Recovering opiate addict accepted into nursing school; Can I attend while prescribed Subox

Nurses Recovery

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Hello everyone, and thank you for taking the time to read my post. I've viewed threads on here for years but never bothered to make an account. I am a 30 year old male located on Kentucky. As far back as I can remember; even as a child, I always wanted to be a nurse. My mother passed away shortly after I graduated from high school, so I was immediately thrown into the workforce, not by choice.

After graduating high school I found a local nursing home who offered free CNA training on exchange got working at their facility for 1 year. So I did it I ended up working as a CNA for about 3 years and absolutely loved it. I was constantly having to work overtime to make ends meet because the low wages I was being paid... I had no assistance financially with rent, bills, etc from family or anyone else. I always wanted to go into nursing school but at the time with my life and financial situation I was never able to attend school because I couldn't commit to a schedule.

After about 3 years in the field I got offered a position with AT&T paying about 3 times more than my CNA salary, so I of course took it. In doing so, I put my nursing dream on the back burner. I've since left AT&T and work for another great company who allow me to work from home and my schedule is very flexible.

During the process of all these life events I developed an opiate addiction. I had a lot of dental work done and was prescribed narcotics for the pain and ended up liking them a little too much. I eventually ended up getting stuff off the street. In the midst of all this my significant other basically gave me the option of getting treatment or parting ways.

I've been in a suboxin treatment center for over a year now. I have tapered down on my dose, and plan on continuing to do so. (Sorry for the rant)

I recently decided to apply for a LPN program at a local Career/Vocational center here. I took the pre entrance exam and passed. I got a an acceptance letter in the mail today (pending my background check, drug test and physical). I can either do an August or January program.

I have no criminal background, I'm pretty positive I'll do fine on the physical, but my concern is the drug screen. I am legitimately prescribed Suboxin by a medical doctor, I attend group and individual counseling sessions twice a week, every week.

I've not mentioned any of this to the school yet as it has not came up. Will being a Suboxin patient/in recovery prevent me from going to nursing school in Ohio?

I know suboxin is a crutch, I realize that. It's helped me so much though. I'm just not sure what to do at this point and would appreciate any feedback that I can get with how to approach this situation. I'm willing to do anything to be a nurse. Anything.

Psychcns

2 Articles; 859 Posts

Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

I think the BON would see you as addicted and depending in the state have a way to address it. The school might accept you but then the BON might have stipulations

Best to have a clean drug screen- at least that is what I think. Be interested in others thoughts. Best wishes for your recovery.

roser13, ASN, RN

6,504 Posts

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

I think that you will have to ask your specific school about their acceptance policies. Only they can tell you how they will react to the disclosures that will inevitably come to light with your physical/med disclosure. They may be upfront and decline outright & give the reason. Or they could decline to accept you for fuzzy reasons. Or they could accept you. Only they can say.

Jacob080110

27 Posts

Specializes in Oncology.

Take proof of your prescription with you when you are drug tested and the place that does the drug screens will pass your test results along to the school as clean. You do not have to disclose your medications to the school.

MrChicagoRN, RN

2,597 Posts

Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

You've been in treatment for over a year, tapering down the whole time? Do you have a time frame when you will be suboxone free?

if you can be off it before your January start, that might be your best bet.

Best set of luck to you.

sadiemae1123

214 Posts

Before investing any time or money into nursing school, I would strongly suggest that you check with your state's BON for their policy on granting licenses to people with a history of addiction. Keep in mind that each state determines this separately, so being granted a license in one state does not necessarily mean you would be able to move to another state and work.

There is a forum on here specifically for nurses in recovery. They may have more useful information for you.

Congratulations on all your hard work beating your addiction.

canoehead, BSN, RN

6,890 Posts

Specializes in ER.

Check with your BON, but talking to a school advisor up front might be your best bet. Chances are they will find out eventually, and you want to be in control of how that happens.

Scout'smom

4 Posts

Ok, you got feedback on the school and BON aspect, but let me ask....Do you feel ready to work in situations where you will likely be exposed to your drug of choice? I not saying you shouldn't ever enter nursing, just make sure that the time is right and your recovery is solid. Good Job on making it this far.

