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Nurses Recovery

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Up front, please know that I mean no disrespct. I am not an impaired nurse, and therefore understand that I can't really understand. But I haunt this particular board because the struggles that you all go through both intrigue and touch me. It takes a strong soul to endure what you do, and an even stronger soul to return healed and renewed. But something that I can't quite get my head around is why a nurse would divert drugs from a monitored system, like a pyxis. It must cross ones mind that these sorts of things are watched closely, and even if one doesn't get caught now, there will be a time in the future where one is. It is unavoidable. So what makes a person divert in this manner? Is it hubris? Desperation? Or does the need override the preservation instinct? I want to thank you for your input ahead of time, and to tell you it is much appreciated.

Specializes in Impaired Nurse Advocate, CRNA, ER,.
Jack,

Once again, BRAVO, BRAVO, BRAVISSIMO!!!

As always, I learn something new with each of your posts and I feel renewed after reading each one.

Awwww shucks......twernt nuthin'. Thanx.

Jack

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jack- finally, something that really helped me see addiction as a disease!! i had no problem acknowledging i had an addiction, & was willing to accept it as a disease- but your post #3 actually finally helped me truly understand this disease process!!! thank you!! your knowledge on this issue is a priceless God-send to all of us. ;)

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Specializes in ICU, psych, corrections.

No, the curriculum isn't any different....or it wasn't when I went through school (graduated in 2005). In fact, when I entered into my state's recovery program, I remember saying to the woman who is the compliance coordinator, "how come nobody ever came and talked to our class about stuff like this? How come it's never mentioned in school?". I remember thinking that when I had some years of sobriety under belt, wanting to come and talk to nursing students about the signs, symptoms, and risks of addiction. It bothers me that 5 years later, things still don't seem to have changed. Ignorance is NOT bliss and in fact, is killing our colleagues.....slowly AND quickly. It's a shame that as medical professionals, many of our colleages don't have a clue about the disease and the process. Then again, I didn't have any idea myself prior to recovery and it took me quite a few months of sobriety before I embraced the realization that my addiction wasn't a "choice".

Thank you, Jack, for all the wisdom you have imparted here. I've learned so much from you over the past 22 months. My addictions has turned out to be a blessing for me. I've learned so much about myself through the 12 steps of recovery and my addiction brought me into a wonderful job where I am able to carry the message to others who are still struggling with this horrific disease. It helps me with my sobriety each and every day. I am a better person because of my addiction and my behavior is no longer inappropriate (MOST of the time....:D). I'm coming up on 23 months and by the grace of God, I will lay my head down tonight with another day of sobriety under my belt :yeah: Life is beautiful and I have the past 22 months, the Nevada State Board of Nursing, and my Higher Power to thank. Oh, and I've worked a little at it, too! ;)

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Specializes in icu, cviu, longterm.

oh how true

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Specializes in Impaired Nurse Advocate, CRNA, ER,.
Thank you, Jack, for all the wisdom you have imparted here. I've learned so much from you over the past 22 months. My addictions has turned out to be a blessing for me. I've learned so much about myself through the 12 steps of recovery and my addiction brought me into a wonderful job where I am able to carry the message to others who are still struggling with this horrific disease. It helps me with my sobriety each and every day. I am a better person because of my addiction and my behavior is no longer inappropriate (MOST of the time....:D). I'm coming up on 23 months and by the grace of God, I will lay my head down tonight with another day of sobriety under my belt :yeah: Life is beautiful and I have the past 22 months, the Nevada State Board of Nursing, and my Higher Power to thank. Oh, and I've worked a little at it, too! ;)

Congrats on your almost 2nd Birthday!!!!!! *HB* :clpty:

They didn't teach anything when I went to nursing school 34 years ago (&$% I'm old!), and they still don't today. They teach the consequences of having the disease (and many throw in the "which they did to themselves" look or attitude", which I was guilty of prior to my addiction becoming active). The AANA has been dealing with this with an extremely active peer assistance program for 26 years, and they just approved 20 hours of mandatory education in the curriculum for all programs. It took the peer assistance advisors committee and the peer assistants 26 years of extremely difficult, frustrating, and contentious years in order to get that change. So, keep pushing your Alma Maters to change their curricula! I've sent an email and/or letter to my nursing program and they have yet to respond. I keep trying though (because I don't have a life!).

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! We need to become educated and then speak out. Most of what I've learned has been a result of my own research! PLEASE become active in your states. See if the nursing association in your state has a volunteer program where you can advocate for nurses in your area. Talk with your legislators about current laws and how to get them changed if they are overly punitive. Here's a great example of a nurse who refused to sit back and accept what happened to them. They hired an attorney (that she couldn't affor I'm sure) and "fought city hall". She's a hero for all nurses struggling with this disease! A hero very few people will ever hear about.

"Drug Policy for Nurses Overturned" (Akron Beacon Journal published today).

Again, Happy Birthday !!!!

Jack

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Specializes in ICU, psych, corrections.

