Returning to nursing with conditions

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Hi everyone.

I have gotten my registration back after letting it go 4 years ago. I was having a really awful time in my personal life and ended up with drug possession charges. At the time I was doing agency work so couldn't work out how I would be able to find somewhere that would employ me with those charges and needing supervised practice so I surrendered my registration.

I've now finally got it back but I have no idea how to go about finding work as my conditions include supervised practice and informing the facility I work at that I am having regular drug testing. I live in a regional town with two hospitals and I'm so worried about going into an interview with those conditions, no nursing references and having not practiced for such a long time. If I ruin my chances the first time in a hospital I may not get a second chance. And aged care isn't an option due to the condition of supervision.

I am taking the ACN refresher program and doing a First Aid certificate but I know it probably isn't enough.

I'm just looking for any help or suggestions anyone might have to get back to nursing.

Thank you for reading this long post :-)

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Hi Cassie

I'm just wondering how you're going with work or looking for work now?

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Hi joshle,

I've been going around to the hospitals and nursing homes where I live, offering to volunteer my time just to keep my hours up.

I was giving up hope and then Friday I went into a private hospital and I must have walked in at just the right time. The DON said they can't let me volunteer as there would be no insurance that would cover me, but she gave me an application form and said to apply for a casual position on the surgical rehabilitation ward. As long as my interview goes OK and my references check out, I will be starting work soon :) Can't believe my luck right now!

 

 

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On 9/6/2020 at 5:28 PM, Cassie B said:

Hi everyone.

I have gotten my registration back after letting it go 4 years ago. I was having a really awful time in my personal life and ended up with drug possession charges. At the time I was doing agency work so couldn't work out how I would be able to find somewhere that would employ me with those charges and needing supervised practice so I surrendered my registration.

I've now finally got it back but I have no idea how to go about finding work as my conditions include supervised practice and informing the facility I work at that I am having regular drug testing. I live in a regional town with two hospitals and I'm so worried about going into an interview with those conditions, no nursing references and having not practiced for such a long time. If I ruin my chances the first time in a hospital I may not get a second chance. And aged care isn't an option due to the condition of supervision.

I am taking the ACN refresher program and doing a First Aid certificate but I know it probably isn't enough.

I'm just looking for any help or suggestions anyone might have to get back to nursing.

Thank you for reading this long post :-)

hi How did you get back your registration please.?

I made a medication error that that put my registration on supervision and finding hard to get employed. Can I apply or work as EN instead?

Will appreciate any advice and help thanks

 

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Hi Ellie,

I think the best thing for you to do would be to call AHPRA.

To get my registration back I had to fill out an application for registration. I then went through an assessment process where I had meetings with a psychiatrist and the team in charge of making and monitoring my conditions. 

I had a facility that wanted me to work as an EN as I used to be one, but as that was 11 years ago I would have had to apply for registration as an EN again. I'm not sure how your current situation would affect your getting registration as an EN, sorry. I think that's another good question for AHPRA.

I'm.sure you already have, but any courses you can do re. safe medication administration will not only keep your CPD hours up, I will also look really good to employers.

Visiting facilities worked for me. I have a number of conditions so on paper I'm sure I don't look great and probably wouldn't have gotten a chance at an interview. But going around and introducing myself just added a personal aspect to it and they could see I was eager to get back into nursing and do well.

It's a difficult thing, I hope this a helps.

 

Cassie

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Hey Cassie

How did you go at the interview?

I have conditions on my registration too and boy was it a struggle to find a job.  

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Hi ellle

I found it really hard to get hired too as I have conditions on my registration.

My advice is to just keep applying, anything that interests you or a position which is suited to your skills and experience, go for it.  Just keep applying, don't give up, that's the only way to get something.

It's true that it's harder to get a job with conditions but there are places willing to take someone on who has conditions.

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Hi again joshle,

It went well, I got the job and start this Monday. Thanks for asking ?

it sounds like you managed to find a job too despite conditions, that's great! I hope it's going well!

Cassie

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That's great news.

You must be excited and nervous maybe?

All the best with your new job

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wow, good on you!

Do you need supervision on your employment?

can I apply too? Cheers

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Hi ellle

 

Yes, I have supervision on my employment.

Keep applying and just be up front.  The company that hired me said that they appreciated how open and honest I was about my conditions 

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Hi Joshle,

Sorry for barging, what company did you apply? Maybe I could try?

Apparently as I searched , nmba recognises nurses may hold both  RN and EN  its called concurrent registration 

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