New BSN in Michigan w/ Dual-Diagnosis (pre-licensure)

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Has anybody here ever had to enter into a providers recovery program in order to sit for the NCLEX-RN? In MI we have the HPRP, for reference.

I just finished my accelerated BSN in August & am facing a 2nd OWI (arrested a month and a half before graduation). I also have a previous BA in psychology. I am doing everything possible to get my life back on track, but I'm afraid the BON in MI won't even let me sit for licensure testing. I'm feeling really alone and have yet to connect with anybody that is in a similar situation to me – pre-licensure. MI only allows 2 years from graduation for a nurse to successfully sit for and pass the NCLEX.

I have some significant mental health issues that essentially drive my addiction to alcohol (never used elicit drugs of any kind), and while my issues are severe, they are more of the binge drinking variety than an everyday user; I never detoxed or has withdrawal symptoms of any kind. I've had years of sobriety, followed by short relapses during manic or mixed phases, each one causing significant life issues like being involuntarily committed, or getting arrested. I know that in a lot of ways addiction is a choice the first time you pick up a bottle, so I don't negate my culpability whatsoever. Additionally, however, I have several diagnoses which I been attempting to successfully treat for quite a long time, and it seemed like nothing was really helping.

The major of the 4 diagnoses being Bipolar Disorder Type 1 (more severe type) and chronic complex PTSD. I was in psychotherapy for 2 years, have tried 10+ medications and med combos, and did AA for a number of years too. When the stress of school got to be too much and I had a terrible med change that put me into a severe mixed bipolar phase – characterized by severe suicidal ideation and mania – I went off the deep end. How I even got to graduation was simply by God's divine intervention. My drivers license was even suspended for a year on the day of my last day of classes, and I don't think that was a coincidence.

Since my arrest I've started seeing a new psychologist who is a Ph.D and certified in addictions and tDCS (transcranial direct current stimulation), started seeing a new psychiatrist who is more aggressive and practices from a Christian modality, changed my meds and gotten off of any meds that could possibly cause mania (like the antidepressants I was on after seeing a psychiatry resident), been going to AA and SMART recovery meetings several times a week, and am about to start an intensive outpatient recovery program. If this doesn't work, I am going to elect for ECT.

My criminal defense attorney is working to see if I can be given a diversion program, particularly if it would be possible for a mental health diversion, but it seems somewhat unlikely given the circumstances of my OWI. I also met with an RN who is an attorney, and she advised me to get help and put the NCLEX on hold, and do not enter the HPRP (health providers recovery program in MI) until forced to do so by the BON. I'm concerned that I am wasting time by not entering of my own free-will now, especially since the contract will be for 3 years since I have a significant dual-diagnosis. More concerning even, is the possibility that they will just look at my application and tell me to take a hike.

I'm just trying to connect with anybody that might have had a similar experience to what I am going through and give me some hope that I didn't waste years on my education, and that there is a light at the end of this. The RN JD said that I am lucky this happened before I was licensed, but I'm not so sure that is the case. I'm taking it a day at a time.

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Maybe my post was too long? Or maybe there really is nobody with experience with this. Feeling a little out in the cold here.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Sorry you haven't rec'd answers here yet. Your post isn't too long but it is very specific to a dual diagnosis. Just give a few more days....

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8 hours ago, traumaRUs said:

Sorry you haven't rec'd answers here yet. Your post isn't too long but it is very specific to a dual diagnosis. Just give a few more days....

Thank you.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Women's Health, LTC.
On 9/23/2019 at 1:57 PM, KatEverly said:

Has anybody here ever had to enter into a providers recovery program in order to sit for the NCLEX-RN? In MI we have the HPRP, for reference.

I just finished my accelerated BSN in August & am facing a 2nd OWI (arrested a month and a half before graduation). I also have a previous BA in psychology. I am doing everything possible to get my life back on track, but I'm afraid the BON in MI won't even let me sit for licensure testing. I'm feeling really alone and have yet to connect with anybody that is in a similar situation to me – pre-licensure. MI only allows 2 years from graduation for a nurse to successfully sit for and pass the NCLEX.

I have some significant mental health issues that essentially drive my addiction to alcohol (never used elicit drugs of any kind), and while my issues are severe, they are more of the binge drinking variety than an everyday user; I never detoxed or has withdrawal symptoms of any kind. I've had years of sobriety, followed by short relapses during manic or mixed phases, each one causing significant life issues like being involuntarily committed, or getting arrested. I know that in a lot of ways addiction is a choice the first time you pick up a bottle, so I don't negate my culpability whatsoever. Additionally, however, I have several diagnoses which I been attempting to successfully treat for quite a long time, and it seemed like nothing was really helping.

The major of the 4 diagnoses being Bipolar Disorder Type 1 (more severe type) and chronic complex PTSD. I was in psychotherapy for 2 years, have tried 10+ medications and med combos, and did AA for a number of years too. When the stress of school got to be too much and I had a terrible med change that put me into a severe mixed bipolar phase – characterized by severe suicidal ideation and mania – I went off the deep end. How I even got to graduation was simply by God's divine intervention. My drivers license was even suspended for a year on the day of my last day of classes, and I don't think that was a coincidence.

