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Nurses Recovery

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Let's try this....what kind of information should we be looking for? i am curious who/how many nurses we have around here, what state we are from, and whether we are working or not, what field of work our nurses are in, Something like a check-in...like this:

I'm Michelle, from Ohio. Sobriety date 4/17/2009. In Alternative program. Got my license back (with restrictions) November 2009 (lost my license the morning of the sobriety date) and currently not employed, but actively seeking.

Actually I am in talks with a possible job oppurtunity, in dialysis, should know by this week. What other information would you like to see listed in this check in? I think it might help others know, how long you looked for a job before you found one, how long it took for you to get your license back, what fields are recovery friendly, idk....maybe this is a silly idea. Let's see how it goes. xo Michelle

Specializes in ICU, PICU, School Nursing, Case Mgt.

Yay Jack--you have been such an inspiration to me and I know many, many others...here in the posts and I am sure in the "real world"...please, please keep posting and sharing your wisdom.

Thank you,

Susan

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Specializes in PPACU, LTC/Rehab.

I have been clean/sober since 8/12/2008. I moved to another state in the middle of my recovery program, so I am doing extra time for that reason (had to start my 3 years over after completing one year). I self reported myself to the board (after being terminated from a job I truly loved). I am in a diversion program, so luckily, my license is in good standing. I am working 2 diversion programs, one from the state I started it in, and the other for my current state in which I reside. It is very hard, expensive, time consuming, but I am doing it. Im so thankful for my recovery, and plan on having it a part of my life after I finish the diversion program. Whenever I get antsy about how much longer I need to go (about 2 more years), I remind myself that this program saved me, my license, and got me into recovery and for that I am grateful.

Employment troubles are my biggest concern. I have applied to at least 40 places, with multiple interviews. I am running into the same problems. Either I cannot work at a facility because I'd be the only RN for a couple hours (working with LVNs) which is against my contract, or the facility gets freaked out by me being in diversion (because they have never heard of it). I have experience in pre-op/post-op and long term care/rehab. Dialysis facilities seem to require experience, so I have had no luck there. Money is incredibly tight, and Im living penny by penny. I have been 100% compliant in both programs, but I dont know how much longer I can afford being in Diversion!! I would love it if employers could be educated about diversion programs and nurses in recovery. It seems that facilities who have heard of the diversion program and have had nurses work for them that are in recovery, have nothing but good things to say about it. Its the employers that are not aware of it that seem to be scared off. Thanks for letting me rant:)

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Specializes in ICU, PICU, School Nursing, Case Mgt.

Dear Grateful,

Rant away!

Congratulations on your sobriety..it's wonderful, isn't' it?

Where are you located and how did you get the license for the other state? I would like to move to Washington state..they do have a diversion program, I spoke with them..I guess I have to get my license first, anyway was it difficult to switch programs? I don't mind doing the 2 (although just one is a pain in the a**...) but anyway, if you can share, I would appreciate it.

I really feel your pain with finding work...have you tried case management? That's what I am doing (I work for a private co. that manages about 70 labor union insurance funds)..my boss didn't care about IPN...I was so grateful too, I do miss the hands on, but this is good for now, very different but interesting.

I just wanted to give you an idea, also, in this area all of the hospitals are advertising for Case Managers/Utilization Review nurses...try that.

Good luck,

feel free to PM me any time.

Susan

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Specializes in Addictions/Mental Health, Telemetry.

Lisala, here in south Florida!

By the grace of God, my addiction never got me in trouble with my jobs. I went to work many day with a hangover, a fact I am not proud of in any way!

The fact that I "got away with it" makes my situation no better. My disease is alcoholism, and I went from being a heavy nightly drinker after work, to stopping at liquor stores during my days off, or on the way home from work, and downing an entire 5th of liquor, then hiding the evidence in my purse!

Being married to an alcoholic did not make matters any easier each time I did try to quit. I've been in the AA rooms many times, and even managed 6 months once, in spite of everyone else around me was drinking.

