Stipulations...

[willow14]

Hi everyone, I am just looking for some feedback. I've posted on this site before and have been in recovery for over 2 years. (from pain pills). I was fortunate enough to be accepted into my state's monitoring program. I have been in monitoring for over 2 years (5 year program). I started out with many of the common stipulations that many others have here- no narcotics, no pool/hospice/home care nursing, pre-approved work settings, uds and must have direct supervision by another licensed professional. I have taken my recovery seriously and know my monitoring porgram has saved my life and my career. I was granted my AODA counseling requirement to be lifted and access to controlled substances in September. I was hoping my job prospects would open up once I was granted access to controlled substances, but actually the reqirement for needing direct supervision is really holding me up. I will reach out to my case manager to get her thoughts, but I hoping others could share their thoughts/experience here. What does direct supervision really mean? Does it mean having someone with me at all times or mean another RN just needs to be available to me (on the unit or in the building)? I had an interview and it was one of the worst interviews I've ever had.....the DON interviewing me was so stuck in this stipulation....she couldn't get past it. When she asked me what 'direct supervision' meant, I had a really hard time answering it because I really wasn't sure. What does that mean to any of you and what's the best way to explain this on an interview?

Thank you all for reading and any insight is appreciated :)

[catsmeow1972, BSN, RN]

Ah yes, i am having the same issue. So far as I know the direct supervision means that there has to be another RN on the premises that knows you are in monitoring and can come assist if necessary (whatever the hell that means). In all practicality, it does not have to be the unit manager that does your quarterly reports. I know many a nurse that work nights. The unit manager does their quarterlies and whoever the charge nurse is for that shift constitutes the "direct supervisor." Also said "direct supervisor" does NOT have to be the same person every shift. For this to be interpreted as the same person has to be joined at your hip every time you are at work, then every nurse I know would be violating their contract and nobody would be able to get a job ever. There is no such thing as a job where your schedule mirrors that of the unit manager. My last job, the house supervisors knew of all the monitoring folks. There always being a house sup., problem solved. i am primed to start a new job and all of a sudden my program is being butts about this.

Hope this helps.