[newlyweddani]

Doing what I once feared was impossible. I graduate in May from an ADN program with 9 1/2 years clean and sober. I'm currently in the process of presenting my past wreckage to the Nursing Board to see if they will allow me to sit for NCLEX. I have done this thing on faith and it is faith that will see me through regardless of the outcome.

I just wanted to say how nice it was to revisit this site and find a recovery forum. When I first created my user name I was beginning this journey and felt quite alone. I didn't know of any other RN's who had my kind of history who had successfully become licensed after getting sober.

Thank you for letting me feel more comfortable as an almost nurse in recovery!

[Silverdragon102]

Welcome back and nice to see you posting and hope to see you posting more. Congrats and good luck

[longhornfan1]

Stay with it, I got lucky. Started bridge program clean, got caught diverting with just one semester to go before graduation. (at work, not school) and then I joined TPAPN and they would not let me get back to school right away. Wound up finishing a semester behind my class, but since I was compliant with TPAPN, I did not have to disclose my use/abuse to apply for my license. I am the first, last and only bridge student to go through my ADN program and none of the instructors thought I would make it. HA showed them. Maintained my GPA and made the Deans list too. I was worth it. Good Luck'

[Tweety]

Best of luck to you. You might have to jump through a hoop or two but I'm confident you'll prevail and become a good nurse. Thanks for taking the time to share with us.

[HM2Viking]

Best of luck! I think you will be in the club PDQ.

[TazziRN]

9.5 years?

*pshaw*

You'll sit, don't worry!

[kbell99140]

Hi
I also have 11 years sober in May but my past keeps coming back to haunt me. I was falsely accused of diverting narcs (I am a recovering alcoholic) at my job back in 2001. After being investigated by the board I was given a decision of poor charting and had to have 3 month reviews sent in by my head nurse for two years. The problem now is that every time I fill out an applicatin I have to declare that I was investigated by the board. I also had a DUI over 11 yrs ago and have to claim that when I complete the arrested question. Since I have been looking, no one will even give me a call back. They send me a nice polite letter and say "no jobs available" even though they advertise each week in the paper. I have good reviews from my current job but travel over 1 1/2 hours one way to get to work. Has anyone else had this problem>and what do you do to deal with it?

[Dixiecup]

Keep trying. Don't give up. Someone will give you a chance. I work at a LTC facility. We are notorious for hiring the underdog!

We believe everyone deserves a second chance and have hired plenty of people with less than stellar background checks. Sometimes it works out great, sometimes not. But we believe if you've cleaned up your act, we'll give you a chance.

So keep applying and try not to get discouraged!

[oooooooooo]

Originally Posted by newlyweddani

Doing what I once feared was impossible. I graduate in May from an ADN program with 9 1/2 years clean and sober. I'm currently in the process of presenting my past wreckage to the Nursing Board to see if they will allow me to sit for NCLEX. I have done this thing on faith and it is faith that will see me through regardless of the outcome.

I just wanted to say how nice it was to revisit this site and find a recovery forum. When I first created my user name I was beginning this journey and felt quite alone. I didn't know of any other RN's who had my kind of history who had successfully become licensed after getting sober.

Thank you for letting me feel more comfortable as an almost nurse in recovery!

Hmm...how far back does the board of nursing go? I graduate next month--our Dean had us fill out forms at the beginning of nursing school so that she could 'start working on things'. I've never heard anything, but I had a 'Reckless Driving' and a bad check that went to court back in the early 90's. Thank God we don't have to live that!

[ecnav]

Originally Posted by kbell99140

Hi
I also have 11 years sober in May but my past keeps coming back to haunt me. I was falsely accused of diverting narcs (I am a recovering alcoholic) at my job back in 2001. After being investigated by the board I was given a decision of poor charting and had to have 3 month reviews sent in by my head nurse for two years. The problem now is that every time I fill out an applicatin I have to declare that I was investigated by the board. I also had a DUI over 11 yrs ago and have to claim that when I complete the arrested question. Since I have been looking, no one will even give me a call back. They send me a nice polite letter and say "no jobs available" even though they advertise each week in the paper. I have good reviews from my current job but travel over 1 1/2 hours one way to get to work. Has anyone else had this problem>and what do you do to deal with it?

Collect letters of support, recommendations and people who will speak for you. Make contacts where you want to work. Go agency? Try to get an appointment off the HR calender with a unit manager. Present yourself to them, make a good impression, offer to work on probation, provide the references on the spot. Then make appointment with HR director who may or may not see you. Nevertheless, present to them somehow. You won't be able to get acceptable work the traditional way. Think outside the box.

Nothing wrong with you, remember, its the system that's broken. Keep the faith.