HappynAZ

It's definitely unlike any other job I've ever had. Our team consists of 79 patients (aka clients aka behavioral health recipients), 9-10 case managers, a clinical coordinator, a program assistant, an RN (me) and a psychiatrist. The case managers share all of the caseload and are only assigned to specific clients for administrative purposes. They each have a specific role. We have 2 ACT specialists, the one of each of the following- rehab, transportation, housing, employment, substance abuse, ILS (independent living skills), peer support... I am forgetting someone, because the numbers aren't adding up. They see the clients as little as once a week and some are seen twice daily. I put the case manager role in this post before mine because they are the ones who really provide the day to day care. It is really a team effort. I give the injections, see clients for labs and assessments, deal with rx refills and troubleshooting when the insurance won't cover something, and coordination of care with PCP's, inpatient units, and the jail. I am completely autonomous as far as the nursing part goes. Typical day- starts at 8am. Sometimes my first part is home visits, depending on where they are. The program assistant generally starts and ends my day near my place or my boyfriends place for convenience. I have 41 people on injections. I have about 10 in supervised living situations and I have to do monthly visits to those. The is a 90 minute meeting in the morning where we discuss all 79 clients. The CM's divide up the work as far as who brings who to appts, who visits the jails and hospitals, etc. If transportation is an issue and someone needs an injection or a surprise urine drug test I go out and do that in the field. Safety is a big concern but we know the clients so well that we can see if someone is starting to decomp and send 2 ppl to see them or have them come into the clinic. I love my job, and wouldn't trade it for anything.

Hi, I just moved to AZ in April of last yr and had to get my license by endorsement. I was here for a travel contract and needed to get in under the 48hr emergency temp license deal. Not sure how long it takes to get a temp license in the non emergent fashion but it can't be more than a couple of weeks. When you apply for the temp license you are actually applying for a permanent one, just have to add on the temp app and check off all the boxes. I see on the app where you are stuck. On the page for the temp license it leaves one line out. If you go to the regular endorsement application and look at the list of requirements for a temp license it's easier. It says on that list that you have to have graduated from an approved nursing program. You wouldn't have been allowed to take your NCLEX without having had the degree, so it is your main nursing degree they mean. NY eligibility requirements are stricter- so if you are qualified there, you are qualified here. It doesn't say that you need to bring transcripts I don't think, but bring them just in case. The official ones that come to you sealed. In fact, just as a tip- get a couple of copies now. They are good to have on hand. Your best bet is to go the the BON when you get here. Mailing the app can take 6 weeks. I hit the Board on the way from the airport and got all of the pprwk in before I left phoenix. Ahead of time- have everything filled out and get a cashiers check or money order for the amt specified on the temp app. I think it was $250. Make SURE you have very good proof of citizenship. Go to the board office and find out where to get fingerprints. The receptionist gave me an address, drew me a map and then gave me verbal directions. I went around the corner and was fingerprinted ($12). Brought the fingerprints back to the office and submitted all of it. I would call and ask them to verify that you have everything you need. They don't always have a human answering but you have to keep trying. They were very helpful and I had a temp license posted online for employers to check within a week. One other bit- in AZ you have to have a fingerprint clearance card to do anything. Most likely your job will require one. They are separate from the fingerprints through the BON. The card (looks like a drivers lic with no pic)comes from a different office and they don't recognize the fact that you just had them cleared through another agency. It can take a couple of months. There are jobs that don't require them, but most do. When they send you to get fingerprinted for your RN license, find out if you can get your separate fingerprint card application in. It's just a matter of filling out an extra form and paying another fee. So, you would be getting the required fingerprints to bring back to the BON, and also getting fingerprinted for a "fingerprint card". I didn't know that and when I went to get a permanent job after my travel contract ended I was not happy. I may have over complicated it.... It was not a problem though, just call and ask. They are very nice. Good luck!