Need advice on whether to keep my license or let it go

Nurses Recovery

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i have been a very dedicated nurse for over 17 years and am now faced with possibly of having to give up my license all because of one dui. i have never been in trouble and have always made the right decisions except this one night when i used poor judgement. now hprp is involved and i feel like it is never going to end. i do not feel i am an alcoholic. i do not crave alcohol nor do i feel i need it to enhance my life. since my dui i completed my court ordered probation and have steered away from alcohol all together which was very seldom anyway only to be faced with this program which i know i do not need. but of course everything you say in group is twisted around and every little thing you do is judged. i resent being in this program and know so many other people in the workplace who do need this. my therapist didn't even like the fact that i drove past a liquor store to get home. he expected me to drive 5 miles out of my way so i wouldn't see it. that is just retarded to me. i was originally given a 2 year contract and had to back out after 6 months because i couldn't afford it. now that i have another job (out of the nursing field) i am ready to tackle it again only to find out that they increased it to 3 years and i must do an iop program for 6 weeks which is $6,000.00 alone. if and when i complete this program i will be 45 years old and negative approximately $30,000.00, thats if there are no problems. is it really worth all that? i love my career but jeez this program sets you up to fail it seems. i would like someone else's outlook on this. tell me what you think....

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My personal opinion is this.... never volunteer to give up your license. There are other areas besides bedside to work and also impaired programs. Never give up your license.

I am sorry you have this learned lesson the hard way but you can overcome this...keep your chin up and do what you must but don't give it up.

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Thank you for your opinion and you are right. Since my post I signed back up with HPRP and it feels good. It will be a long 3 years but I will be sooo happy when its over. I know when I get to be about 60 years old I will regret not doing this. The best part is they are not going to tag my license....))

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That is wonderful! You never know where life will take you... my favorite brother n law (the only one) likes to remind me that life is what happens when you make plans... he's too funny. But, I am 65 soon to be 66 and I am embarking on a new turn to my nursing career at this age.. thought I would he home, retired and enjoying life in a much different fashion.

If I had to do it again, I wouldn't do nursing but once there don't let anyone take away from you what you worked so hard for!

Best of luck to you..

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Specializes in Occupational health, Corrections, PACU.

That is right. There are many jobs that do not entail even patient contact, case management being the prime example, and salaries for managing workers compensation, FMLA, etc. are fairly good. There are many more opportunities out there. I would be certain to consult a CPA to see if those expenditures that are required for you to complete programs in order to keep your license, etc. are tax deductible as a necessary expense for your profession. Or for some other reason. If you are going to be out 30,000 dollars, then you should get any benefit of paying that money out.

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Specializes in Nursing Admin.

Never ever let that license go...you work hard for it...Keep it in an inactive state...but never let it go

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I appreciate everyone's advice and I have been working very hard to do everything I can to keep my license. However since my last post I have spent $3000.00 to enter an IOP program and I'm also keeping up with all my meetings and doctor appointments. I met with my addictionist doctor in October and he said he was really impressed with my attitude and appearance. Haha...nothing has changed I am the same person and still live my life the same which is clean and sober. These people with PHD's who sit behind a desk just crack me up with all the power and sarcasm they try to put upon people. So of course I just smile and continue to play their game. Well I told him "Hey since your my addictionist Doctor would you mind ordering me something to help me quit smoking?" So he was gung ho and ordered me Wellbutrin XL. Well guess what? My next drug test showed THC. I spoke to a close friend of mine who is a Pharmacist and I also googled some info on Wellbutrin and it sure as hell said it can show a false positive THC level. I am still waiting to speak to him regarding this but this is exactly what happened to me before when I had to drop out of this program. I tested positive for THC twice before but explained to him I was taking Motrin and he swore there is absolutley NO false positives and demanded that I just admit that I have been using. As a result of that last episode I went out of my way and agreed to a hair panel test which what do you know it showed negative for anything. He still didnt believe me and stated that all that hair test told him was that I wasnt currently using. I'm sorry but a hair panel test goes back 90 days per inch of hair. I'm thinking I need a pharmacy lawyer cuz when this happened last time HPRP extened my program 2 more years and made me enter that IOP program which costed me over $3000.00. Any advice on what to do?

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Specializes in All Icus x Nicu/ Shock Trauma/flight nur.

I hope you decide tokeep your license. My license lapsed because of illness I was unable to work for over five years. I just finished an RN Refresher course, 120 hours of didactic, 180 hours of preceptorship, plus the cost of books, computer etc. The total cost is over three thousand dollars, plus you may have to go before the BON and I would't go without an attorney. Hang in there. Don't give them up, unless circumstances cause the BON to revoke or suspend them. FLTNRSE2

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Specializes in Geriatric/Sub Acute, Home Care.

Thanks guys...i was just thinking of saving money and stopping my license.....maybe not....:)

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I am currently in a recovery program for alcohol because I got a DUI. However, that's the least of my problems. I have this addictionist doctor who has just recently prescribed me Wellbutrin to help me stop smoking cigarettes. Well needless to say I have recently tested positive for marijuana and he swears I have been smoking marijuana and I just need to admit it....lol What a joke this guy is. Well I haven't smoked marijuana and haven't since my college days. I explained to him that I researched Wellbutrin and was also informed by a pharmacist that Wellbutrin can cause a false positive level for THC and this addictionist doctor swears it isnt possible. He swears I am lying. I think this doctor is setting me up to fail this program and I need to hire an attorney or something. Any suggestions on what I should do or what type of lawyer I need because I am not gonna sit back and let this doctor to this to me....

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My understanding is that Wellbutrin may cause a false positive for amphetamines, not THC proper.

Taking any Ibuprofen?

Google search (unsubstantiated quote):

"...Ibuprofen, contained in Advil, Nuprin, and Mortin, can make a positive result for marijauna. The EMIT test (an immunoassay test) has therefore been changed to use a different enzyme to eliminate false positives due to Ibuprofen. Ibuprofen in very high doses will still interfere with both the EMIT and the GC/MS (Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer) test. Ibuprofen: Ibuprofen is a common pain reliever that (even in low dosages) used to cause a false THC positive on the EMIT test. The EMIT has been changed to use a different enzyme to eliminate false positives due to Ibuprofen. Ibuprofen in very high doses will still interfere with both the EMIT and the GC/MS. There is some conflicting data here because some sources say that the GC/MS tests can distinguish between Ibuprofen and THC (as well as other over-the-counter drugs)..."

Taking protonix? That one is known to cause a false positive.

Good luck. Sorry for your troubles.

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