Nursing Student Mistake

Nurses Recovery

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Hello,

I was suspended from my nursing program (my last semester) in November of 2014 for failing a random drug screen at clinical site. I had taken my friends ADDERALL that week to write a paper and study for some exams. I did all of the requirements of the school to get back in the program. One year of aa/an/treatment and participated in random drug screens. Well fast forward to this upcoming semester, and my read mission was denied due to space availability. Since I am able to return, I can receive a letter of good standing from the university. I am attempting to apply at other local universities but am facing the possibility of having to completely start over. That is fine by me because I am 100% dedicated to becoming a nurse one day. However, my only concern is if I will have action taken against me by the nursing board. I would hate to start over and then have my reputation forever tarnished by my mistake. I am only 24 and still have a long ways to go before I can retire and have plans to one day further my nursing career. Honestly, I want this more than anything, but am I fighting a losing battle? Thanks for any responses. Also I typed this on my phone, I apologize for any grammatical errors.

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Just to add (I don't know if this is pertinent or not), the letter from my counselor stated that I did not meet the DVM- psych guidelines to be diagnosed with addiction. I was diagnosed with situation anxiety disorder ( I think I have the diagnosis code somewhere I need to look it up) She wrote me a wonderful recommendation after completing the voluntary counseling.

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Did your school report you to the BON? If they did, you will most likely have to do some sort of monitoring program for a time period as a RN. If they didn't report you to the BON, I'd think you would be all-clear. Monitoring programs are not a career ender. I just finished a 12 month monitoring program through the Texas BON, and I start an Acute Care NP program this month. I am working on putting it all behind me!

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No, I don't think they reported me. I mean would I even know if they did? However every NCLEX application I have looked at asks if you have had previous substance/mental illness in the past 2-5 years depending on the state. So I guess my options are very limited. I am wanting to relocate to Tx once I graduate. How could I qualify for the EEP? The Current state I live in the BoN does not have an alternative to discipline program.

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First of all, if you don't have a substance abuse problem, do not tell the BON that you do. You were given an evaluation that found that you do not have an addiction problem, correct? Leave it at that and answer NO on your NCLEX application. If your school did report you to the BON, then in Texas, you would probably have to do EEP for your first year as a RN. EEP is for nurses who have tested positive on a drug test, but have been found by a licensed chemical dependency evaluator to not have a substance abuse or addiction problem. Maybe you should ask your school if they reported you to the BON, that way you won't have to guess about it.

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Also, if you answer YES to the addiction/mental illness question on the licensure application, you will most likely end up in a 3-5 year (depending on the state) super-strict, expensive, time-consuming monitoring program that will make it almost impossible for you to get a job because of all of the restrictions that will be on your license. In Texas, that program is called TPAPN and it is 3 years long.

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Thank you so much! I have a meeting with my current school this week and I plan on asking if they reported me. I have been dreading that since finding out but the way you word it makes it seem much smarter to not answer yes and just see if I was reported.

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You are right I looked over my letter and it stated that I voluntary came to them for an evaluation and that I did not meet the current DSM guidelines to be diagnosed with substance abuse disorder and I got a diagnosis of situational stress with anxiety. I have lots of documentation to prove that this was an isolated incident. Also, I mean I might have to start nursing school over from the beginning shouldn't that be punishment enough!! Will this new school have to report my failed drug screen? I am being honest with them about why I didn't finish at my old school (plus I have a letter from the old school) sorry to bombard you with questions I just am so lost in this. I just can't believe I let myself have a lapse in my better judgment. I mean I defiantly learned my lesson the hard way.

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If you are in good standing with the university you were suspended from, do you even have to tell another school about the positive drug screen? Of course you'd have to give a reason if you were currently suspended or on probation, but you aren't. Don't be too quick to volunteer too much information to people unless it's required. When you meet with your school ask them these important questions.

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Thank you! I don't want to volunteer to much but won't the new school ask why I have Fs on my transcript and did not finish at my old school? I mean if I just apply to start over I guess they won't ask too much. Thanks so much for your help!

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Get all the info you can from your old school regarding if they reported you to the BON, and if the reason for your suspension from the program will be available to other universities. Since you successfully completed their requirements, and are in good standing, they may have wiped your record clean. If that's the case you absolutely do not need to disclose that information to anyone else. Find any other reason to explain all those Fs. You do NOT want to mention a positive drug test to anyone in nursing unless absolutely necessary. It can be blown WAY out of proportion, and I assume you don't want to go through that again!

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No this whole thing has been a crazy crazy experience! I just want it done and behind me! Thankfully even with all the fs my GPA is still a 3.17 not great but at least it still meets the minimal requirements for the local adn programs. I never ever want to go through something like this ever again. It is probably in my best interest to try and just start over somewhere

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