TPAPN...Uggghh!!

I need an answered prayer. I live in the dallas area and I cannot find anyone to hire me. I worked PICU X 7 years, but when I put TPAPN down on my applications..i get either a no or no response. What areas hire someone like me?? I am desperate. My wife is pregnant and I need someone to take a chance on me. Thank you and God bless.

Have you tried dialysis, nursing homes, clinical research associate (may require travel), phlebotomist, blood bank, insurance company reviewing client records, doctors offices, teaching (depending on the degree(s) you have), nurse aide, courier for al lab, etc. Shoot, I worked at a bowling center for a time ($7.50/hour), worked in landscaping until my knee and back couldn't take it anymore, sold cars (sucked at it!), delivered Chinese food (made between $35 - 125.00 in cash per evening shift),worked in a fish market, and other odd jobs. I finally started my own consulting/education business revolving around substance abuse and chemical dependence in health care professionals and am the chair and a peer advisor for the nurse anesthesia association in my state (which is an unpaid position but it's giving me tons of experience in dealing with this issue outside of my little world and lots of contacts for my consulting business). I've hooked up with a nurse attorney helping her with clients facing board action for the very thing we find ourselves dealing with on this message board.

I'll post some links later that might help.

Hang in there!

Jack

Here's to you! Jack has some great suggestion about work. Some might not where you want to be but its a start. I need to take that same advise. After 2.5 years of recovery, I am still not working as a nurse either. Boy do I miss it! I am new to this site but have read some great suggestions on how to inform, when to inform and what to inform. You need to be very careful not to indicate your license issue or anything to do with the BON unless it specifically indicates so. Get to the interview first, then sell yourself and your career, then ease the person who has the power to hire into your licensing issue. The key is disclosure only at the right time, prefer the later the better. This is the way I see it: they give me an interview, make a job offer, and "oh by the way, are you comfortable with working with me on the monitoring program?" Its also important that they are comfortable working with you and the monitoring program.

My last interview everything was going well until on of those questions about my license came up, "so you have a license in Oregon and Washington?" Yes, "unrestricted?" Me: "Oregon-yes", Washington-no." Interviewer: "can you explain that?" You can see where that went....no job offer.

In my case, what am I going to say on an app, "reason for leaving?" "I got fired?" No. Some suggested, "Prefer to discuss in person." Sure, it might be a negative, but its better than being "terminated from chemical dependency."

You might want to do some searches for employment issues on this board because they have some great suggestions on how to handle this issue.

Glenn

I work at an outpatient medication clinic for psychiatric patients. I LOVE my job! Nice, normal hours, 13 paid holidays a year (I love never having to work Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.), great benefits. And I get to deal with a lot of clientele who are suffering from the same disease I am....although most are not in recovery or struggling with it. I was hired over another nurse who had psychiatric experience (my background was in critical care) BECAUSE of my addiction and recovery program. Good luck to you and remember that you may have to work in an area not of your choosing at first.

I don't know if this was covered in the other replies.. but this morning I am feeling a little ADHD and decided to go ahead and reply before reading... (don't slap me)...

As I scan the reply-er's (is that a word?) names.. i see who they are and I will go ahead and say.. those are good answers!! And I would also like to say that .. the NUMBER ONE tip that I will give you is.... Never ever put TPAPN on your application. You should wait to tell them about TPAPN until you are talking to the person that is hiring you. ANd then please do not say it right away,, start talking first. It will come to a point in the interview where they ask you what you've been doing the last six months or so (since you've been out of work for tpapn) then that is your cue to talk about it.

During your interview, don't sound desperate, but DO sound confident... confident in your nursing skills and confident in your recovery.. but do not make yourself out to be "all about recovery" .. talk about the tpapn,, explain it if you have to... (some might not know what it is.. and this makes me really mad) ... and .. then explain your restrictions.... and tell them if they need to know more that you most certainly can give them your case manger or advocate's phone number (and sign the consent and send to tpapn of course) ... then they can talk with them also...

There is another thread or two or three or fifteen on this site about how to interview and get hired when you're in the peer assistance program... It all boils down to persistence. You will learn from each interview and by the time you find that job you will be an expert interviewer. ...

Good luck!

I would like to thank everyone who replied and has given me a great amount of information. It looks like it's time to buckle down and start putting those applications in everywhere! I'll take what i can get...That being said, i realize my sobriety must come first, or I will eventually lose everything. And there's way too many great things in my life to not give this everything i have. I thank God for being a merciful God, and I know that all I have to do is turn to him. I just need a reminder sometimes... :)

...i realize my sobriety must come first, or I will eventually lose everything. And there's way too many great things in my life to not give this everything i have. I thank God for being a merciful God, and I know that all I have to do is turn to him. I just need a reminder sometimes... :)

Amen to all of that. Keep plugging...do one thing at a time. Move deliberately. Tdays world of multitasking and "having it all and doing it all" is a crock of fecal material. Determine what's most important in your life and focus on those things (Sobriety and relationships) are the biggies for me!

One day at a time!

Jack

Amen to all of that. Keep plugging...do one thing at a time. Move deliberately. Tdays world of multitasking and "having it all and doing it all" is a crock of fecal material. Determine what's most important in your life and focus on those things (Sobriety and relationships) are the biggies for me!

One day at a time!

Jack

haha ,, oops.. okay, I agree with you here!

Jack, I totally agree with you and it seems that everything that comes out of your mouth/fingers is good. Will You Marry Me?

Oh man...The trouble I could get into ........

I've been married twice and divorced twice. The first was because of my addiction, the second because of hers. I've decided I'm going to forgo marriage and buy dogs instead (they love you no matter what!).

Now, we could discuss other options............

Jack

Okay now Jack you are wayyyy off topic.

Okay now Jack you are wayyyy off topic.

The story of my life!

Jack

Oh Jack,

I will digress from the topic for only a few minutes, I simply have to say that I think I love you...I have been following your posts "rabidly". You are the most erudite and brilliant man I have come across in many years. Your knowlege and empathy are second to none. I would love to pick your brain privately...any chance of corresponding? I am not a stalker--just interested in your mind...how do you feel about Florida,"smile"....(and I love dogs.....) and just what options are you offering to magsulfate???

Back to the topic at hand;

I found great success when I interviewed by convincing the person that I was the perfect fit for the job... that I was actually "safer" because I am monitored and tested frequently. Do not put TAPAN anywhere on the application. Bring it up when the interview looks promising. You need to show them that you have prevailed at a very difficult situation and it is with this determination that you will function in the position. Also, remember, you have nothing to be ashamed about...this is the premise you want to convey. You made a mistake and now you have no intention of repeating it.

It's all in the presentation...be confident, look and act professional...have a dynamite resume and cover letter. Do your homework. Find out about the company where you are applying. Network with other impaired RN'sto find out where they have had luck. SELL YOURSELF...(don't sell yourself short)

Great Luck to you,

Susan