nurses in recovery

welcome

check the general nursing forums..there is a sub-forum for nurses in recovery

Moved to our nurses in recovery forum

Welcome

Hi. I'm new.... I attend meetings for medical professionals in recovery and the members have quadrupled since I first started many years ago. This is not a topic I find people discuss easily but the disease of addiction is killing too many and has become prevalent amongst the medical profession.

Welcome to the allnurses.com board and Nurses & Recovery forum.

Thank you for sharing about yourself and how you see the affliction of addiction among medical professionals growing...actually, what you see is just the tip of the iceberg.

May I ask, what is the name of your support group...so that others may benefit from something similar in their areas if they wish to locate for themselves?

Many do suffer in silence. Many are in heavy denial. Many are just afraid to step out and get the help they need.

Again, welcome. Always good to see new folks.

My best wishes.

Hi. I'm new to this forum but curious if anyone is in recovery from substance abuse? I attend meetings for medical professionals in recovery and the members have quadrupled since I first started many years ago. This is not a topic I find people discuss easily but the disease of addiction is killing too many and has become prevalent amongst the medical profession. I am redirecting my nursing towards education and was wondering if anyone out there feels comfortable discussing feelings, experiences, strength and hope. LIFE IS GOOD TODAY!

Hello and welcome. My name is Anne and I'm a addict. I'm also a nurse. I am glad you joined us. I have been clean and sober since August, 1999. I hope you find as mich support here as I have.

Anne, RNC

Formerly busyrnandmom, now ilovemypuppies

hey wolfie, I'm still getting used to navigating around this site. I'm not a fan of computers. My group is called, "New England Professionals Group" or NEPG. Thanks and it's in Massachusetts.

Hi! I was also in the health professionals recovery program. I completed a year ago. I have also suffered from anorexia/bulima for the past 28 years. I am only 42. I am married with five teenage children. My husband had suffered from necrotizing pancreatitis/ARDS/Sepsis in 2002 and 2004. He lived through both. He now suffers from chronic pancreatitis and is fully diabetic. I work full-time, and he is medically disabled due to the inability to hold his job. Just a short synapse of my situation! I too am hoping to listen to someone about their struggles, but also to have someone listen to mine. I am currently doing very poorly with the eating disorder, I have also started smoking marijuana....again. I am having surgery in about 12 days for endometriosis and fibroids. My dilema!

1. When asked questions regarding history before surgery, when I am

asked whether I use drugs, do I say yes, or no.?

2. If I say no, can I legally be tested for drugs if I say no on the history?

3. If I say yes, and they know my profession, can they, or will they report me to my place of employment, or the State? I will be having my surgery at my place of employment.

Now, my eating issues are really getting bad! I've had so many stuggles in my life, but my anorexia/bulimia is the biggest! I'm so scared!

If Michigan is anything like Ohio....they will probably report you. But of course, I'm sure it is different in different states. If it were me, I'd stop the weed and whatever NOW, then when they ask if you are taking any drugs, you can honestly say NO. Personally, I don't think it is any of their business.

Good luck with your surgery and with your recovery.

Hi, I also just joined (relocated actually) this forum. (Good to be home!!!! )

but anyway, welcome to you too. :loveya:

Hi, I am new to this site and to recovery. I am 90 days sober from alcoholism. Fresh out of rehab and attending meetings ect. Sobriety is hard and I have to face many prroblems and challenges because of my disease. I dont have a Pa nursing license but am going to apply. Any ideas on if I have to report my addiction to BON? Hope ya all are ok today. Thoughts ideas appreciated ...

Congratulations on your 90 days! Welcome to the forum. Keep checking back and you will get more answers to your questions.

Catmom :paw:

Hi, I am new to this site and to recovery. I am 90 days sober from alcoholism. Fresh out of rehab and attending meetings ect. Sobriety is hard and I have to face many prroblems ad challenges because of my disease. I dont have a Pa nursing license but am going to apply. Any ideas on if I have to report my addiction to BON? Hope ya all are ok today. Thoughts ideas appreciated ...

First of all-Congratulations!

I know it sounds trite, but it really is that one day at a time...I never ever thought I could stop drinking and on November 2, 2011, I will have 12 years...I can remember a time when I couldn't get 12 days sober...so please hang in there and work your program, it really does get better.

As far as the BON goes, in Fl, there is a section on the form that states if you have ever been in treatment for alcohol or drug addiction. You must answer truthfully. If you do not, when they find out, and they will, you will be in a world of hurt...I don't know what they do in PA, in Fl, they would probably have you enter the IPN. Intervention Project for Nurses. I have explained the program in great detail in several of the threads on this very forum..won't be hard to find. It's Florida's alternate program. You could go to the website for the PA BON and see if it addresses this topic.

Good Luck:)

Hang in there...It gets better every day!

I am so happy to see other nurses in recovery discussing their addictions and finding a group of people who do not pass judgment. As we have all seen/experienced, stigmas about addiction are especially prevalent in the healthcare community (despite the fact that we should know better than anyone about the addiction/disease correlation!) I feel very strongly that if not for the fear of judgment from my peers, I would have self-reported my addiction and sought help much sooner. As nurses we need to acknowledge our own susceptibility to this disease and encourage/support our colleagues who suffer from it. It's so important to not feel alone in your addiction/recovery.

I lurked on this forum for many, many months during my addiction and early recovery. I had previously not known ONE SINGLE NURSE in recovery (in reality, I've probably encountered many, but the stigma of addicted nurses mandates some sort of code of silence.) I felt SO alone.

I haven't found any medical professionals recovery meetings in my area, but will actively be looking for them. I actually didn't even know that such a thing existed! Chalk it up to yet another valuable lesson I've learned from the helpful folks on this forum!

Thank you all for sharing your stories and your recovery. Know that you have helped others (me!) in more ways than you'll ever know. As nurses in recovery, it is our duty to inform and educate our peers about the disease of addiction and make this subject less taboo in our profession! Who knows, doing so may impact and save another nurse's life. One, like me, who felt so very alone in her addiction.