Since my arrest I've started seeing a new psychologist who is a Ph.D and certified in addictions and tDCS (transcranial direct current stimulation), started seeing a new psychiatrist who is more aggressive and practices from a Christian modality, changed my meds and gotten off of any meds that could possibly cause mania (like the antidepressants I was on after seeing a psychiatry resident), been going to AA and SMART recovery meetings several times a week, and am about to start an intensive outpatient recovery program. If this doesn't work, I am going to elect for ECT.

My criminal defense attorney is working to see if I can be given a diversion program, particularly if it would be possible for a mental health diversion, but it seems somewhat unlikely given the circumstances of my OWI. I also met with an RN who is an attorney, and she advised me to get help and put the NCLEX on hold, and do not enter the HPRP (health providers recovery program in MI) until forced to do so by the BON. I'm concerned that I am wasting time by not entering of my own free-will now, especially since the contract will be for 3 years since I have a significant dual-diagnosis. More concerning even, is the possibility that they will just look at my application and tell me to take a hike.

I'm just trying to connect with anybody that might have had a similar experience to what I am going through and give me some hope that I didn't waste years on my education, and that there is a light at the end of this. The RN JD said that I am lucky this happened before I was licensed, but I'm not so sure that is the case. I'm taking it a day at a time.

I am not in your situation (either dual diagnosis or pre-NCLEX), however, I am not sure that waiting for the BON to force you into something is a good idea, if it means that it will leave a permanent mark on your record.

The attorney that advised you has experience in defending RN licenses against the BON? If so, she could be right, I don't know. But, if she doesn't have the experience going against the BON, if it were me, I would get an attorney who does.

Having a history will not necessarily stop you from being a nurse, you can read plenty about that on this forum.

I am glad you are seeing providers who are taking care of you. You must remember to do the same, take care of yourself and your health.

Good luck and I am pulling for you!

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Thank you very much, rn1965.

This lawyer does have a lot of experience defending licenses. She works primarily with health care providers and licensure issues.

I am hoping that I misunderstood her, and am thinking she may have me voluntarily enter the HPRP just before applying for the NCLEX (I haven't done so yet), and then it can keep the black mark from my record since it'll be a self-referral.

I'm thinking if I were to enter the workforce as a new RN with a criminal history and board action against my license already, I'm basically gonna find myself with few to no job possibilities. So, I'd really like to mitigate the potential career damage that is going to go on here.

Another thing that troubles me is that I don't know *that* much about HPRP because they keep a lot of it secret until you are in the program. I have no idea if, with no drivers license for the next year, I would even be able to keep up with the testing and requirements of HPRP until I get my drivers license back.

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When the time comes for job applications, remember Dialysis is very recovery friendly. I worked at Fresenius for 3 years. Good luck!

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2 hours ago, mississippiRN71 said:

When the time comes for job applications, remember Dialysis is very recovery friendly. I worked at Fresenius for 3 years. Good luck!

That is reassuring. Do you think they would hire a new grad?

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Yes. Because they train you . It’s a totally different nursing . Heck I’ve been a nurse 20 years and when I was trained for dialysis I learned a lot!!!

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Just now, mississippiRN71 said:

Yes. Because they train you . It’s a totally different nursing . Heck I’ve been a nurse 20 years and when I was trained for dialysis I learned a lot!!!

That is great to hear. I'll have to look into the career opportunities for that around my area; I know of a few dialysis clinics within a 40 mile radius of me, but am not sure if they are well staffed normally.

I'm hoping with all my heart that I will be allowed to sit for the NCLEX within the next year if I am in the HPRP and will be able to work at a place like that while in the recovery program. Lord knows I need to make money sooner rather than later to pay back these student loans (I'm 40k in the hole between both degrees), and all the medical bills. It isn't cheap to have a dual-diagnosis, I can assure anybody.

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Oh I understand. Have you used indeed? Go to indeed.com and search RN dialysis in your city/state and it will find jobs within a 50 mi radius if they are hiring. . Indeed is great!

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9 minutes ago, mississippiRN71 said:

Oh I understand. Have you used indeed? Go to indeed.com and search RN dialysis in your city/state and it will find jobs within a 50 mi radius if they are hiring. . Indeed is great!

I'm not to that point yet emotionally. I'm trying to get my mental health and legal situation under control before I go hunting for an RN job without even a guarantee of a nursing license.

But when the time comes, I will *absolutely* take that into consideration and look into it. Despite being a little looney, I am a very driven and resourceful person. I think if anybody could overcome this, it would be me. Lord knows I've gone through some unimaginable things and come out the other end, by the Grace of God.

I am looking into remote/online jobs since I can't drive. I applied for a couple billing/insurance jobs online that don't need an RN license for. I'm praying big time that that works out.

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