Laura252227

Thank you for your reply, 77Mercy! I guess I’m just a little gun shy about putting myself back out there. It’s been 7 years since I’ve worked for someone besides myself, so I’m struggling to find my confidence. My addiction stole a lot more than just my career, so I’m hoping this new adventure gives me a sense of purpose and I feel confident enough to address my past with dignity and honesty. Thanks again and I wish you well!

Hi everyone, I was a nurse for 7 years, working in oncology, warfarin management, and chronic disease management. After my daughter was born, I had back issues which led to my doctor prescribing insane amounts of narcotics. I obviously got hooked and eventually my addiction caught up with me. To make a long story short, I was at risk of suspension/revocation for suspected diversion, and I willingly took part in my state’s monitoring program because I was an addict. I participated for a few months,but with the loss of my job, paying for urine screens and psych visits wasn’t feasible. I decided surrendering my license was best and I have no intention of trying to get my license back. I have been a stay at home mom since 2012, and it looks like I’m going to need to find a new career for financial and health insurance reasons. While I understand I’ll never be able to get a job that requires a license, I’m just hoping to hear from other former nurses who were able to pick up the pieces and start over again. For those who didn’t try to get their license back, which field did you go into? Did you go back to school? How difficult did you find it to explain to your potential employers why you’re no longer a nurse (assuming your disciplined license didn’t pop up on a background check)? I’m considering re-enrolling in a 2 year paralegal program, but I want to make sure I don’t just tack on a bunch of debt towards another career I’ll never be able to find work in. Thanks!