP and I have a couple of interviews lined up. Last week I had 4 interviews lined up however, 2 of them cancelled the interviews when I told them about my involvement with HPRP. So for the upcoming interviews, I decided that I'm going to wait until the interview to tell them. But a friend of mine, who is also in the program said to call them and tell them over the phone. I'm conflicted. On one hand, I'm not trying to hide anything but I fear if I tell the employer too soon, the may make a snap judgement before the interview(like two already have). But on the other hand, if I wait, the employer might think I'm trying to hide it. So in your experience/opinion, what's the best way to go? When should I tell a potential employer about HPRP? I feel damned if I do and damned if I don't!