Any point in fighting NA requirement?

Nurses Recovery

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I plan to apply to have my license reinstated after suspension for dependency and diversion. I have met all the requirements (inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment, psychiatric treatment, etc.) but I haven't attended a meeting in over 4 years because it is in conflict with my religious beliefs. I had one brief relapse in 2007 but have been clean, sober and employed (not as RN) since then. Is this a case where an attorney would be especially useful or should I smile and nod for an hour and a half each week while other people in recovery recount their spiritual awakenings?

I feel such resentment. Even prisoners cannot be forced to attend AA as a condition for parole or other special favors and here I am wondering why they get fair treatment while atheist nurses are basically forced to lie in order to have their license returned to active status.

Even if you don't respond, I feel some relief after my brief rant. Thanks. All Over Again :redbeathe

Specializes in Mental Health, Short Stay.
I will make you drink two drinks, put a third drink in your hand and put a gun to your child's head with the admonishment that if you drink that third drink, I'll pull the trigger. You won't drink that drink, will you? You wouldn't if it were the fourth or the fifth. You would stop at whatever point I commanded. It's a choice.

The moment you take the gun away and leave my sight, I will down all the remaining booze and slam drugs into my veins! The question is how long to you plan on holding the gun to my kids head? At some point you will get tired of playing this game. Sure, I have an immediate choice but a real drunk or druggie will ultimately return to using until a solution is found or death will in sue. In my case its a spiritual solution NOT a religious solution. Go search the definition of a religion.

I respect what ever works for you but are you truly happy, joyous and free?

Thanks BlueSkiesForever, just keep coming back!:idea:

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Specializes in ICU, PICU, School Nursing, Case Mgt.
The moment you take the gun away and leave my sight, I will down all the remaining booze and slam drugs into my veins! The question is how long to you plan on holding the gun to my kids head? At some point you will get tired of playing this game. Sure, I have an immediate choice but a real drunk or druggie will ultimately return to using until a solution is found or death will in sue. In my case its a spiritual solution NOT a religious solution. Go search the definition of a religion.

I respect what ever works for you but are you truly happy, joyous and free?

THat is an excellent point and it illustrates the concept of just "not using" vs really being in recovery.

Thanks.

s

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the moment you take the gun away and leave my sight, i will down all the remaining booze and slam drugs into my veins!

you've just proven what i was saying though. when the costs outweighed the benefits, you chose to abstain. do not compare it to a medical disease in which there is no choice. i cannot choose to not have a heartattack or choose to eliminate my cancer. you are not powerless. do you not see that?

the question is how long to you plan on holding the gun to my kids head? at some point you will get tired of playing this game. sure, i have an immediate choice but a real drunk or druggie will ultimately return to using until a solution is found or death will in sue.

when you realize that it's ultimately not me that is holding the gun, but you, then you will understand. that realization and your getting tired of playing the game is the solution.

in my case its a spiritual solution not a religious solution. go search the definition of a religion.

religion: 1.a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny; "he lost his faith but not his morality" 2.an institution to express belief in a divine power; "he was raised in the baptist religion"; "a member of his own faith contradicted him" wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

step 7 - humbly asked god to remove our shortcomings.

i respect what ever works for you but are you truly happy, joyous and free?

if i said i were, would you even believe me or would you assume it's not possible?

honestly, no, at the moment, i'm not. i'm working a job that i really don't care for and only because it's one of the few i could get as a kare participant. i'm having a very difficult time financially because a.) i'm an lpn and the primary money to be found as an lpn is in agency work - which i'm not allowed to do due to my contract. b.) i very much miss clinical work and there are no hospitals in louisville that will hire lpns anymore. c.) i very much want to move back down south where i'm from but i cannot financially afford to take the time off from nursing that it would take to obtain a license in another compact state since i would have to move first before i can apply for licensure. d.) it's become very difficult to raise my two kids as a single mom on $15/hr and no benefits, plus paying out the almost $300/mo that the kare program requires.

so, no, happy, joyous and free, i'm not. i'm scared of not being able to feed my kids. i miss patient care. i'm terrified me or one of my children will get sick and have no insurance. i'm homesick for the south. i very much dislike the area of the country i'm in and i miss my family. at this point in time, 2 more years seems like a very long time.

thanks blueskiesforever, just keep coming back!:idea:

i would love to believe that's actually sincere.

