Drinking at work? Anyone with prior experience?

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Hello all,

I am a chronic alcoholic who has been drinking large amounts of alcohol for approximately 5-6 years. It hasn’t ever crossed paths with my work until a few months ago when I was stupid enough to drink a beer while at work. Without exposing any exact details, I drank the beer while alone a few minutes before my shift ended and it had no impact on my patient care or workload being completed. I am completely clear of any street drugs, marijuana, or nicotine otherwise, and have never diverted medications. I have already began a physician led cessation program and consulted a counsellor.

 

Does anybody have any idea what kind of suspension or treatment plan I may face once my employer is finished conducting their investigation? Any advice? Thanks in advance.

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I don't know what may become of the investigation but I am glad to hear you've started a cessation program and consulted a counselor. My father is an alcoholic and I've watched it cost him many great things and relationships throughout his life, including employment.

However, I want to preface this last comment by saying I don't mean any harm or condescension, just sage advice, and constructive criticism. The beer at work may have seemed like it had no impact on your work, but it did. The fact you couldn't put off having that one drink is cause for concern. Having said that, trying to not have any drinks is best because they're all harmful to someone with a drinking problem. Again, I've seen this in my father and another family member, hence why I don't drink. I'm afraid I may also become an alcoholic since alcoholism runs in my family.

Nevertheless, I hope you have an outcome that doesn't cause you professional harm and wish you the best in your sobriety.

Edit: Please change your name to an anonymous name to protect yourself because these threads are searchable on Google.

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On 10/17/2020 at 8:50 PM, NurseBlaq said:

I don't know what may become of the investigation but I am glad to hear you've started a cessation program and consulted a counselor. My father is an alcoholic and I've watched it cost him many great things and relationships throughout his life, including employment.

However, I want to preface this last comment by saying I don't mean any harm or condescension, just sage advice, and constructive criticism. The beer at work may have seemed like it had no impact on your work, but it did. The fact you couldn't put off having that one drink is cause for concern. Having said that, trying to not have any drinks is best because they're all harmful to someone with a drinking problem. Again, I've seen this in my father and another family member, hence why I don't drink. I'm afraid I may also become an alcoholic since alcoholism runs in my family.

Nevertheless, I hope you have an outcome that doesn't cause you professional harm and wish you the best in your sobriety.

Edit: Please change your name to an anonymous name to protect yourself because these threads are searchable on Google.

 

On 10/17/2020 at 8:50 PM, NurseBlaq said:

I don't know what may become of the investigation but I am glad to hear you've started a cessation program and consulted a counselor. My father is an alcoholic and I've watched it cost him many great things and relationships throughout his life, including employment.

However, I want to preface this last comment by saying I don't mean any harm or condescension, just sage advice, and constructive criticism. The beer at work may have seemed like it had no impact on your work, but it did. The fact you couldn't put off having that one drink is cause for concern. Having said that, trying to not have any drinks is best because they're all harmful to someone with a drinking problem. Again, I've seen this in my father and another family member, hence why I don't drink. I'm afraid I may also become an alcoholic since alcoholism runs in my family.

Nevertheless, I hope you have an outcome that doesn't cause you professional harm and wish you the best in your sobriety.

Edit: Please change your name to an anonymous name to protect yourself because these threads are searchable on Google.

 

On 10/17/2020 at 8:42 PM, SarahMarshall12 said:

Hello all,

I am a chronic alcoholic who has been drinking large amounts of alcohol for approximately 5-6 years. It hasn’t ever crossed paths with my work until a few months ago when I was stupid enough to drink a beer while at work. Without exposing any exact details, I drank the beer while alone a few minutes before my shift ended and it had no impact on my patient care or workload being completed. I am completely clear of any street drugs, marijuana, or nicotine otherwise, and have never diverted medications. I have already began a physician led cessation program and consulted a counsellor.

 

Does anybody have any idea what kind of suspension or treatment plan I may face once my employer is finished conducting their investigation? Any advice? Thanks in advance.

I definitely agree with the other advice on this thread that you should change your name on here and remain very anonymous. The main thing you need to find out is if your employer is going to report you to the board. If you just get fired or lose pay, benefits, recommendations etc consider yourself lucky. If you do get reported to the board it depends on a lot of things...what state you live in, ultimately what hands you’re case ends up in. If you have a good relationship with your employer I would go to them and beg for mercy. On a side note you obviously need some kind of help. You’re an admitted chronic alcoholic and depending on how far in you are, you may end up self reporting in the long run (ie if you end up in treatment). My DOC is alcohol too and I’ve been to rehab multiple times. Here to help if you wanna talk. Good luck!??

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Hmm, my biggest question I think is we’re you caught/ witnessed by an employee or person in charge?  If not, I would consider yourself very lucky (the house always wins, remember that....if you aren’t caught this time, just give it a bit and it will happen).  If your employer isn’t requiring you to self report to your state’s monitoring program/fire you/ report you to the BON, then I suggest you NEVER even have the option to drink alcohol at work.  On break, whatever .  Zero.  No.  Keep up with your recovery program and God Bless

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Specializes in general.

Thinking about you and hoping you are doing well. I know this is a very anxious time.

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