SoberRN

Good question foraneman. Was almost done with my BON order and just released from the hospital after being treated for Pneumonia. Had a valid RX and did not let the board know before taking one dose for sleep. Had my license suspended for a YEAR, then the 6 month narcotic restriction was added. I never abused drugs, my DOC was alcohol, I was a binge drinker. We are required to submit to the board all medications that are subscribed before taking. I was not on anything or even had been and it was the weekend and of course my color came up that following Monday. I hope this answers your question.

Could you possibly move my post to the Arizona general discussion area? Hopefully I can network with a few nurses there. Thanks

Hello fellow Nurses here in Arizona. Really need your help. My license is on probation. I abused alcohol, never drugs. Been sober for years, having a hard time finding a job. Have a few restrictions on my license that I feel most employers can handle, except the 6 months narcotic restriction. (Most in my support group for nurses like me have a year or 18 months, so I'am thankful.) Put out many , many applications, with only a few interviews. These interviews went well, very receptive and had even had a job offered, but the higher ups declined. Does anyone know where I should apply or does anyone know of a nurse like me that has found employment? Please share your thoughts, opinions, ideals and any helpful tips. All comments most welcome, even if negative. Have learned so much threw this process and it was the best thing to have happen to me with the boards intervention. That could of been me, that had killed someone. I'm entirely grateful that I'm sober today. Learning the lesson of humility today. Please someone, respond with some feedback or advice. Thanks so much for letting me voice my concerns and asking for help.

oops..., forgot to mention I live in the Tucson area.

Hello fellow Nurses, Really need to find a job, my license is on probation because I abused alcohol. Sober for well over 3 years, honest! I never did drugs or stole them. My intervention with the Board of Nursing was the best thing to have happened to me, since that was the only way to get and stay sober. Can anyone give me advice on where to apply, someone here has to know of a recovery friendly place to work or know of other Nurses like myself. I have a 6 month narcotic restriction (I guess I'm lucky, since most Nurse's receive a year or longer) and that seems to be the problem with an employer offering me a position or chance. Please be kind in your replies, don't need the negativity, much harder on myself than anyone else can be. Thanks for reading my post and for any advice that you can give me.

Would like to know your opinions on alcohol vs drugs. Yes, I know that a drug is a drug, no matter what substance that was abused, but how do the nurses that abused drugs, diverted (stoled) feel, when their patients that were under their care, suffered, were in pain and did without, so they could get their drug of choice? How do they live with that? What is your opinion about alcohol vs drugs and how Nurses are treated differently because of their choice of what they abused.

From my own experience (I abused alcohol) I feel a sense of remorse and shame, that doesn't seem to go completely away; and maybe this is what you are feeling. You really need to sell yourself. Give good eye contact, smile and answer there questions honestly.Tell them about your addiction briefly, then focus on your recovery. Focus on the positives. Tell them what they want to hear. State how you are so happy for this intervention and for all the help that you have received related to recovery, that you have met some really great people in recovery and have built quite a support system, etc, etc. Tell them how long you have been in recovery, how long you have been sober. Stress how all your random ua's have been negative, how you have a great relapse program in place and how you have so many people to call if need be. Stress how you love nursing and how you feel you can and do make a difference, no matter how small. You can E-mail me anytime, if you need to talk. Mary, another nurse in recovery from Arizona.

Hello gr8fulnrs, RN from Tucson, Arizona. Been threw that same process in Phoenix. No big deal, just sell yourself. You will be interviewed by a judge, that records the whole interview. My contact was a female judge, she sat behind a desk, about 6 feet away and I sat in a chair across from her where I was asked to sit. It was just her and me and ofcourse, a microphone. I had a DUI in my past and I just told her what was happening in my life then and how my life is now. How I was promoted as a unit manager at the LTC facility that I was working at and etc. She even told me at this interview, (maybe 30 minutes) that she would grant me the card and that I would expect to wait up till 6-8 weeks for here to type up the report. I think it took about 3 months, but I finally got it. You can E-mail me, if you like .

Hello Arizona Nurses, I'm looking for employment in Tucson. My license is on probation. I abused alcohol, have been sober for almost 4 years. Was working, but quit my job; I just hated it. Really need to find work soon. Does anyone know who is hiring nurses in my position? (probation) I have a few restrictions like, not able to work after midnight and no more than 84 hours in a pay period. No homehealth or agency. I do not have a narcotic restriction, since I did not abuse drugs. Any advice to where I could apply? Have almost twenty years as an RN, worked in many areas like, med/surg, ortho, neuro, ER, physh,ltc, etc. Would welcome any suggestions or advice.