My post may not be popular. Get off suboxon its a short term solution and you've been on it a while. Do it now. Second, think long and hard about disclosure to school or board. Especially because if you ever have to provide medical records in the future for whatever reason to BNE they may sanction you for lying. But, going to nursing school or getting a job while under so many restrictions can be difficult. In tx you cant work till off suboxone I think for 8 weeks. Good luck in school. I would still apply and go. Just get your house in order and remember you dont have to give up all your wreckage of your past. But if you forget where youve been in the future your past will come crushing down on you!

Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

I work in a clinic with suboxone treatment programs as one of the many other things we do, patients do succesfully get tapered of suboxone, the ones that appear to avoid returning to their opiate dependance, work a good recovery program.......most involve some type of 12step program........if one just gets off subonone, and have not done any work towards a recovery program, their foundation is weak, and frequently return to opiates, that is what I have seen......in nursing we are exposed to opiates, stuff we waste etc........takes a lot of solid recovery displine not to divert......there are nursing opportunities void of "medication as opiates".....some of them are in dialysis, mds coordinators in LTC ( BY THE WAY A HIGHER PAYING GIG! AND USUALLY M-F! day shift).

I have seen suboxone dramati improve turning patients lives around fron opiate addiction-dependance. Addiction is a tough disease, often mis understood by mainstream. My patients who "truly get their lives back" develop a recovery program, either in NA!AA! or other support programs......I always encourage health care folks to seek out Cadeusus meetings.......

Best wishes for you.

unfortunately most BONs......do not tollerate suboxone use while working........other things to considered, if you are being treated in a general practice clinic as I work in for opiate dependance, not addiction? does that make a difference in ans BON question "have you been treated for adiction etc in the past five years?".......i dont know.....there is why important to seek information from your potential BON, I would also seek counsel fron administrative law attorney, familiar in dealing with nursing boards.....

please do every thing you can to keep your recovery, RECOVERED......this illness never goes away, but can remain in remission

with solid recovery

i

Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

can remain in remission with solid recovery

allnurses Guide

hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I

4 Articles; 5,044 Posts

Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
Hello everyone, and thank you for taking the time to read my post. I've viewed threads on here for years but never bothered to make an account. I am a 30 year old male located on Kentucky. As far back as I can remember; even as a child, I always wanted to be a nurse. My mother passed away shortly after I graduated from high school, so I was immediately thrown into the workforce, not by choice.

After graduating high school I found a local nursing home who offered free CNA training on exchange got working at their facility for 1 year. So I did it I ended up working as a CNA for about 3 years and absolutely loved it. I was constantly having to work overtime to make ends meet because the low wages I was being paid... I had no assistance financially with rent, bills, etc from family or anyone else. I always wanted to go into nursing school but at the time with my life and financial situation I was never able to attend school because I couldn't commit to a schedule.

After about 3 years in the field I got offered a position with AT&T paying about 3 times more than my CNA salary, so I of course took it. In doing so, I put my nursing dream on the back burner. I've since left AT&T and work for another great company who allow me to work from home and my schedule is very flexible.

During the process of all these life events I developed an opiate addiction. I had a lot of dental work done and was prescribed narcotics for the pain and ended up liking them a little too much. I eventually ended up getting stuff off the street. In the midst of all this my significant other basically gave me the option of getting treatment or parting ways.

I've been in a suboxin treatment center for over a year now. I have tapered down on my dose, and plan on continuing to do so. (Sorry for the rant)

I recently decided to apply for a LPN program at a local Career/Vocational center here. I took the pre entrance exam and passed. I got a an acceptance letter in the mail today (pending my background check, drug test and physical). I can either do an August or January program.

I have no criminal background, I'm pretty positive I'll do fine on the physical, but my concern is the drug screen. I am legitimately prescribed Suboxin by a medical doctor, I attend group and individual counseling sessions twice a week, every week.

I've not mentioned any of this to the school yet as it has not came up. Will being a Suboxin patient/in recovery prevent me from going to nursing school in Ohio?

I know suboxin is a crutch, I realize that. It's helped me so much though. I'm just not sure what to do at this point and would appreciate any feedback that I can get with how to approach this situation. I'm willing to do anything to be a nurse. Anything.

Do you have any plan or estimate for when you will no longer be on subox? You should be working towards this if you are not. You did not mention if you were working a 12-step program. When worked properly the 12-steps do in fact cause the affliction to slip away - I have not had the desire to drink or use in years even when I was prescribed opiates after major surgery in 2012. I kept close to my program and sponsor and all was well.

Good luck to you -

Hppygr8ful

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