New to forum, Intro and ? re: IN BON

Nurses Recovery

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Hello, ladies and gentlemen! New to the forum and thought I would take a second to introduce myself before posting my question. I'm a 26 year old, single mother, and will be graduating nursing school in 8 weeks. Super excited but I am also finding that I have mixed emotions due to the application process for state boards.

I went to treatment in July of 2009 (voluntarily, well...kind of, let's just say it wasn't court ordered ;)) for a dual addiction; alcohol and xanax. After a 30 day residential treatment program I lived in a sober house for five and half months before returning home to Indiana.

I know here in the state of Indiana the application for state boards specifically asks if you have ever been to treatment for chemical dependency. Recently, through a mutual friend also in the program, I found out when the BON receives these applications they bring in the applicant for a meeting with the board. The meeting generally consists of the BON finding out about your program-are you working with a sponsor, attending meetings, etc., any legal ramifications as a result of your using (I had none), length of sobriety, DOC....of course all the things they would justifiably want to know.

I was wondering, has anyone here ever experienced a problem getting licensure for an addiction that preceded being a health care provider?

Thanks so much in advance,

Waldo_1984

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Waldo 1984, I don't quite understand how you are graduating from a nursing program in 8 weeks and say that your rehab was in July of 2009 and also preceded your being a health care provider. Weren't you in nursing school then? But anyway, in response to your concern, all I can say is that you must be totally honest in your BON meeting. Complete honesty is the only way to go. As you know, 12 step programs demand self honesty as the only was to real recovery. Whatever you do, don't put yourself in the position of ever "being found out" Good luck.

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yes, i withdrew from my capstone class to attend treatment. the college i attend is aware of the issue and allowed readmission to nursing school to finish my degree. school and addiction paralleled each other; however, i was referring to being licensed.

i'm not willing to compromise my integrity and jeopardize what i have worked so hard for, both my sobriety and my career. i don't want to put myself in a situation where i could lose my license 5 years down the road for a lie i told today, it's easy to have deep water faith in the shallow end and i feel this is a situation where i truly have to trust the god of my understanding and allow him to direct my path.

my sponsor and i have differing views on "rigorous honesty" and "anonymity" argument when it comes to the nclex application. i want to be honest and allow god to do for me what i cannot do for myself.

has anyone here ever walked a similar path?

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I was already practicing nursing when I was caught diverting drugs at work. Thank God I immediately surrendered. I self reported to the BON (not much credit due since if I hadn't, my job would have done so) and was totally honest at all times. I never argued. I think my surrender and honesty were integral to my successful completion of the 5 year program and the clearing of my license. I agree with you in practicing total honesty. That way, they can never "catch up to" you some years down the road. Perhaps your sponsor isn't a nurse?

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No my sponsor isn't a nurse.

*We have been working together since I returned home from treatment. She is fantastic I trust her, as one should trust their sponsor. We have been discussing this issue diligently and she is coming to understand the importance of being honest. Espcially since the college I attend is aware of my recovery and could make the BON aware of it as well. Her concern was that next to my license # there would be an * indicating I'm an addict/alcoholic.

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Specializes in Impaired Nurse Advocate, CRNA, ER,.

You should consider consulting with a license defense attorney. The consulting fee will be chump change compared to potential loss of income (not to mention any loans you may have taken out for your nursing education). Making the wrong decision (i.e. not answering questions correctly, looking at taking the nclex in a different state, etc.) could be costly. An attorney with knowledge of the nurse practice act and familiarity with the board of nursing will go a long way in protecting your rights.

Contact the American Association of Nurse Attorneys for referrals. (www.taana.org)

Jack

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jack,

i noticed your specialty happens to be impaired nursing advocate...is going in front of the bon considered a "deposition?" i guess i'm a little more naive about all this than i originally thought!

i found one of your old posts as i was reading through the forum and actually put the phone number for the american association of nursing attorneys into my cell phone in the event i never needed it, i guess i had hoped you wouldn't reply to my thread and tell me to call...oops, how’s that for irony?

