alive_again

Thanks for all of the replies. I live in oregon and I have been in my program for a year and a half. At first I didn't mind the no night shift rule but recently changed my mind. I started a new job and it is a really busy unit. I think day shift is busier and much more stressful! On my unit there are many other nurses around plus an assistant nurse manager there so I guess I don't see the big deal. Plus it didn't used to be a rule in Oregon and they changed it just before I got into the program. There is nothing I can do about it so I am just venting. I have seen other people write about being on night shift so I wondered what the rules were in other states. Another thing that makes it frustrating is that to get into a desireable area sometimes you have to work the less desireable shifts at first and when you cant work nights it makes it very difficult to get your foot in the door in some of those places. I guess I should just be thankful for keeping my license after diverting drugs. Thanks for listening:)

Hey there. The state I am in has a night shift restriction while in the recovery program. Wondering if other states have this??

Hello. I finally registered on here after months of reading all of your helpful stories and words of encouragement. I think I'm ready to join you all now. My story..... caught diverting from work, had been doing it for about 4 months and was questioned regarding discrepencies in my documentation, I tried to deny it at first but after realizing I was going to have to take a drug test I decided I had to admit. I was placed on admin. leave for two weeks before I got a letter in the mail telling me I was fired. I had grown up working in the hospital I diverted from...worked as a secretary for four years until completing nursing school when i was hired directly into the ER and worked for three years until my "problem" was discovered. I loved my job and I have so much guilt over what I have done. I miss everyone I worked with for all of those years. The BON was good to me, however, I did take an attorney along with me to my meeting with the investigator. I got the usual narcotic restriction (6 months in my state) which I have two months left with. Plus all of the requirements of the monitoring program. I waited three months to start working but got a job relatively quickly after applying only a couple of places. I am currently working at a LTC facility and was so thankful to be offered a job and have been there for about a month. Right now I am having SO MUCH PAIN over missing my old job. I feel so much guilt over what I did and the fact that I took the job that I absolutely loved for granted. I guess the main thing I wanted to hear from others right now is if you have felt like I feel at this moment. I am very grateful to have a job but it is so much different and frankly as soon as my narc restriction is lifted I am wanting to find something in a hospital. Is it unrealistic to think I will be able to work in an ER anytime soon? ER is not a restriction in my state. But even if ER is out of the question I would rather work anywhere in the acute care setting. Working in this LTC facility is making me question if I even want to be a nurse. How long have others stayed in the LTC setting after something like this?? I REALLY want to be positive but it's extremely difficult right now:(