Roll call...status call...

I'm Melanie from Nevada, sobriety date 6/30/08. Developed a nasty addiction to pain meds and recently came to the conclusion I was also an alcoholic....only took 2 years (sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly). My coworkers found me unconscious on our unit and I was strongly urged by my facility to report myself. I did but when she pulled out my DEA report and showed me the massive amounts of pain meds I was getting and then recommended some NA meetings, I was "appalled" and told her I didn't have a problem, placed my license on inactive status, and proceeded to leave her office.

Was in a huge amount of denial at first and it took quite a few months after that (I busied myself, working at Lowe's mixing paint, thinking it was the best time of my life...lol) to realize I had truly lost control of my life. Entered into an inpatient rehab facility on June 30, 2008 and called up my BON from inside, asking if it was too late to be a part of their monitoring program. They sent me the paperwork and the rest is history! I got my license back in March of 2009 and while I was waiting, worked in a dialysis center as a tech, which got my foot in the door. They held an RN position for me and the day my BON granted me a restricted license, the dialysis place changed my title from "Tech" to "RN".

While it was an okay job, it was not the healthiest place to work and the 14 hour days were killing me. I'm now at an amazing place to work, especially for my sobriety. I work at an outpatient psychiatric facility run by the state. I work Monday through Friday, 7 to 4, with an hour for lunch. No holidays, weekends, or overtime! And best of all, in my interview, I was very upfront about my recovery and that is what got me the job. I had no psych experience prior to that and they were looking for an experience psych nurse. There were several other nurses interviewing, all of whom had previous experience. My supervisor told me what got me hired over them was my honesty and the attitude I had about recovery, which he felt would help a lot of our clientele.

I have been here about 14 months now and recently got a $6000/year promotion (something which in itself is a miracle, because in our state, NOBODY is getting promotions....we are broke, broke, broke). My Higher Power brought me here and I'm grateful everyday for a chance to go to a job I love. I never would have stepped foot in the world of psych nursing prior to my addiction rearing its ugly head but am supremely happy I am here now. I wouldn't go back to the world of the ICU if someone paid me twice what I make now. My contract with the BON is 5 years and I will finish up in 2014. I am forever grateful to the BON for helping save me from myself and introducing me to the world of AA and recovery. :bowingpur

@mizchelle RN OMG I am so happy for you! I have followed your struggled and have shared mine with you. I too may have a job. Today I find out if the Board approves it so I dont want to say too much until I know for sure. Good luck on your new position and I will keep you in my prayers

Thanks, Jack!

I would suggest trying along the lines of what I did. Apply for a medical assistant position at a place that uses RNs. I was lucky that this place, though they need one very minimally, was spending tons of money for an agency nurse when needed. While I offered to do it for my medical assistant pay....it still is a step toward getting out of peer. As it count's toward my supervised nursing requirement.

The doc in charge of this office is also a doctor at a very small in/outpatient treatment facility. So I knew I had found an understanding bunch when I decided to tell them about my RN status and asked if they possibly could use my services as one.

I have also seen ads in the paper for a telephone triage RN. You work in a call center doing telephone triage. Company name is not listed, but it is local. I feel it is probably for an insurance company or something like that.

The route I went worked really well, too. Checking into dialysis clinics as techs....I made about $15/hour and they were willing to transition me into the role of a nurse. I wouldn't have been able to start as an RN, otherwise, because they wanted someone with experience. But having 4 months of tech experience cannulating patients, stringing/running the machines, and charting on their computer system enabled me to transition pretty easily into the position of RN without a HUGE amount of training.

My Name is Rayanne.

I live in FLorida.

c & s as of 7-28-10.

Currently Involved with IPN.

Working towards getting back to work.

I have been unable to work per IPN.

Just got the call today that I need to attend meetings 9 hrs a week. and get an back to work eval done.

Not sure what to expect. I was an occasional marijuanna smoker on and off for a few years. Got caught on a random test.

Been through the whole evaluation process.

Looking forward to getting my life back to where it was minus the marijuanna :-)

Rayanne,

Welcome! 9 hours a week? For AA or NA meetings? You have to go to 9 meetings a week? I hear strange things every now and then. We have to go to 12 a month. going to more than one meeting on the same day only counts as 1 meeting. So 9 a week would not be possible as 2 of them would not count.

I think it's interesting to hear of the requirements in different places. Good luck!

Hi Luvche-

I suspect that Rayanne is in IOP (intensive outpatient treatment) that entails groups several hours a week in addition to the usual 2-3 AA/NA meeting per week requirement.

Catmom :paw:

IOP. I wonder why that never occurred to me! Lol I figured that 9 hours a week in AA would surely get her "90 meetings in 90 days" done on fast track! Lol

I am sure that Rayanne is referring to IOP. I am in IPN in Fl too. It depends on what the addictionologist recommends as to whether you go to In patient, Intensive outpatient or no treatment.

