stargazer88

I wouldn't say anything to my employer, or write down any meds you are taking. If something shows up in your drug screen, the testing company will call you, then they will call the pharmacy to confirm that you have a valid prescription filled within the last year. If it's valid they will report a negative drug screen. The problem with telling your employer about illnesses, surgeries or meds you take is that you may find they will scrutinize your performance more than usual, they may be more critical, and you may even be marked for exit before you even make it through orientation. (of course, they will not TELL you any of this) The reason for the scrutiny is that you may be seen as more of a liability than an asset. Employers are not conerned about YOU (although they may ACT sympathetic), they are concerned with their insurance costs and legal liability. These days employers can be choosy, the nursing shortage is over. They don't want employees who may (they think) take too many sick days or even have a drug problem. Employers who require pre-employment drug screens and physicals don't want employees who take controlled substances no matter what the reason is. They are looking for healthy employees. If they were concerned with only illegal substances, they wouldn't be testing for legal, controlled, prescribed meds. Over the years I have noticed that the more pre-employment screening, testing and digging a facility does, the harder that facility turns out to be to work for. I'm not talking about the work required - the general environment of these facilities is one of mistrust. It trickles down from those who make the rules. Makes for a toxic environment. Of course, not all employers who require testing are like that, One just needs to be careful and take a good look at who you are working for. The best facility I ever worked for (stayed for several years) was the first one I ever worked for. The DNS went on her "gut feelings" about people when she hired. If you had the qualifications, if she liked you, and they had an opening, you were hired! It was a wonderful, nurturing environment, especially for new grads. I couldn't wait to go to work every day , my co-workers were like family. Didn't mean to ramble on..but I'm speaking from experience. You need to protect yourself, you don't want to be marked before you even start. If you would like to know more, feel free to send me a personal message.

:no:Do NOT discose anything you don't have to. If you can do the job you were hired for, then they don't need to know. They may not take the offer back, but they may find another way to get rid of you. Employers are not concerned about you. They are concerned about their insurance premiums, liability, etc. The fact that they require a medical exam tells me they want only the healthiest of employees. Employers like this tend to "weed out" certain people. They can fire for any reason up until the 90 day probation period ends, for any reason. They will not come out and say it's because of your chronic illness, or your previous drinking... If you read back posts on this forum, you'll get the idea I wish you well

I woud definitely go the BSN route. You already have an AA, so it would take you about the same amount of time as an ADN to finish. If I had to do it all over again, that's the route I would have taken. More opportunities, and many hospitals are starting to require it. Did you have the same instructor both times you took A&P? Maybe that was the probem. If not, you need to figure out why you didn't do well. If A&P was that hard for you, nursing school is going to be difficult for you too. That's why the A&P grade is weighed so heavily to get in to the program, you need to have a firm foundation in order to succeed.

Have you looked the US heading here at AN? You can look at your specific state. Some good information there.

One option you may want to consider - legal nurse consultant. I read about this specialty in nursing magazines. From what I've learned, there is a demand for this type of nurse

I would go the BSN route. I went ADN and if I had to do it over again would have gone the other way. It would have taken a little longer, but it would be worth it. (If you add up the time it takes for pre-reqs and co-reqs for ADN it takes 3 years or more total) Having a BSN will give you many more options career wise.

I guess I didn't really mean "burned bridges" I had a very difficult time with my preceptor. She was very critical. Had only been out of school a year, but super confident. My weakness is not standing up for myself with more authorative type personalities. I left with them thinking I wasn't a great nurse. More embarrassed than anything.

Where are the needs? Where I live, just a few miles from a nursing school, jobs are hard to come by. I would gladly relocate. Any tips??:)

What does one put on an application if your last position didn't work out? Or if you "burned bridges?" If you know you won't get the best reference from your last place of employment? Not because of any mistakes but it just wasn't a good fit?

There is a nurses in recovery place under "nurses" heading here that's good

Where would one go to find these positions?

That's interesting. Although I don't know where you could find the answer except google it? Your post got me thinking.. I came from a "normal" family. My parents did not drink or do drugs. But my mothers father was a recovering alcoholic as was her brother. I know many of us nurses have a need to help others. In my nursing class, most of the students had something in their past that made them decide on nursing as a career. Mostly, if I remember correctly, it was a history of being abused or neglected in some way during childhood. Many had marriage and self esteem issues. Have you thought about posing the question on AN asking for personal stories? I'd be interested to know

When people feel threatened, they sometimes get "defensive" She knows you have the power that could cost her her job. Have you ever thought about the way you communicate? Do you talk to people in their 40's the same as you talk to 20 somethings? Do you talk to this nurse as a peer or are you more formal? Where I work now there is a BIG communication gap between the older (paper age) vs younger (computer age) nurses. They just don't seem to see eye to eye. They don't like each other much and it shows. I also wonder why you are talking to "someone who knew her from nursing school" rather than just the manager? Where I come from, that's called gossip.

Also, she may have felt overwhelmed and needed a break. Matching her with someone closer to her own age is a good idea. I get the feeling that you don't like her much

MJB2010 Has the right idea. In my case, I did great with the preceptor who let me work and said "I'm here if you need me" Some people just don't do well when being observed knowing they are being evaluated. Might not be the case with her. Then again, it might. I don't think preceptors should be given so much power. Just my opinion