michigooseBSN

I began school nursing in a 400 student K through 5 elementary at age 60 and didn't retire until I was 68. My background was in Ob and Med-surg but I was a mother (of four) which counted as practical experience! And in my town there was one nurse in ...

In nine days I will celebrate 22 years of sobriety and recovery and I,too, feel like getting caught for diverting (stealing) was the start of a whole new life for me. Gratitude doesn't begin to cover it.

Mona, Don't worry if you don't feel like speaking at meetings. Just try to listen with an open mind and try to identify (see similarities) rather than compare. Listen to what people say about feelings and how they deal with them in recovery. I hear a...

Mona1023, I'll take a stab at answering your question from my point of view, bearing in mind that there is no one definitive definition. I think it is when a user (of alcohol or drugs, it doesn't matter which or if both) abstains from all use of the ...

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 neve...

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...

I'm saddened to hear of the problems so many have had with their recovery programs through their state BONs. Just let me say that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' SARP (substance abuse recovery program) saved my life, my sanity, and my license when...

Kathy from Massachusetts. Sobriety date May 18, 1992. Self reported to BON and successfully completed BON's 5 year SARP program and have had license cleared. Worked in med-surg for 1 1/2 years at the beginning and then took a break from nursing. Afte...

MixChelleRN Congratulations on telling your story for the first time. That's always the scariest. Here in Massachusetts (and in Florida where I have often vacationed) we call it "speaking", "sharing" or "telling your story". As far as forgetting thi...

That's easy. Choose a sponsor who doesn't judge your form of spirituality. I've heard it said "look for somebody who has what you want and ask him/her to be your sponsor". That's what I did and it worked fine. My sponsor had her higher power in natur...

I've heard GOD also referred to as "Group Of Drunks" and "Good Orderly Direction". Neither of these have any reference to a deity. I have a sponsee who is a UU minister. I am an Episcopalian. I asked her one day if it made her uncomfortable when I re...

When I started the recovery process in Massachusetts many years ago, the nurses' support groups ( I attended two different ones) were free. What kind of nurses support group costs that kind of money? I would look for free peer support groups. I'm sur...

lylenrn, Yes, I see your problem. You are right, your are at risk due to your family history. Is "this guy" your primary physician or a specialist? If a specialist, talk right now with your primary about this. If "this guy" is your primary, consider ...

I think that there is often another factor at work. Many diverting nurses are, at least at first, very hard working compassionate nurses and their co-workers are either reluctant to believe the worst (that they are in fact diverting drugs) and/or the...

I remember early in my recovery from addiction (over 15 years ago) being told by a friend in recovery that the litmus test she used when being prescribed narcotic pain meds for legitimate use (after surgery for instance) was that when she found herse...

Sounds almost like me. I celebrated 18 years of continuous sobriety last month but my bottom came with drugs. I didn't use street drugs but it started with legitimate prescriptions and ended (thank you God) with drug diversion in the hospital where I...

Hi Sassy, I agree with much of what has been already posted. Same sex sponsor, good recovery working the steps, sober long enough. But I feel very strongly that my sponsor did not need to be in health care. It is so easy for an alcoholic/addict to fe...

When I was in the Massachusetts SARP program (thankfully over 17 years ago) I had to call a phone number six days a week to see if had to give a random urine that day. I didn't have to stay in Massachusetts but I did still have to call that number. I...

I'm wondering if talking to someone in the SARP program would help you find out what you need to do to get licensed in MA. Once you have your MA license, you may be required to be in the SARP program. If so, be glad. SARP saved my life and I always f...

"I am unaware of ANY board of nursing that has a recovering nurse on the disciplinary committee or involved in investigations of complaints about impaired nurses, or have input into the development and implementation of alternative programs." Jack, I...

Jack, That is why I tell of my diverting drugs and my inability to make direct amends to those patients. I make my amends by sharing honestly at the podium and at step meetings and I have had several nurses approach me after meetings to tell how much...

RecoveringRN, I'm so sorry for all the trouble you have had. I didn't realize that your peer program wasn't a part of your BON. Over seventeen years ago I went through 5 years of SARP (Substance Abuse Recovery Program) in my state of Massachusetts. S...

When my state (Mass) BON gave me my contract (for diverting 17 1/5 years ago) one of the requirements was to go to a recovering nurses' support group. I found a Cadeusus meeting in Cambridge and started attending regularly. I was very unhappy with th...

I still read this thread frequently but I retired 9 months ago and somehow don't feel so connected here anymore. But I'm still very connected in both AA and AlAnon. When telling my story I always talk about my drug diversion and my contract with the ...

I could write a book about addiction but "Jackstem" says it better in this forum. Look up his postings and read them for a description of the disease of addiction. all I can say is that I am powerless over substances such as alcohol and opiates and a...