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for myself: the alcohol & drug use were but a symptom of what was wrong with me. the 12 step program helped me to identify what was wrong with me that caused me to turn to alcohol & drugs to cope with life, helped me to identify those things, deal with them, & put them in their proper perspective so that they no longer rule & ruin my life. i don't care about the semantics or the definitions or any of that. i don't think i was ever truly powerless, but i definitely needed to turn to a Higher Power for direction & guidance. i don't care whether or not it's a disease. the 12 step program saved my life. the past no longer has any hold over me, and, yes, i am happy, joyous, & free- thanks to a 12 step program!!

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Specializes in Impaired Nurse Advocate, CRNA, ER,.
You've just proven what I was saying though. When the costs outweighed the benefits, you CHOSE to abstain. Do not compare it to a medical disease in which there is NO choice. I cannot choose to not have a heartattack or choose to eliminate my cancer. You are not powerless. Do you not see that?

I guess the research is wrong. When you don't understand the science, almost any explanation can be offered for why alcoholics and addicts act the way they do. Addiction is different than substance abuse. Night and day.

Without the science there is no way for any of this to make sense. The problem is, no one can make another person read the science let alone try to understand it. It's difficult to see you where you are right now because I have been where you are. I'm fortunate I didn't die before I finally decided to read the science in order to get a better handle on what this disease entails.

Watch the series of video clips from Dr. Kevin McAuley from his DVD to get a better understanding on the science. He didn't believe addiction was a disease either. It took some time and lots of research for him to understand the biology and pathophysiology of the disease process. The stigma associated with this disease comes from the lack of understanding about the science. Beyond that, there's nothing else that can be said to help you get beyond the anger and resentments which we all go through when we are first diagnosed with this brain disease. Just as the "learned" opinion that epilepsy was caused by demon possession changed when science discovered the actual cause, so to will the "learned" opinion that addiction is all about being "bad" and lacking willpower. We all have to ultimately get this through our own efforts. Some of us do, some of us don't. I wish you well in your endeavors and hope you eventually find whatever works for you.

Jack

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Specializes in Impaired Nurse Advocate, CRNA, ER,.

The New Science of Addiction: Genetics and the Brain

http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addiction/

Drugs, Brain, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction

http://drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/addiction.html

Addiction Science Made Easy: The Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) Network

http://www.attcnetwork.org/explore/priorityareas/science/

Cognitive Distortions in Addiction

http://www.allpositiveoptions.com/Cognitivedistortion.htm

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Thanks to you all, because I have made up my mind based on your replies and the requirements listed in AA/NA steps:

I am not and was not powerless. That specific belief kept me ill.

There is no greater power. If I screw up or succeed, I am accountable.

I must gather the will to be abstinent without the assistance of a supernatural being.

I do not believe that having a disease is a moral shortcoming.

I do not believe I have a defect of character. In fact, I kind of like myself.

There is/are no god(s), therefore, he/she/they has/have no will.

I cannot lie and tell other addicts that magic/supernatural powers will cure them of their disease. Each addict must stand up for himself/herself and proclaim that he/she is tired of letting outside influences control his/her life and he/she must make the decision to be healthy.

Yes, it is hard but not impossible.

With sincere respect to each and every one of you and warmest regards to all,

All Over Again

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Specializes in Impaired Nurse Advocate, CRNA, ER,.
Thanks to you all, because I have made up my mind based on your replies and the requirements listed in AA/NA steps:

I am not and was not powerless. That specific belief kept me ill.

There is no greater power. If I screw up or succeed, I am accountable.

I must gather the will to be abstinent without the assistance of a supernatural being.

I do not believe that having a disease is a moral shortcoming.

I do not believe I have a defect of character. In fact, I kind of like myself.

There is/are no god(s), therefore, he/she/they has/have no will.

I cannot lie and tell other addicts that magic/supernatural powers will cure them of their disease. Each addict must stand up for himself/herself and proclaim that he/she is tired of letting outside influences control his/her life and he/she must make the decision to be healthy.

Yes, it is hard but not impossible.

With sincere respect to each and every one of you and warmest regards to all,

All Over Again

Good luck and keep us posted! You know where to find us if you need to vent!

Jack

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