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Discussion

Do not know what to do about employer

Hello, I am awaiting graduation from nursing school next week. I have been in recovery for 8 years for drug and alcohol addiction. The desire to use has been gone for quite some time now. My big concern is do I have to tell my employer that I was a former drug addict even though I have no criminal history? I went to rehab and so I guess that is part of my "medical background," but I did not feel that I needed to disclose that during my hiring process or physical.....now I am concerned that I did the wrong thing, can I have my liscense revoked once I get it b/c I did not disclose this to my employer? Any help is appreciated, I'm freaking out, I've worked so hard to come this far.

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    • Experts

    I am aware of no requirement to mention this to an employer as long as your present license is not under any kind of restrictions and you have your situation together. Why give the employer a reason not to hire you? Just go in there, do a good job, and keep on with your successful sobriety! And, congrats on more than eight years. That is quite an accomplishment!

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    • Author

    Thank you, I feel better. I work there now as an aide and never disclosed this to them before...just didn't know if it could come back to bite me in the you know what.

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    • Experts

    The only thing that could bite you is if your license is placed on any kind of restrictions and you are forced to enter the mandated recovery program. Then you would find it very difficult, at the least, to find a job. Any potential employer would find that info out as soon as they verified your license, so you couldn't keep that a secret anyway. But if there is nothing out there that is public about your past, leave it in your past. Good luck.

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    • Author

    Past it is, thank you so much.

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    If you do not want to don't report it, however, when I was working adm. Psych I hired a nurse who told of her recovery up front. She did not have to, she had no criminal record, never was inpt for ETOH, and her license was unrestricted. I did not tell her of my recovery. God works in mysterious ways, a few yrs passed and I left that job. When I relapsed after 7yrs, she was the one I called, she later became my sponsor. I would never had know of her recovery had she not told me in the interview. That is part of my experience, hope it helps! Congratulations on begining your new career!

    Debbie

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    • Author

    God works in great ways! I have had that experience at other employers, but the nurses who work on my floor are very closed minded, I am proud of my recovery and love to share it with others in hopes of helping. But I do not think that is a good idea here. I have been inpatient, 8 years ago, I have not reportrd this though, I want to, but am scared.

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    Be honest to yourself. I had fears that something or someone from my using days would pop-up like a skeleton of days long past. I had no regrets of being honest about my recovery.

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    • Author

    Thank you.

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