Thanks, jack! I'm not "counting my chickens before they hatch" but it is miraculous to have come this far when previously, I couldn't go more than 3 hours without putting my drug of choice in my body! Also amazing is to see how different my thoughts are these days. I've spent countless hours and tons of money in therapy over the years of my life to no avail and here was this FREE program all along :D The 12 steps truly do work because that's really the ONLY thing that has changed over the past (almost) 2 years. I haven't found some miracle pill or some great therapist. Nope. Just the rooms of AA/CA/NA, a great Aftercare group that I continue to attend weekly, a wonderful sponsor, daily contact with my Higher Power, and reaching out to others to discuss recovery. For me, iIt's that "psychic change" that's discussed in the Big Book. Because even before I was using (I didn't start using until I was 33), my life was NOT manageable...LOL! It was complete chaos. I couldn't hold a job, keep a relationship going, my behavior was totally inappropriate, and I was manipulative about everything. My thinking is just.....different now and in a very positive way. I'm a much more tolerant, accepting person which in turn, has led me into more serenity, peace, and happiness. Yep, it works. I'm proof of that, if to nobody else but myself. :redbeathe

As for the advocacy and education, I believe it's a real problem that our future nurses are blind to a lot of the issues they will be facing once licensed and working. If not for themselves but what about an impaired co-worker? How do they deal with that? We were taught absolutely nothing. It was not even mentioned in passing. It's a disservice to our profession, I believe. And now that prescription drug abuse is on the rise, I believe you will see an increase in this problem. I know in our area, it's becoming a real problem and I'm sure we are not the exception. I'm planning that once my youngest is in school full time, to get certified in addictions, return to school, and eventually further delve into the addictions side of nursing. I get a lot of exposure to it at work but we don't really focus on that aspect as we are a psychiatric facility and tend to steer those folks towards the detox centers or some of the docs like to just ignore that they have a problem and continue prescribing liberal amounts of benzos.....sigh. Some of the docs are NOT very fond of me :D I really do believe I ended up where I did for a reason and I never would have gone to work where I am willingly.....my ego was just too darn big! I was a big, bad ICU nurse and psych nursing was where old nurses went to die....ROFL. But I've seen the light now and realize just now asinine that line of thinking was; I plan on staying in psych because it's where I belong ;)

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Nope. (Not in very many schools and not to the extent that is needed in the ones that do.

Jack

I'm happy to say the curriculum in my school is different (I'm in a BS program).

We spent quite a lot of time speaking about the pathophysiology of addiction, the neural pathways involved and even had a guest speaker who was a PharmD. that ran one of the local residential rehab programs. His research for the past few decades has been on the neurobiology of addiction. He spoke about neurobiology, his research through the decades as well as experience from working in rehab facilities.

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Jack, You have shared some powerful information there, all of it so true. I too live in Ohio but facing Louisiana state board I have been clean and sober for a year. Thanks so much for your words of wisdom. Any on how I should handle this matter. Board wants me to have a 5 day eval in La to the tun of 3000.00 then I can go before them and plead my case. Legally I pled guilty to diversion served 3 years probation, was pardoned by the state of La. Attended Rehab stayed in Halfway House for 4 months still in AA. Working for minimum wage ,divorced no worldly possessions and wondering will I ver make it back to nursing. I know I need to trust my Higher Power to intervene but sometimes it does me good to hear other success stories. I apologize for the grammer and punctuation trying to get this out before I fall asleep. Where are you located if you don't mind me asking? I too agree we need advocacy!!!!!!

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Specializes in Impaired Nurse Advocate, CRNA, ER,.

Jack, You have shared some powerful information there, all of it so true. I too live in Ohio but facing Louisiana state board I have been clean and sober for a year. Thanks so much for your words of wisdom. Any on how I should handle this matter. Board wants me to have a 5 day eval in La to the tun of 3000.00 then I can go before them and plead my case. Legally I pled guilty to diversion served 3 years probation, was pardoned by the state of La. Attended Rehab stayed in Halfway House for 4 months still in AA. Working for minimum wage ,divorced no worldly possessions and wondering will I ver make it back to nursing. I know I need to trust my Higher Power to intervene but sometimes it does me good to hear other success stories. I apologize for the grammer and punctuation trying to get this out before I fall asleep. Where are you located if you don't mind me asking? I too agree we need advocacy!!!!!!

Since I'm not familiar with the Louisiana Nurse Practice Act, and I'm not an attorney, I'm not much assistance on that front. I'm in Bearcat country....GO BEARCATS!!!!

Jack

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.

Jack, You have shared some powerful information there, all of it so true. I too live in Ohio but facing Louisiana state board I have been clean and sober for a year. Thanks so much for your words of wisdom. Any on how I should handle this matter. Board wants me to have a 5 day eval in La to the tun of 3000.00 then I can go before them and plead my case. Legally I pled guilty to diversion served 3 years probation, was pardoned by the state of La. Attended Rehab stayed in Halfway House for 4 months still in AA. Working for minimum wage ,divorced no worldly possessions and wondering will I ver make it back to nursing. I know I need to trust my Higher Power to intervene but sometimes it does me good to hear other success stories. I apologize for the grammer and punctuation trying to get this out before I fall asleep. Where are you located if you don't mind me asking? I too agree we need advocacy!!!

Louisiana lady - Hey - glad to see another La. RNP nurse here. I went to rehab 10 yrs ago at Central. I thought about doing the 5 day eval, but from what I had most of them send us for at least 30 days inpt, depending on situation.

Like u said, it is great for us to be able to share things and be of support to each other.

Anne, RNC

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