Anyone Who Has Ever Applied for Reinstatement

Nurses Recovery

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Help!!! I am in the process of applying for reinstatement of my license after suspension and am stuck on the letter that I have to write explaining my situation. Anyone willing to share advice on what you said when applying?

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Specializes in ICU.

Just tell the truth. And put in there anything and everything that you've done since, as far as recovery. :) Good luck.

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Specializes in med-surg, oncology, critical care.

I believe the truth is best. I do not know how your BON works, ours makes you see an additionologist. And if you were truthful with him you have nothing to fear.

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i explained my commitment to ongoing recovery. at some point during your reinstatement process you will have the burden to prove your rehabilitation.

I explained how I got in the mess that I did and explainded how i got out of it and what i am doing now to change my life. I was completely honest and open.

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Specializes in med-surg, oncology, critical care.

How do other RN's and possible employers respond to your candid replies?

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was that question of 'candid replies' directed at me, gr8fulnrs?

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Specializes in med-surg, oncology, critical care.

Yes, gr8fulnrs. I understand that being truthful is a part of who we are in recovery. I was just curious as to how others respond to a nurse in recovery.

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Specializes in Med surg.

Did they tell you that you had to write a letter? I applied for reinstatement after being suspended 12 yrs ago and all I had to do was submit an application, the necessary CEU's, and a letter from my psychologist recommending my reinstatement.

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good point. there is a time to be candid and a time not to be candid. while in the "professional setting" I do not reveal my recovery amongst my co-workers unless i see another nurse who is struggeling and may be open to some support and commradarie. i avoid the details of my "war stories". Most professional and well-educated RNs Ive worked with know that the disease of addiction is a disease such as cancer, diabetes, ect... and tend to be empathic towards me. thats not to say all RNs feel this way. Some have looked down there nose at me and made me feel less then. so to answer your question, i guess it all depends on the RN and how they percieve addiction and how much they know about recovery. As far as employers go, in the interview process I must make my perspective employer aware of my contract I have with the state board of nursing so they can accomodate me. by this i mean my contract has terms- no keys to the narcs for first 6 monthes, no night shifts or overtime, random U/A's, NA meeting three times @ week, ect... so by the time they are aware of all that they know i am in some type of recovery program. For the most part, i have not met any resistance to these terms, the reason being, in reality there are alot of nurses out there in some type of monitoring and/or recovery program and many employers are expecting to see this. and we all know just because we are recovering addicts that doesn't comprimise our gift of providing compassionate care as well as a high standard of nursing care. In fact, i believe it gives us a lil more compassion because we understand the absolute degradation and sickness of what a disease can do to a person.

For the most part, the responses i have gotten from RN's and employers regarding my recovery have all has been positive.

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