Can my psychiatrist tell the Board about...

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an addiction issue? I'm an LPN and will soon be taking boards for the RN. I'm ADD and have taken Ritalin for 3 years. It turned into an addiction where I had a couple of doctors prescribing it to me. I came clean to my psychiatrist and started going to NA. My psychiatrist said he might tell the RN boards about it. He has that report sheet that shows who prescribed to me, what they prescribed, and where I got them filled at. I already said he will call medicaid (my insurance) about it. So my question is......does he have the athority to disclose this information to the board? If so, what steps will the board take as far as getting my RN? Please respond if you have any info.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

yes, your physician can inform the board of nursing about this issue if he feels you have the potential to harm patients.

best advice:

a. if you have contact your carrier as they represent you before bon.

b. investigate if your bon has a peer assistance program

american nurses association - impaired nurse resource center

c. nurses in recovery

exceptional nurse

best wishes as you go forward. acknowledging you have a problem is half the battle.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

My interpertation of the legislation is that if the psyc doc. feels you will not be "functional" and putting patients in harms way they than can report. However your "addiction, from my knowledge and experience has me questioning as to ho ritalin will affect your performance?? There are a majority of nurses I work with on Lexapro, Zoloft, Xanax, Prozac.... I just don't see a correlation with Ritalin and questionable nursing judgement, but the opposite. :uhoh3:

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You, yourself are under legal obligation to disclose your addiction to the Board. You will have to answer a BON questionair concerning psychiatric tx, and any substance abuse in order to obtain Rn licesure.

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yesssss!!!!;):nono:

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.
I'm ADD and have taken Ritalin for 3 years. It turned into an addiction where I had a couple of doctors prescribing it to me. I came clean to my psychiatrist and started going to NA.

Self report of addiction....going to multiple docs to obtain drugs for use .... That's the problem here.

Hello Nurse advice right on about self disclosing on application that i forgot to address. Expect permission to take NCLEX may be granted but license results pended if BON notified problem.

Not disclosing on application = falsification of application and grounds for license denial.

Please seek legal counsel over this issue along with continuing NA.

Best wishes for the future.

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