reneern623

Yes you have to wait until you have a CA license to apply. When I applied for my license, I wasn't enrolled in a monitoring program. It took me 7 months to get my license (not because of Peer but because CA is amazingly slow), by then I had been in monitoring for 6months. They wouldn't let me count anything I had done except IOP since I actually did that while living in CA. They didn't count any of my meetings or testings even though it was all done in CA too, just through another state's program. I was told it would be another year before I would even get my okay for work, and then you can't be in patient care for 6 more months.... Making it near impossible to get a job. So I said no thanks, and moved back to my home state to finish my program.

Funny cuz we are only able to take Tylenol, ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin without a doctor's note/prescription. I take 800mg Motrin every night before bed and haven't any false positives (knock on wood)! [emoji15]

I did not have my license yet. I asked to transfer programs as soon as I got my CA license. I had been in another states program for about 6 months. California would not count any of my time in the other states program (meetings, drug tests). There program was crazy strict and restrictive (can't work for a year and after a year can only work out of patient care). I ended up withdrawing and just stuck with my original state.

I just can't wait until I get to control my bodily functions again! Gotta make sure you don't drink too much water, have something with protein, little or no caffeine... Worst was when I needed to poop, but I had to go pee and if I went poop I'd lose my pee and I needed that pee before I went to work or I'd be late waiting to pee again! Tmi but it gets frustrating [emoji24]

I would have never thought I wanted to do long term care... But that's where I ended up and I absolutely love it! I'm sure my facility isn't the norm but my managers and coworkers are great, especially working with my restrictions. I actually get paid more than I was making at the hospital. The only complaint I have is not liking work 5 8 hour shifts.

I found that my nurse support group (that I am required to attend) was an amazing resource to find work. I'm sure it depends on the job market in your area, but it took me about a month of applications and interviews to start work once I got my okay.

I really don't know about Ohio, but I know of people that had completed the Peer program in Oklahoma and gotten back into it because of relapses. Are you sure you aren't able to participate again in Ohio?

I am currently in Peer in Oklahoma. Whenever you call, they should be able to answer questions about if you can work. Generally though, once you sign your contract you have to cease practice until they give you the okay to go back to work. After you sign your contract, you'll have to start attending 12 step meetings and nurse support groups. Random drug testing that you have to check every day to see if it's your time. You'll have to meet with an addiction evaluator (which cost me $600) and they will give you treatment recommendations, which whatever the recommend is what you have to do. For me, I had to do intensive outpatient therapy. My experience is a little different because I was living out of the state when I joined and was thinking about transferring to the state I was in. I ended up just moving back to Oklahoma. I got my okay to go back to work at around 8 months, it would have been sooner had i actually been in the state. I worked at Walmart just to have a little income. It becomes easier but it is very expensive. I started work a month after I got my okay to go back. There are multiple places here that are peer friendly (much easier in OK than in other states it seems). Just remember to take it one day and one step at a time. Let me know if you have any other specific questions and I can try to help. Sending you lots of hugs!!!

The job i have now (which is my first since I got okay to go back) I literally put on my application I was in peer. I heard they were ever friendly and it was about a 20 minute drive so I figured no biggie if I didn't get called. They actually have 3 nurses working right now in peer and they have had good experience in the past with it so I figure it's where I'm supposed to be! I've been working for about 3 months and I enjoy it so far!

Why is it too soon to ask for narcotic privileges back? I am able to ask after I have been working for 6 months. I will have 18 months clean then but I took a longer time off before returning to work so I know of people that will get their narcotic privileges back at around 12 months clean.

You can buy alcohol free hand sanitizer and bring it to work. Should be labeled on the bottle. I got mine at Walmart.

No idea. My option c with affinity is a different code than the one you listed. I've been in since July and have only had option 1.

I use a foaming hand sanitizer by germ-x (blue bottle) that specifically states on outside alcohol free. I got it Walmart. I've been back to work about 3 months and have had no issues with it. I've gotten lots of compliments that it smells really nice too! :)

Usually a MRO (medical review officer) will contact you and ask what scripts you are taking and then verify them.

I'm an OK peer nurse. It seems pretty overwhelming at first, but you start to get in a routine where it's manageable. You've got to decide for yourself if nursing is where you want to be. I wanted to hand in the towel at first but stuck with it. And I am beyond grateful that I did. I can say from experience that Oklahoma's program is a walk in the park compared to some other states. I started to transfer to California (as I was living there once I joined OK's program), talk about overwhelming. Their requirements were so much more. I ended up moving back to OK (just better for myself and my family as well as it would be easier to complete the OK program). I just received my okay to find a job about three weeks ago and should be starting my first nursing job in the program soon. That is not something I would have even been close to doing in California. I'm here if you need anything! [emoji4]