returning to the workforce

[sweetnurse6740]

I am a nurse in recovery in Houston, Texas. Does anyone know of any recovery friendly employers? My background is LTC. Any replies would be greatly appreciated.

[t122590]

I am in the same spot as you. I live in oklahoma city and cannot find work>

[Randy, RN]

My friends tell me that the main thing is to be totally honest with them, not make your story sound overly dramatic....I think you will be surprised. You are not a "bad" nurse or person and hospitals know that or should.

[sweetnurse6740]

Randy,
Thanks so much for the reply. It is so good to get a positive response.

One day at a time,
sweetnurse6740

[Randy, RN]

Hang in there girl, it will get better. That's a promise.

[cjen777]

Go out and start applying at different places. Nursing homes are always hireing. Be honest, don't get discouraged.
I am in the same situation and thats what I did. Eventually I found a NH that was willing to work with me. I'm a charge nurse and the other nurse who works w/me passes my narcs, counts the cart ect. I have 18 months of sobriety. If I can do it you can too! Just keep trying-Good luck and god bless

[cherrie]

does anyone out there have any information on refresher courses for r.n's in toledo ohio or ohio itself. i have been clean 4 yrs and i need to get back to nursing but i have to have a refresher course before i can return to nursing

[hppygr8ful]

I don't know about Toledo but check with a community college that has a RN program they can usually stear you in the right direction.

[Recovering Nurse]

I am considering re-instating a surrendered R.N. license from 1998 due to chemical dependency. I am also in Houston, Texas. It still, after all these years sounds very discouraging regarding obtaining employment. I really thought that perhaps the nursing field had become more educated and accepting of recovering nurses. Now, I wonder if it will even be worth all of the effort going through the Nursing Board program and trying to find employment without being rejected time and again. I don't know why our fellow nurses are not more supportive. Has anyone in recovery found a job in Houston??????

[hppygr8ful]

When your on probation, in diversion or peer assistance etc - you are usually first given permission to work in an area of non-patient care. I'm in California and I got the first job I applied for. I used to work L&D since I knew that would be out of the question I didn't even look there. Here are some suggestions - look for jobs in case management, Admitting, nursing homes, rehab facilities. Check with HMO's and other insurance companies for positions like Tele-nurse etc... I currently work as the admit nurse in a psych hospital. It would not have been my first choice for a job but I now find it's the best job I've ever had. When you apply you don't have to tell them right away that you are in diversion unless you have a felony on your record. Here in California it's recomended that you not tell about diversion until you have a job offer in writing. If you choose to tell as I did then I suggest something like what I did. I went to the hospital and asked for an appointment with the DON - not human resources. I had a sit down with her. I explained that I was an alcoholic/addict in recovery/diversion. That I had been sober 9 months and that I was interested in working in psych. I also told her I had no psych experience but was willing to take any nursing position and work up from there. two weeks later I was working there and even had my own office. I don't work on the floor. I just see new patients get them admitted to the hospital. I don't make as much money as I used to but I make enough to get by and that's all that matters right now.