[Freedom42]

I question whether the OP's school even has the legal right to ask that question as a condition of enrollment. Asking about convictions is another matter: Those are public record. But past medical history is not.

I see nothing on the New Hampshire RN application that would require you to disclose, either. The board asks if you've been impaired in a manner that would impact your ability to practice and whether you have a mental or physical problem that makes you incompetent to practice. Neither question would require someone to disclose drug and/or alcohol addiction per se.

If I were the OP, I'd contact the state BON and ask for clarification. I wouldn't disclose unless I was certain it was legally required by a regulatory body.

[CHATSDALE]

i believe that people have a right to privacy-alcoholism per se is not a crime unless you have dui which is really a different situation
do what you feel is right but if someone else comes to a different decision that does not make you or them wrong

[MassED]

Originally Posted by Freedom42

I question whether the OP's school even has the legal right to ask that question as a condition of enrollment. Asking about convictions is another matter: Those are public record. But past medical history is not.

I see nothing on the New Hampshire RN application that would require you to disclose, either. The board asks if you've been impaired in a manner that would impact your ability to practice and whether you have a mental or physical problem that makes you incompetent to practice. Neither question would require someone to disclose drug and/or alcohol addiction per se.

If I were the OP, I'd contact the state BON and ask for clarification. I wouldn't disclose unless I was certain it was legally required by a regulatory body.

wow, you make a fantastic point..... Freedom42 is right, find out from a legal standpoint if that can even be asked...

[lovelynurse123]

I have chosen not to disclose my status except with a few close friends due to the conservative nature of my state. I feel that my recovery is important to me and God, and that He will let me know when to "come out". I think the best time to tell my stuff is when it would benefit or help the still suffering alcoholic/addict. The first members of the Fellowship were annonymous because they were treated differently because of their condition. That was the advice of my sponsor, and he rocks.

[bigredrn57]

Originally Posted by lovelynurse123

I have chosen not to disclose my status except with a few close friends due to the conservative nature of my state. I feel that my recovery is important to me and God, and that He will let me know when to "come out". I think the best time to tell my stuff is when it would benefit or help the still suffering alcoholic/addict. The first members of the Fellowship were annonymous because they were treated differently because of their condition. That was the advice of my sponsor, and he rocks.

Right on! However, why do you have a, "he" for a sponsor? Men sponsor men, women sponsor women. That's the way it works.

[Babs0512]

I'm of the opinion that we nurses have just as much right to keep our medical information private as anyone else.

Unless you've been arrested or charged in some way R/T your ETHO abuse, I see no reason to disclose. So long as any illness/disease you may have will not impair your ability to do your job, in my opinion, no one needs to know.

Congrats on your long sobriety. Keep up the good work.

[krazykev]

I choose not to disclose here in Wisconsin because if I did then I would be required to report it to the state BON when I apply for my license. Then the state BON would have to investigate to determine of I needed additional services in order to obtain a license.
In addition, my life insurance company could refuse me because of my addiction issues. And I have witnessed during my clinical rotations how mean other nurses can be regarding individuals with addiction issues.
Finally, I have been clean for 14 years and I truly feel that it is my business and I choose to keep it private.

[mummasheesh]

Morning recovering friends. I am amazed and excited about this forum, and thrilled that so much discussion was generated around the question of disclosure to the school on their paperwork for acceptance to clinical rotations.

The paper, a Health Questionnaire/Physical Exam Form reads "please indicate any history of the following conditions" and alcohol or drug abuse is listed as one of those conditions. I checked yes, and in the space where it says Explanation I wrote "No alcohol since 2001". In the section that the physician completes, my doctor wrote the same.

For ME ONLY, the issue is honesty. If I begin to lie about who I am, then I am in danger of picking up a drink. If I have to remember who I lied to and what I said, I am walking in the past and behaving like the woman I WAS.

This Nursing career that I have began is one of the greatest blessings and gifts that I have received in sobriety. My sponsor says "Do not let what the program gives you, take you back out."

For ME ONLY it is not a matter of DUI's or convictions, although I have none (YET!). It is a matter of being true to myself and not repeating past behavior. I am an alcoholic, and I have not had a drink in 7 years. I will go to any lengths to keep the gift. I have seen too many sister die of this disease because they did not work an honest program. I am grateful to them, and to all of you for sharing.

[Hopefull2009]

Originally Posted by TazziRN

Yes, you disclose. When asked about it you tell them you have 6.5 years sober. If you don't and it's found out, you could be kicked out for falsifying your app.

I respectfully disagree with this.

I rate it along the same token as once you are divorced, I feel at some point that you should be able to say you are single.

Unless there is a criminal record to accompany the fact you have been in recovery or lost another professional license, have a DUI, etc. I say it is YOUR business.

To those that claim she has to disclose this to nursing school, as yourself: Is there a national database somewhere, that former people that are in "recovery" are located.

I think some folks are being WAY too paranoid. Even the textbooks in both nursing and psychology have a very, very difficult time of deciding what abuse vs addiction vs recovery is.

How long can you say after someone is recovered that they are "safe"??? A week? A month? A year? 5 years? 10 years?

How can you define abuse? I used to drink 7 days a week in my younger years...that could be considered abuse, but when I decided that wasn't a good idea anymore, I just stopped.....I even once saw a counselor for depression that said my alcohol use was causing that...that was 15 years ago...I never had formal treatment or went to AA, I just made the decision and just quit...so do I have to disclose that to?

What if I never went to a counselor at all and decided to quit...do you have to disclose that?

I say 6 1/2 years SOBER is SOBER....whether it's drugs or alcohol. These folks have a RIGHT to not be haunted or constantly disclose their past over and over again...part of the recovery is MOVING ON.

It's not like she got out of a 12-step program yesterday.

I say, "Say no" to that answer....they would have to PROVE the opposite to kick you out of school. That kind of proof is going to be next to impossible to come by as long as you keep it to yourself.

[Spike45]

SassyGN

You are right! Why is it that recovering addicts continue to go to meetings night after night, pray for sobriety, been sober for nearly 6 to 10 years and still consider themselves an addict. My own believe is that they get into the habit of meetings after so all and think thats what they need to do. Why not take up biking, hiking, gardening, canoeing, boating, fishing, ect. Anything besides wasting an hour of their time to listen to the same stories in different content to stay sober.
Spike45