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]

I believe, at least for the people I've talked to and myself, that we can are only allowed to do office jobs for home health (agreement specifically states that). I interviewed at a home health office for an office position, but I didn't get hired. I also have zero home health experience though. I second nursing homes. The group of us in my nurse support group who got the okay to go back to work have had pretty good luck with nursing homes. Two of us are actually in the process of getting everything approved through the committee with nursing homes. And it's only about 3 weeks since getting the okay to find work! [emoji4] Im not for sure where you are located outofluck, but I had a really great experience in Norman, OK for the state adolescent psych unit. The problem was they only had one opening and already had a peer nurse on that shift, so with only 3-4 nurses on each shift, they just couldn't work me into that shift. However, he specifically told me that he knows the hiring manager at the Griffin (state adult psych) and that they had lots of openings and are very peer friendly!! The man I interviewed with at the adolescent unit actually sits on peer committee meetings, so I believe him! Anyway, my advice is keep on trying and places (and usually the big hospitals are a no go) and networking with those in your nurse group. The place I will most likely be working (hopefully!) was recommended by another nurse in my nurse group. I would have never though to apply there as its about 20 min away in a smaller town. I even put in my application that I was in peer and they still wanted me to interview as they had had multiple nurses in the program before.

Outofluck: any luck finding a job? I'm doing my job search also, and I feel like I am running out of places to keep applying to!

Is that what you did before the test that came back diluted? If so, I might take out some of the water. If thirsty maybe just drink milk? I would always pee first thing when I woke up (cuz of course I have to go bad then) and then drink the protein shake which I think was maybe 12oz. I'd wait about 2 hours then go test. Now that I am not testing for California which is where I had the problem, I don't worry as much about it now. With my tests, I just try to have a glass of instant breakfast (which is like chocolate powder mixed in milk) and not have caffeine to be on the safe side.

I actually had this happen twice in a row... And I was testing earlier in the morning. I think my problem was I would usually just drink some Diet Coke and go test. Caffeine can make it more dilute. Also, protein helps make it not dilute. So I ended up just drinking like an Atkins shake in the morning and to not have any caffeine until after I tested, then my tests came back fine. Really funny thing is, I think it depends on the "standards" of each company/state. At the time I was testing for two states (possibly moving, but ended up sticking with my original state thank goodness). One day I got selected to test for both states. So the lab used my one void and just split it up into the four bottles. Well my California one came back low creatinine while my Oklahoma was just fine. From literally the same stream of pee. Go figure.

I just got my approval to go back to work (yay!) and am working on applications. I am about to do Fresenius application and one of the questions they ask is "Are you bound by a non-complete agreement or other contract that would prohibit or restrict your employment or your performance of any of he duties you may be assigned to during your employment?" Do I answer yes to this?! I have stips: no narcs for 6 months, no nights, no overtime. This is with the general employment questions and I feel like if I say yes, it will automatically disqualify me! And if I click yes it doesn't even give me a space to "explain." Any help would be appreciated!

I'm surprised PA let you work in another state while in their program. When I was going to switch states, I had to first get my license and then transfer to that states program before even having the possibility of working in that state.

Yea I had Jan 1-20 on my card so lots of signatures! And it was the first month I've had to do a meeting a day, and it was hard work considering I was only required to do 4 a week. Thank goodness I was getting two signed, which I think I'll probably keep doing! And making a copy at least every week. I just never would of expected someone to take it [emoji30]

So, like most of us in a intervention program, I have to get my paper signed at every 12-step meeting I go to. I just switched to California's Maximus program and I'm now required to go to one everyday. Well I went to get my paper at the end of the meeting and it was gone!!! Luckily, I still get my other state's paper signed since I'm still waiting to get everything completely switched over. My old states paper was there but my CA one was gone! [emoji30] None of the other nurses I know that go to this particular meeting where there so I don't think it accidentally got picked up by them. And I'm 100% sure I put it in because I place both of my papers folded together. I have no idea why anyone want my paper with Maximus typed big on it plus my name, but who knows. So grateful that I at least have my other states paper signed to prove attendance. But still took a while of freaking out and calling another nurse in the program to calm me down. Has anybody else had an issue where they lost their paper or anything like that?

I'm not from Arizona but I can say you should start attending NA/AA meetings and getting a slip signed to show attendance because as I understand all programs would require meeting attendance. Plus, they are an amazing way to a recovery path (which I am assuming that you are an addict, hence the diverting). I'd imagine to start the Cando program, you'd need to give them a call! If you were diverting, the board will get told, might as well get started in the program! Generally, programs say no working as a nurse until they say so, meeting with addiction specialist to get your "recommendations" on treatment (either outpatient or inpatient), a required number of 12-step meetings to attend, some states require attending nurse support groups as well, and then of course the lovely checking in daily for drug tests!! It sounds like a lot of work, and it is, but once you get into the swing of things it is actually pretty manageable. The money part is the hardest. I work as a cashier right now and am still attending a 12 step meeting a day, plus aftercare once a week (some states have this after you complete outpatient therapy) and a nurse support group once a week. It's exhausting at times, but I know that I want to be a nurse. All of the struggles is making me a better me and a better mom and most importantly making me stronger in my recovery! Wishing you the best of luck!

I had a dirty drug test and was reported. And definitely was addicted to rx pain pills. My first interview was with a case manager and then the committee which "accepts" you into the program and also lays out your contract. I believe most people are required to see an addiction counselor (on their approved list of course). I did the assessment with her and was recommend to do intensive outpatient therapy. Which based on the questions it seems like most people who answer to having any kind of substance abuse problem within past year would get recommended to do. I had to complete my recommendations before I could request to go back to work(with stipulations). I honestly could have made the process go faster had I actually been in Oklahoma. I waited right until the deadline to start my therapy (I probably could have started about 4 weeks earlier). Also, the Iop Programs in Cali are 9 weeks long where I think in Ok they are 6 weeks