NC BON and past opiate abuse

lookatheflowers · May 26, 2015

Ha! Thanks, I knew someone would get the reference;)

allnurses Guide · May 27, 2015

Ok the diversion program actually requiressome nurses with opiate addiction to be on suboxone. That was not my issue but some in my nurse support group was on it. If you have a criminal record and DUI is a substance abuse crime because alcohol is a drug you will likely be identified and placed on some kind of monitoring for 3 to five years.Depending on your state that may be anything from restrictions, mandatory 12-step meetings, radom drug screens or all of the above. You say you have been clean for 10 years (congrats BTW) but are still on suboxone. It sounds as if you are trying to taper so that's good. Nursing school is two years for RN, surely you will be able to taper off completely before you finish school.

Just keep your head down, focus on school and keep proceeding to the next indicated step.

Good Luck

Hppy

friggasdistaff · May 31, 2015

I attend nursing school in NC, and I'd recommend contacting the BON and your school. If you have felonies on your record there is a high likelihood you won't pass the criminal background check for clinical sites or be allowed to sit for boards. At least that is what our instructors told us. Also Suboxone will show up on the 12 panel, so again you really need to talk to your school ASAP.

NurseEmRN · Jun 9, 2015

I have talked with a couple of nurses who have been clean and sober for years prior to becoming an RN. The schools accepted them, they graduated, but they had to disclose their past "issues" to apply for their RN license. They all had automatic 2 year contracts with IPN, with a year review for early release.....that is after they find a job as a new grad with an IPN contract. One RN had been sober for 6 years!! The BON wants to keep the public safe, but I think if you had already made it through nursing school and stayed sober, then you shouldn't have any contract with a monitoring program. Time served and all.

reggaemuffin, MSN, NP, CNS · Jun 9, 2015

I attend nursing school in NC, and I'd recommend contacting the BON and your school. If you have felonies on your record there is a high likelihood you won't pass the criminal background check for clinical sites or be allowed to sit for boards. At least that is what our instructors told us. Also Suboxone will show up on the 12 panel, so again you really need to talk to your school ASAP.

If OP calls the BON odds are very high they will be told that everything is evaluated on a case by case basis. Everybody's situation is different which is why most BON's use this tag line, frustrating as it may be. But I have heard people run into trouble with the background checks at clinical sites but again, most nursing schools won't give you a definitive statement on that prior to enrolling. Also, a standard 12 panel will NOT show buprenorphine- that test is usually specialized and more expensive. That being said, even if it did, you had a valid prescription. I highly doubt that being on Suboxone is going to hinder you from nursing school. I totally understand wanting to fly under the radar, but everything in student health is confidential- your classmates aren't going to know what prescriptions you are on. Congratulations on your recovery!

dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN · Jun 9, 2015

Also, a standard 12 panel will NOT show buprenorphine- that test is usually specialized and more expensive.

I am about 99% certain that bupe shows up on a 12 panel. The "standard" test is a 5 panel which does NOT show it unless specifically ordered.

reggaemuffin, MSN, NP, CNS · Jun 9, 2015

I am about 99% certain that bupe shows up on a 12 panel. The "standard" test is a 5 panel which does NOT show it unless specifically ordered.

Amphetamines
Methamphetamines
Barbiturates
Benzodiazepines
Marijuana
Cocaine
Opiates
Phencyclidine
Methadone
Propoxyphene
MDMA (Ecstasy)
Extended Opiates
That is a typical standard 12 panel- however I'm sure there are different combinations. But either way, I would disclose the prescription and then it really won't matter either way.

reggaemuffin, MSN, NP, CNS · Jun 9, 2015

Also, don't let anyone tell you that you aren't in recovery or "clean" while on Suboxone, including the nursing board. That's a whole other topic in itself, which I'm not going to get into but my point is...Hold your head up high!! You've maintained your sobriety for an extended period of time, which is something a lot of people cannot do.

reggaemuffin, MSN, NP, CNS · Jun 9, 2015

Ugh, I can't figure out how to edit once a comment has been posted- maybe you can't. I don't know why that says "extended opiates"- it's supposed to be Oxycodone.

reggaemuffin, MSN, NP, CNS · Jun 9, 2015

Amphetamines

Methamphetamines

Barbiturates

Benzodiazepines

Marijuana

Cocaine

Opiates

Phencyclidine

Methadone

Propoxyphene

MDMA (Ecstasy)

Extended Opiates

Ugh, I can't figure out how to edit once a comment has been posted- maybe you can't. I don't know why that says "extended opiates"- It should read "Oxycodone"

dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN · Jun 9, 2015

Amphetamines
Methamphetamines
Barbiturates
Benzodiazepines
Marijuana
Cocaine
Opiates
Phencyclidine
Methadone
Propoxyphene
MDMA (Ecstasy)
Extended Opiates
Ugh, I can't figure out how to edit once a comment has been posted- maybe you can't. I don't know why that says "extended opiates"- It should read "Oxycodone"

Oh weird! You're totally right when I google it. When I ran the things as a lab tech, we seemed to have substituted propoxyphene for suboxone -- it must have been facility specific? Who the heck still abuses darvon??