Experience of recovering nurses indicates that the successful
recovering nurse's return to practice needs to be in a work
environment supportive to recovery. The restrictions listed
below are ones that have proven to be the most successful in
providing this support.
The parties agree to the following restrictions. Each restriction
should be initialed by the parties to indicate acceptance.
RESTRICTIONS (check only those that apply and initial)
Employer
Nurse
Representative
a. Day shift
is preferred, but 3-11 shift is acceptable based on careful
evaluation of the circumstances, i.e. staffing patterns, familiarity
of co-workers with nurse's dependency, availability of daytime
support/group/therapy/aftercare meetings. Nurse will not work
11-7 shift for a minimum of one year.
b. Shift rotation will not be
permitted, i.e., must work the same shift, either days or evenings
continually for one year.
c. The nurse will work only on
regularly assigned, identified, predetermined units and will
not be used for coverage on other units, e.g. "PRN"
or "floating" for one year. It is preferred that staff
on the unit be knowledgeable and willing to work with a recovering
nurse.
d. The Nurse will not work any
overtime or on call assignment for first six (6) months. After
six (6) months, overtime and on-call assignments must be mutually
agreed upon by employer, representative, and nurse.
e. The nurse agrees not to work
for multiple employers for one year.
f. The nurse will not do private
duty nursing or engage in any type of self-employed practice
for one year.
g. The nurse will not accept
employment with temporary or supplementary agencies/registries/services,
home health care or other isolated areas of practice for one
year.
h. Access to mood altering medications
will occur only as mutually agreed upon by the nurse, employer,
and representative.