I have since left my husband after his latest crazy, violent week long spree. Lots of broken dishes, jewelry box smashed to pieces! (managed to salvage it all as I left the home). I now share a wonderful condo with my elderly mother who does not drink, and is very supportive of my efforts in recovery. I'm doing my 90 meetings in 90 days and am grateful everyday for my Higher Power for bringing me to this "bottom".

I go to my job everyday, grateful I have a job and that I am blessed with the heart, soul, and mind of a nurse. My attitude toward patients and staff is even better. I realized how ashamed and guilty I used to be when I was hungover, and worried someone would notice. Now I am free!

I am also grateful to have found this thread! Congratulations to all of you here who are working your programs and repairing your lives!

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Specializes in PPACU, LTC/Rehab.

Hello SWS RN!

I started my diversion program in Arizona, then after one year moved to California. It is a lot of work juggling two programs (lots of paperwork too!). Once I complete Californias program, I then am complete with Arizona's.

Im sure every state is different and maybe they would count the time you already put in. I wasnt as lucky, and had to start my time over. At least it was one year, instead of being almost complete. California's diversion program is 10 times tougher than Arizonas, and 100 times more expensive! Im sure this is because California's diversion program for nurses is under a lot of scrutiny, and in order to be able to keep it available, they became really strict.

Good luck if you do move! Its tough, but certainly not impossible!!

Thank you for the suggestions of jobs! I may look more into those, as I have seen postings for UR nurses but I never applied because I figured I didnt have experience. It seems like these days, it is rare for facilities to want to train you. But I should still try, it wont hurt!

Im thankful for this forum.....it is like a "nurse support group" available whenever I need it:)

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Specializes in ICU, PICU, School Nursing, Case Mgt.
Hello SWS RN!

Thank you for the suggestions of jobs! I may look more into those, as I have seen postings for UR nurses but I never applied because I figured I didnt have experience. It seems like these days, it is rare for facilities to want to train you. But I should still try, it wont hurt!

Im thankful for this forum.....it is like a "nurse support group" available whenever I need it:)

Dear Grateful,

Thanks for responding...am thinking of trying to do the move next year...however, I do have a job here and am rather nervous about the response to alternative program nurses in Wa. not sure how they are taken...FLorida is a pain...at least where I am, In my peer group out of 12 nurses only 3 are working as nurses.

THank God, I am one of them.

As far as the UR/CM jobs...APPLY...if you have been a nurse and worked in acute care for a while...you can do this! It is mostly common sense and knowing HIPAA info, and Cost Mangagement....also Standards of care. WHat is medically necessary and what is not. You have to be rather organized and also a patient advocate while protecting the facililty from abuse of the system.

Once you are doing this, it becomes second nature.

YOU KNOW THIS STUFF...

Now, go out and sell yourself...

One thing I did when I interviewed was---I really "sold" myself first..then toward the end of the interview, I brought up the IPN, however, I STRESSED that I was safer than all of the other nurses--because I am randomly drug tested...and therefore I would not ever be impaired on the job.

I tried to put a positive spin on it rather than something I was ashamed of...I stressed how had I had worked to turn everything in my life around.

My boss was like "ok, I don't care what happened before, you seen capable"...she called me that afternoon with the offer.

All thanks go to GOD, this job had to be Divine intervention! I had just finished IOP...had gone thru a Horrible withdrawal and had not worked for about 9 months.

THe weekend after I was cleared for work by the IPN and the contract was signed (5 years, baby) I saw the Ad for this job. I called on a Monday morning, interviewed the next day and started working on the following Monday morning.

I spent a lot of time on my knees during those months and I truely believe that something "greater than myself"---choose to call it what you wish--it's GOD to me--was at work here.

I hope, really hope your search is productive and you find a job soon.

Believe in YOURSELF and market yourself.

You are a valuable asset to someone's health care team...just don't know which one yet.

Take care, and Blessings to you:redbeathe

S

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hi my name is lisa and i am currently residing in florida. i was caught diverting narcotics in ca ( where i was born and raised), entered the diversion program there, only to have to leave it when moving to fl. thought i'd take a little time off, then got terribly sick for over a year. so here i am starting new with fl ipn program. had applied and actually got a fl license back over a year ago and shortly thereafter ca forced me to surrender my license there. of course fl found out and i decided to enter the ipn. my sobriety date is 2-22-07 and while i was caught for narcotics, my real drug of choice was alcohol.

nice to meet everyone!:nurse:

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Specializes in diabetic education, dialysis.

