complied with the strict requirements of the re-licensing program and was reinstated as an RN. I couldn’t find a nursing job due to the severe restrictions I was to be under for the first year of nursing employment. I voluntarily ended my participation in the program since I had no income but was paying for drug screens several times weekly. Since I “breached” the contract with the State Board, I now cannot work in ANY area of healthcare, and cannot work for any employer who receives any money from Medicaid, Medicare, or other healthcare funding from the government. Meaning I can’t even work at a Doctor’s office as a typist. I have 2 Bachelor’s degrees, but have NO IDEA how to start a new career! Please advise me with any and all ideas, no matter how simple.
Thank you!!
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well, thats really inconvenient…
I dont know what to tell you..
Apperantly you need to look into a new field.
what are your Bachelors?
Can you take them to a different field?
It takes guts and honesty to self-report, and i think you are great for doing this. Realizing you had a problem is the first step to fixing it. It’s certainly not hard to get addicted to pills. Congratulations on doing this and being clean for this period of time!
I think you might begin by 1st deciding if you want to stay in nursing or not. If you do, you may want to consider re-enrolling in the contract that you mention, and completing the time in restriction, even if you are not working as an RN. This way, your record WOULD eventually be cleared, and you could get back on track after a year. Yes, it’s difficult, and there is the cost of the drug screens, but once that is over, you are finished with it. You have completed your legal debt, and can start fresh.
Long range, having gone thru this difficult learning experience, you can be a role model for others, and perhaps encourage someone else in their addiction to get help. Often those who have struggled and conquered a problem make the best counselors.
If you do not want to stay in nursing — ie., it’s not a “calling” for you — then you might want to consider your other Bachelor degree, & areas of skills and expertise, and then consult with a job marketing agent. Take aptitude tests, and see what is recommended.
Here are some websites that discuss finding a career counselor / job coach:
http://www.aarp.org/money/careers/choosecareer/occupational-info/a2004-05-19-careercouncelor.html
http://jobsearch.about.com/b/2006/04/08/how-to-find-a-career-counselor.htm
Other than health care, there are high paying jobs in various fields. Perhaps retraining in one of these might interest you:
http://www.acinet.org/acinet/oview5.asp?Level=Overall
I hope this helps! Good luck on your career search!
kathy, MSN, RN
RN with Master’s in Nursing in Health Promotion and Education;
Also former University Nursing Professor; sat on Admissions Committee