My story is a little different. I worked at a Jail in FL for almost a year and at the end of the day any medication that is expired or the inmate has been released we have to bring up to the top of the hill and drop it off. I had alot of things to carry that day (charts, personal belongings, etc.) and I had a few bubble packs of expired ANTIBIOTICS laying on top of everything that kept falling onto the ground so I picked them up and put them in my work bag to carry up to the top. When I finally got up there I started talking to the MD and my co-workers and forgot all about the pills. I accidently went home with them and realized it once I got home and said OH XXXX! I have to make sure I bring them back tommarrow. I had a "friend" who I was letting stay with me to try and sober up and get his stuff together. Needless to say he was drunk when I was at home and the situation became violent so I asked him to leave by the time I got back and I left the home. He called the police and said I stole medication from work. The police came and I was arrested and ended up being charged with 2 misdemeanors (1petit theft, 1prescription meds without prescription). This happened on 2/07. I've already finished my court requirements and my nursing board requirements end on 7/09. Problem is I'll never escape from the background check everyone requires. I have been an LPN since 1989 (20yrs) and I can't get a job anywhere. The interview goes wonderful until I have to discuss the background and then it's all downhill from there. I don't get called back, or I'm told because of my background they can't hire me. I'm at the point where I don't know whether I can continue being a nurse if I can't get a job. All the good work I did for 18yrs means nothing. The way I'm being treated you would think I killed someone. Does anybody have any advice for me? In the last 2 years since this has happened I lost my home, my job, my health ins, my car, my good name. I'm so upset I don't know what to do. Any words of help, advice or wisdom would be appreciated.
Lynda Maier wrote:My story is a little different. I worked at a Jail in FL for almost a year and at the end of the day any medication that is expired or the inmate has been released we have to bring up to the top of the hill and drop it off. I had alot of things to carry that day (charts, personal belongings, etc.) and I had a few bubble packs of expired ANTIBIOTICS laying on top of everything that kept falling onto the ground so I picked them up and put them in my work bag to carry up to the top. When I finally got up there I started talking to the MD and my co-workers and forgot all about the pills. I accidently went home with them and realized it once I got home and said OH XXXX! I have to make sure I bring them back tommarrow. I had a "friend" who I was letting stay with me to try and sober up and get his stuff together. Needless to say he was drunk when I was at home and the situation became violent so I asked him to leave by the time I got back and I left the home. He called the police and said I stole medication from work. The police came and I was arrested and ended up being charged with 2 misdemeanors (1petit theft, 1prescription meds without prescription). This happened on 2/07. I've already finished my court requirements and my nursing board requirements end on 7/09. Problem is I'll never escape from the background check everyone requires. I have been an LPN since 1989 (20yrs) and I can't get a job anywhere. The interview goes wonderful until I have to discuss the background and then it's all downhill from there. I don't get called back, or I'm told because of my background they can't hire me. I'm at the point where I don't know whether I can continue being a nurse if I can't get a job. All the good work I did for 18yrs means nothing. The way I'm being treated you would think I killed someone. Does anybody have any advice for me? In the last 2 years since this has happened I lost my home, my job, my health ins, my car, my good name. I'm so upset I don't know what to do. Any words of help, advice or wisdom would be appreciated.
I don't know where you are looking for work - but I have always found that Psychiatric facilities are more forgivireng in their hiring policies than other employers. You might also try linking up with some nurse support groups in your area as other nurses go through the same thing are often great resources. I don't know if you've you've said up front what your circumstances are when you interview.
The first job I interviewed for I told the DON I was an addict in recovery sober times 9 mos under restriction by the state Board and could I please have a job. I stated that if she was willing to take a chance on me I would prove myself an asset to the facilty. She smiled stated "that's wonderful, when can you start?" I worked there for five years had charge of the addiction recovery department for two of them. I have since moved on to a difereent area of nursing. But I am happy sober and making a good living today. This too shall pass for you.
Peace and Namaste
Hppy