STATUS UPDATE! I am officially EMPLOYED! I am writing this on a Sunday night, and I start tomorrow morning. I almost missed out on the oppurtunity though!!!!! I got the actual offer on THURSDAY even though I knew training started 9/20 and I told the company that I would need a small window of time for the BON to review and approve the worksite and fax back and forth the contracts and get all my ducks in a row. So they "were taking care of all that"...I hadn't heard so I called friday back and forth....I don't know who was or wasn't doing what but....drama, okay, I finally found out for sure and got all the paperwork in place, FRIDAY around 4pm. ughhh stress!!!! I think that the God of my understanding really does have a sense of humor. (wanna make God laugh? Make plans)

It is a dialysis clinic position, and its an hour away. The pay is pretty good, only about $3 less than my pay after 12 years in the hospital, four 10hr shifts.

I am so greatly, desperately GRATEFUL. That would have been my advice to any of our recovering nurses on here; if you can, expand your search to include big cities near you. Bigger cities have more experience working with nurses on disciplined/restricted licenses. I have found much more compassion in bigger cities, although I have also been blessed with some pretty good experiences around here too (not that any resulted in a job! LOL).

Keep plugging along friends....I'm glad I stuck it out. xo Michelle

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Specializes in PPACU, LTC/Rehab.

Congrats Michelle! And thank you for the encouragement! I have been searching for jobs since May, and no luck. I get so frustrated and scared about my financial situation. I live in central valley CA in a smallish town and the economy is horrid. I have been applying to the largest 2 cities near me (an hour away in either direction). Among my 40 plus applications Ive put out there, I have applied for many dialysis positions. It seems to always require prior dialysis experience, which I dont have. I never thought it would take me this long to find employment as a nurse. And I know its not all because of the diversion thing, because most of the time I dont hear back from the employer before I tell them Im in diversion. I have my narcotic priviledges, but the problem I am running into a lot is being the only RN (among LVN's) for a couple hours on my shift (my contract restricts this). I have turned down 4 (!) job offers because of this.

Again, congrats on the job and on your hard work!!

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Specializes in Impaired Nurse Advocate, CRNA, ER,.
Congrats Michelle! And thank you for the encouragement! I have been searching for jobs since May, and no luck. I get so frustrated and scared about my financial situation. I live in central valley CA in a smallish town and the economy is horrid. I have been applying to the largest 2 cities near me (an hour away in either direction). Among my 40 plus applications Ive put out there, I have applied for many dialysis positions. It seems to always require prior dialysis experience, which I dont have. I never thought it would take me this long to find employment as a nurse. And I know its not all because of the diversion thing, because most of the time I dont hear back from the employer before I tell them Im in diversion. I have my narcotic priviledges, but the problem I am running into a lot is being the only RN (among LVN's) for a couple hours on my shift (my contract restricts this). I have turned down 4 (!) job offers because of this.

Again, congrats on the job and on your hard work!!

Look into applying for Clinical Research Associate jobs. You don't need a license and your health care background can be an attractive reason to hire you.

Hang in there!

Jack

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Ortho, Oncology, PACU.

Jack,

That's a good suggestion. I applied for Clinical Research Coordinator, and ended up getting the Clinical Research assistant position instead (which is good because i was a medical assistant before I was an RN). This position lead to me getting my part time RN position with the company. I am now meeting my supervised nurse requirement.

It's really a matter of getting creative and thinking outside the box, sometimes. You have to think along different lines to get a job when in this situation. It could open the doors for fields of nursing you may never have thought of before.

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Specializes in Impaired Nurse Advocate, CRNA, ER,.
Jack,

That's a good suggestion.

I come up with one now and then. I can't take credit for this one since a head hunter gave it to me a couple of years ago.

Anyone else have "outside the box" suggestions for employment? It's so easy to get locked into "I have to work in a hospital or LTC facility". Not true, as Luvche just told us.

Thanks Luvche!!

Jack

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