[sohpie1]

For anyone who is discouraged as I was about trying to find a job, stay positive to the best of your ability, do the foot work, research every job possible (go to the website: careerbuilder.com to find jobs in your area not listed in newspapers), pray, brush up on interviewing skills, etc. That's what worked for me. My experience was in the ICU's for many years. I do not have any additional degrees other than nursing. (an A.A.S.--not BNS) When I started researching for jobs, I ruled out the obvious ones that that my "contract" wouldn't allow me to do. I looked at the website twice a day and creatively reformated my cover letter to show how my experience would allow me to qualify for the job. (I would be happy to share a resume that could be tweeked (sp) individually--I'll check back here) I followed up (when possible) when I faxed my resume, to verify it was received. Before I went for interviews, I bought a book on frequently asked questions. Most of them were behavioral questions such as "tell me about a time when you were involved in a conflict, how it was handled and what was the outcome." I also checked out an audio tape on interview tips (at the library). I listened to it all the way to the interview and it took my mind off the "committee in my head that would tell me I wasn't going to get the job anyway." I practiced how I was going to inform the supervisor about my contract with the nursing board. When I went in for an interview I remembered my sponsor telling me this: God will go into that interview with you and if you're having a hard time anticipating the interview, ask and he will go BEFORE you. It calmed me quite a bit. In general, I didn't inform the supervisor I had a contract until I knew I would qualify for the job. If I was informed there was "call" involved, I didn't tell them. I concluded the interview and went on my way. If I qualified for the job (after being informed more about the job) then this is kind of how I presented the situation: I need to tell you I am a participant of TNPAP. If they didn't know what it was (and most of the time they didn't) explained I had a difficult time in my life and made an inappropriate decision to handle it poorly. I am a recoverying addict and participate in a 12 step program. In situations like this in the state of ______, nurses are required to participate in a program of supevision. These are my restrictions: a temporary narcotic restriction for _______, no on-call, can not work more than 80 hours in a two week period, can not work for a temp. agency, etc...
I tell them I have random drug screens and will for 3 years. I also tell them they can call my case manager to verify I have been entirely compliant with my contract. After that I usually get some silence followed by "I appreciate you informing me about your situation. I admire you. Often I was told that it takes real courage to own up to the situation. At the conclusion of the interview, sometimes I asked if being a participant of TNPAP would excluded me from the job. Sometimes they said no, sometimes they said they would need to check with the HR director or the DON. These are the types of jobs I applied for: threadmill nurse position, office nurse positions, utilization review, research nurse positions, ECF positions, blood bank positions, many many state positions (desk jobs), pre-admissions to OR position, education positions, dialysis positions and I'm sure there are more but I can't remember them all. I bet I applied for about 35 jobs. I got about 10 interviews. The position I got was for pre-admission. I do not have access to narcs, I have no call, etc. I was VERY discouraged many times about finding a job. I felt great financial pressure. But, I didn't give up. I was 100% vigilant and it paid off. It took nearly 3 months. I was willing to clean houses until I got a job. One other thing that kept me going was coming to this website. I kept reading the threads and saw that nurses did get jobs. I was discouraged because where I live it is well known that the hospitals do not hire restricted nurses to do floor nursing (who need to give controlled substances) and have a "buddy" system. It simply does not happen here. With all that said, DONT give up. There were times I thought about leaving nursing but I am so thankful I didn't. God is grooming a job for all of us....it might not be where we want or when we want it, but it's possible.

[startinovr2]

Congratulations!!! I to try to stay in the belief that God puts us right where we are supposed to be.. I also need to say a very big thank you . Being so thirsty for information I do find that when nurses talk about jobs here they are very very vague,as if closely gaurding some secret. Your post was wonderfuly honest , informative and most impotantly hopeful. I am so anxious to return to work . I was caught diverting 1/07 , surrendered my license,went through rehab am in my states diversion program and now have written a letter to the board for rienstatment.However the board does not meet in the summer so it may be Sept. before they even get to me.In the mean time I have collected temporary disabilitywhich runs out soon. My biggest concern is I cannot apply for jobs that require standing for longer than 15 min. my former drug use dealt with that back pain and allowed me to work a floor tele. position. Some day when I am working agian and have health insurance I know I will find a Doctor who can treat me without drugs,but for now it is what it is.. So again thatnk you for giving me hope....You will do very well I am sure.

Startinovr2

[dlf2007]

Congratulations to you!

[cougarnurse]

Congrats, sophie! Glad to hear that things have worked out for you. This is definately an inspiration to others.

"Cat"

[TomB]

Good for you!!