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Specializes in Impaired Nurse Advocate, CRNA, ER,.
jack,

i noticed your specialty happens to be impaired nursing advocate...is going in front of the bon considered a "deposition?" i guess i'm a little more naive about all this than i originally thought!

i found one of your old posts as i was reading through the forum and actually put the phone number for the american association of nursing attorneys into my cell phone in the event i never needed it, i guess i had hoped you wouldn't reply to my thread and tell me to call...oops, how's that for irony?

they will keep a record of your meeting with the board. follow this link to read an article about the indiana board of nursing monthly meeting. http://www.in.gov/pla/files/october_2009.pdf

this issue discusses a typical meeting agenda and what happens during the sessions. there is also info regarding some of the legal aspects of questions on the renewal application and other questions. all of this can be complicated. the board of nursing has attorneys advising them, i would have my own attorney by my side. they will be the best person to answer your questions about all of this.

jack

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Ok....faith seems to have flown out the window and now I'm officially terrified!:down:

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Really, in all seriousness, thanks for the information! Naïve was understatement, I thought going into this thing with a list of my meetings and my sponsor by my side and the motto of “rigorous honesty” was going to be enough for me to prevail, or is it “ridiculous” honesty in this case? I guess that’s why you’re advising for the attorney, so I’ll know the difference.

Time to have deep water faith in the deep end, huh?

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Specializes in Impaired Nurse Advocate, CRNA, ER,.
Really, in all seriousness, thanks for the information! Naïve was understatement, I thought going into this thing with a list of my meetings and my sponsor by my side and the motto of "rigorous honesty" was going to be enough for me to prevail, or is it "ridiculous" honesty in this case? I guess that's why you're advising for the attorney, so I'll know the difference.

Time to have deep water faith in the deep end, huh?

Waldo,

Believe it or not, things WILL get better as long as you stay clean and sober (not the same things). Most people think if I just go into the court room (or the board room) and lay everything out on the table all will go "just fine". How many innocent people are convicted because they don't understand the system? More than we care to think. I don't post anything here to frighten people. I share my experience (strength and hope) with the intention of helping others avoid many of the mistakes I made early in my travels on the road to recovery.

Facing the board of nursing is not the same as facing criminal charges. The rules of "evidence" are different. If you've watched any legal shows, like Law and Order, we often here the objection, "Your Honor, this is hearsay!" (not heresy, although they might be the same at time!). In administrative law hearings, hearsay evidence is admissible. That means the nurse who hates that you look good in scrubs while he/she doesn't can testify about all sorts of things that didn't happen and the board might consider that testimony in their decision. Also, one state nurse practice act might "see" chemical dependence as a disease which can be treated and that recovery and return to (or beginning) practice is appropriate after a period of monitoring. Other states might say they accept dependence as a disease while your attorney may know differently based on their practice and representation of other nurses and students in a similar situation.

You have a significantly better shot in Indiana than in many other states. Here's the thing. You want to have the best chance at obtaining an unrestricted, or least restricted license possible based on the circumstances of your situation. You already made a great decision by seeking treatment and participating in an inpatient followed by a sober living setting. You took those steps in order to have the best shot at long term recovery, not because it was fun or easy. (Do you know how few nurses would follow that same path? Not many. Most fight tooth and nail to do the least amount possible, hoping to "get by" and get back to work ASAP. This generally has less than desirable outcomes.) All I'm recommending is you do the same thing for your professional "life". Consider your attorney the legal equivalent of your addictionologist.

If I can help in any way let me know. Please keep us posted on your progress.

Jack

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Specializes in Med Surg,.

I understand the delima. But *** ever happened to privacy? HIPPA. What is it to the freaking board what you did with you life and body? Why don't they ask, have you ever molested a child? Have you ever secretly stole money from your mom? Why don't the ask do you fornicate? Uh, why don't the ask other moral questions, which truely have effected the health care systems? Why don't they ask about racism? Health care and racial disparities is real and kills more people then impaired nurses every day any day. Why don't the ask what is cover your own ass? More medication errors are covered by sober nurses than impaired nurses every day any day. Sorber nurses cover their ass very well, while impaired nurses are too absent- minded to cover their asses. So they are held to a higher standard and made to pay for openly practicing the type of nurses sober nurse cover up every day any day.

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