The basic program in the Florida IPN is, the evaluation, IOP or IP treatment, Aftercare, weekly Peer Meetings, Random urines (anywhere from 1/month to 1/week) NA or AA 3 x week. Very careful detail to paperwork. Make sure all deadlines are met. DO NOT MISS A URINE DRUG SCREEN... Most contracts are 5 years/some are 2. If narcotics were involved there will be a restriction, ususally for 1 year. ALso, must work under another RN supervision, no Home Health, however, I understand that we can now work nights. (still must have supervison).

I think the best tip/words of wisdom I can give after 1 year down (of 5) is DO NOT ROCK THE BOAT. The IPN holds all of the cards, fly under the radar. If they say "jump" you say "how high"...it is not fun, and at first it can be very overwhelming.

But it can be done and I know several people who completed the 5 years without problems.

Once you get in the swing of things, it becomes second nature, well, almost.

I do have to say that here in Palm Beach County, the hospitals and even the LTC facilities are NOT IPN FRIENDLY. I have been very lucky to find a case management job, but before I got this, even with a Masters' degree in Nursing, 18 years of experience, experience as a DON in a LTC facility---I could not get a postion in any of the hospitals or LTC. I went to several interviews and was offered postions, as soon as I divulged the IPN status--no dice.

Out of 12 people in my peer group only 3 of us are working as RN's.

It's very difficult to find a job in the best of circumstances right now, the IPN makes it almost impossible.

But, at least we still have our licenses...and more important...sobriety.

Best of luck to you all,

S

No sobriety date. ( I feel kind of bad saying that in this thread, congrats to all who are!). Was in pain management the whole time I was on probation and still am to this date.Fortunate for me, Missouri allows it as long as you are taking it legally. Took tramadol for about a six month period of time but couldn't function, pain was just too much. I cannot function in life without the pain meds.

That was my downfall in the first place. Went to numerous physicians and no one would prescribe me what I needed so I became desperate and diverted meds that were to be destroyed from the nursing home I worked at. At the time, years ago, I didn't know about pain management or I would have gladly went that route. It is a miracle to me.

Never lost any work time. I come from a fairly small community and everyone knows me, know the kind of nurse I am and it didn't mean squat to them.

I was in NP school the whole time I was on probation(although I did have to apply to four schools before I found one that would accept me on probation status) and now I am working as a successful FNP. My current employer new my past history and didn't amount to a hill of beans to them either. My references were outstanding and they considered theirselves lucky to get me.

I jumped through the hoops but my life didn't change that much except I DID have to spend 15 days in county jail because I had criminal charges also. That was an eye opener let me tell you!

I take narcotic four x a day like clockwork. I will never be sober or I will not be able to work. But I commend each of you who are!

Thanks for sharing all that, Dixiecup. You are so fortunate to be treated like a human being in the work world. That sure hasn't been my experience or the experience of many nurses who "diverted." My taking drugs happened over 10 years ago and I am still paying a huge price for an extreme lack of good judgment at that time.

I am unemployed and am facing possible eviction. I have skills but haven't found anyone with an open position who is willing to see me as a good employee.

Catmom :paw:

P.S. I live in the Omaha area and have medicare case management experience. I am also interested in doing medical reports for attorneys or case management for insurance. If anyone has any leads for me, please pm or email me. Thanks CM

Thanks for sharing Dixiecup, I'm curious though, do you consider yourself an addict? It actually sounds like you NEED the medications, needed them when you diverted them, use them to this day exactly as ordered...it doesn't sound like you abuse them., like I did.

I fear that being my story in life, that one day I will be reliant on the meds that I am addicted to...but how realistic is that!? I'm sure my gall bladder will have to come out one day...hell, I still have my tonsils! I can't fear being on pain medication ever again, but I know that for me, one pill or one shot will snowball very quickly. I started my career as an addict NEEDING the meds, had a complicated surgery and series of postop infections...was unable to clear the line between needing and just wanting the drugs. (I'm not referring to your story anymore, Dixie, no worries)

I'm telling you guys too, I might be new and in training at my job, but dialysis feels like the way to go. No narcs on site, still dealing with patients, families, docs, other disciplines, still keeping some skills fresh (its very technical and your assessment skills are still in use) plus I get that little boost of self importance from being a leader on the team (maybe I need to consider my humility here, but I do get a little validation being in charge). I did get a call about a research nurse position too, which probably wouldnt be my cup of tea but still.

I guess it's interesting though...how one's past experiences may pave the way to their futures. Maybe I was meant to have been in med-surg/renal/diabetic ed so that when I needed to make a change, dialysis would be my fit. I mean, I was already facing several strikes against me with the diversion,etc but my experience in renal nursing probably helped me land my position. So maybe there is an avenue the rest of you can take, if you kind of map out what you already know and take it from there?