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Me, too
I'm in TPAPN, too, and found your post while searching for the same info. The few nurses I know in TPAPN kept the jobs they already had. I wish the program provided more support for this process; helping us to network with other TPAPN nurses (and "graduates") would be invaluable. If you do find out anything helpful, please share. I'll do the same. Thanks for bringing up the topic--I know we're not alone! Les
PS--I don't understand the previous reply

Jobs and TPAPN
I too am trying to find work, I was just referred to TPAPN for something that was not even mine. Anyway, thats neither here nor there. If anyone knows any jobs in the DFW area that are use to working with TPAPN nurses please respond.

Thanks

RD

TPAPN TOO--HELP!!!!!
I'm a TPAPN nurse in the DFW area and am having a horrible time finding work. Interviews go GREAT--till TPAPN is mentioned. Any ideas; or better yet-anyone know of any jobs?

TPAPN success
TPAPN sure isn't easy or fun, but do-able. Ask your case manager and advocate for specific hospitals and/or units that have had SUCCESSFUL TPAPN nurses work there presently or in the recent past. Find an AA/NA sponsor that is in healthcare...preferably nursing. We are here- thousands of us! Most importantly, keep your head up! Remember, it is a BRAVE soul who is serious about battling this problem, and takes serious fortitude to go to an interview and say "I'm a TPAPN nurse". I have found in 10-12 interviews that the vast majority of Nurse managers applaud and admire you for trying to continue in nursing whether or not they will or can hire you. There are ALWAYS going to be people who judge you, label you, are 'disgusted' that you have a license. Accept that though few, they are there, and the truth is, 1)YOU have given them the opportunity to act that way '(your part)', and 2) unfortunately they DO NOT UNDERSTAND. It scares them. They may feel the same way about homosexuals or other races or "those Filipino" nurses- they are afraid of what they don't know or understand and so they judge and are angry. I have learned to feel compassion for the judgmental people. Would they treat their child that way if they had a drug or drinking problem? Maybe- if they are sick enough!
I ramble- but hope this helps someone! A working, GRATEFUL! &recovering, TPAPN nurse.

ANA stat: 6-8% have ETOH/drug issues
This from American Nurse Assoc. Univ. of Wisconsinresearch in 2001. Get 100 nurses in a room, and 6 to 8 of them will have a drug and/or alcohol problem during their career. We aren't freaks! If you work with a nurse in a 'impaired nurse program', at least you know! Most don't get "caught", just quit nursing, die, commit suicide, disappear to go work somewhere else- job hopping.

TPAPN restrictions on employment.
I just wanted to relay my displeasure with the TPAPN employment restrictions that are keeping me from finding employment. When I renewed my RN license in 2005, I disclosed on the renewal application that I had received a DUI in 2003. This was my first and only one, and I admit that I was probably starting to partake of scotch more than I should have, although it had never adversely effected my employment as an RN. Because of the DUI, the BNE referred me to TPAPN. I took off some time from work to complete my MSN, and that has hurt my chances for employment under TPAPN. The employment restrictions forbid me from autonimous or unsupervised work, but the vast majority of offers I am getting is for managerial positions that I can not accept. With a MSN, no one wants to hire me for floor nurse positions because they think I will not stay. I am getting desperate to find anything in the DFW area.

Re: TPAPN success
I would like to get some advice from someone activly working as a TPAPN nurse. I am just beginning the process and am feeling discouraged by how many places I read how impossible it is to get a job. I would like job hunting suggestions.

Working in TPAPN
Been in the program for 6 months now. I believe the hardest thing I've ever done is sit through an interview and then disclose my TPAPN status and see the manager crawdad on the job offer. However, I went through approximatley 10 interviews and with each my approach changed according to the interview. I tried Psych/CD, doctors offices, dialysis and finally settled in occupational health. I tried to find areas that the restrictions would not conflict with, this seemed to help overcome potential objections.

DON"T let fear overcome you! It was my worst enemy. I was able to start a new job within 4 weeks of being in the program. My restrictions are fixing to be removed and hope is returning. Most of my adult life has been in recovery, so the program requirements are easy to take. The hardest thing for me was finding the 1st employer to take a risk on me and allow me to show them what a recovering nurse can do. Regardless of all the grief it has caused me, I am so grateful to be a recovering nurse. Good luck with the search