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Nurses Recovery

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So recently had a run in with alcohol and decided to get help. Will this affect my ability to get a license?

How would they find out? You don't need to disclose your medical history.

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Specializes in Critical Care and ED.

Do NOT, repeat DO NOT go to the BON. Take a look at the Nurses in Recovery board to see what might happen if you do. It could ruin your life. I hope you are able to manage it on your own and that you have a good recovery. Oh...and do not disclose on any form that you have been through recovery nor that you have had a substance abuse issue. Not now, not ever...not even 10 years from now.

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With regards to "how the board will find out," many states ask our their application if the applicant has ever sought treatment for drugs or alcohol. Again, this is state specific.

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Specializes in Case Manager/Administrator.

I agree with a lot of other replies I would not say anything about the tremendous leadership skills you have in yourself as far as this rehab time. You are to be congratulated and should never be penalized for recognizing deficits and learning new skills in which to better your self. This is what a good quality of life is about and to me this is what a well adjust human being does.

Just be aware if there are any relapses and something happens this can come up and may not be pretty.

I am a breast cancer survivor and now I have to answer that disability question do you have history of any disabilities then they list them out, which cancer is one of them. I am 5 years cancer free and now put no down. I have no disability in my mind.

Again I am so grateful you did this, you must be an amazing nurse to work with. Good Luck.

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The BONs can ask anything they want. However, that is private and protected medical information that you are in no way obligated to tell anybody about. Lie if you have to. Hell the BONs say these monitoring programs are there to help nurses which is BS. If they get ahold of this info sue them and the facility and medical "professionals" who decided to release the information without your consent. Sometimes boundaries and simple adherence to the law need to be enforced by beating some nosey twit bloody

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Welcome to allnurses.com

Thread has been moved to Nurses/Recovery forum for more replies from those with similar issues.

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Do NOT say a word to the BON! Doesn't matter what the question is, how it's worded, just don't say anything. You will regret it if you do. They'll put you in a 3-5 year program where you have to spend d thousands of dollars on treatment that you don't need and drug tests, make you attend AA meetings 3-4 times a week for the whole 3-5 years you are in the program, will make you disclose to your employers that you're in the program but won't allow you to administer narcotics in your job so few employers will hire you. And if you're not even a nurse yet, your 3-5 years will be extended because you can't complete the program until you've actually worked as a nurse within all their stipulations for at least 6 months-1 year. There are people who admit to getting a DUI years before ever becoming a nurse, one DUI, one (yes bad) mistake back in their past, no problems ever again, and they're slammed into a 5 year program with no concern that they don't have a problem. You will not be able to convince them you've received treatment and don't need more, it doesn't work that way. Just keep your mouth shut.

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Go seek treatment for yourself. DO NOT disclose it on any application for the BON. They will only know if you tell them and if you tell them obtaining a license will become difficult.

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I graduated in December this past year. I too had done a voluntary detox, appx 5 years ago. Have been sober for 3 years. When applying to the board I was unfamiliar with all of this and was honest without hesitation about my past with alcohol, ignorantly thinking it would not be an issue. Here it is, coming up on 5 months since graduating the program. I am not licensed. I do not have a job. I withdrew my application after my initial application in December after getting very vague info from the board of the **** storm I was going to have to go through to finally become a nurse, my life long dream, and support my little girl. Main reason for withdrawl was that one of the only things I understood of the storm to come was that I would not be able to get into another nursing program (I was wanting to go back for my bachelors). Shortly after that I found out I couldn't bridge anyway without a license. I reapplied over a month ago and have had no foward progress with the BON getting this ball moving. All I know is I'll have to dish out 3000 dollars for an "evaluation" that will last 4 days (away from my child) and after that will come a 5 (?) Yr contract which is going to cost a fortune and make it even more difficult to get a job as a new grad, and hold me back from furthering my education. Here I am trying to rebuild my life, recover from my past and the forces that be are scrutinizing my sobriety and what essentially feels like punishing me for having a past. And for possessing that "good moral character" they claim to be looking for by being honest. If I had only paused before answering those questions and sought advice- if I were in YOUR shoes- i'd click no. No. No. No. It is none of their business. Don't go airing dirty laundry. It is my understanding that they would have never known of the detox anyway. And I'd have a license, a job, finally have health insurance, and going to my graduation and pinning ceremony as a proud nurse.

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YEP!!!! That's what you get for being honest to Nazi's just looking for more blood on their lips courtesy a fellow nurse. I'll say it again LIE!!!! If they find out and threaten you with any thing file criminal charges for violation of a federal statute and get some blood-thirsty civil lawyer to rip their guts ot.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I agree do not tell the Board of Nursing. Your medical records are private. The Board is not your friend and if you confess to them they will almost certainly throw you in a recovery program that is lengthy (up to 5 years depending on your state), expensive and they will put conditions on your ability to get a job.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Women's Health, LTC.

DO NOT TELL THE BON.

Take time to be well, then continue with your dream of nursing. But, never, never, never tell the BON.

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