debnky

Absolutely not!!!!!!!!!!! Yes reform is needed however not the way it is laid out and forced through. Very Unpresidented.

If you do not want to don't report it, however, when I was working adm. Psych I hired a nurse who told of her recovery up front. She did not have to, she had no criminal record, never was inpt for ETOH, and her license was unrestricted. I did not tell her of my recovery. God works in mysterious ways, a few yrs passed and I left that job. When I relapsed after 7yrs, she was the one I called, she later became my sponsor. I would never had know of her recovery had she not told me in the interview. That is part of my experience, hope it helps! Congratulations on begining your new career! Debbie

Who ever told you that is breaking 2 traditions is not informed. There is absolutely nothing wrong with announcing it. Having said that you must be careful how you go about it. I don't believe you would want it in a where and when. Word of mouth is best. Make it CLOSED meeting. Typically this is how I have seen it done in this area. Good Luck. I live in southern Cincinnati area. Debbie

I signed the contract with KY Kare and was SELECTED to give three urines in one week! I am very concerned about the frequency and cost of these urines. I can not afford this program at this rate. I'm not sure what to do, I have been so discouraged this last week with this whole process. One day at a time and my sobriety is number one. Some days are so frustrating, I know I put myself and my family in this predicament and that causes guilt. Coming up on 7mos and I don't want to lose my focus. I still have my license intact and I am grateful. I currently am not working and a bit fearful of finding of job. Does anyone know the average number of urine test a month? Thanks for letting me vent.

Congratulations Jack, wonderful new!

Jack your articles are so informative and insightful. You are able to present the facts with a great twist of humor. I just wanted to say thanks, hope you continue to feel better.

Very impressive stuff Jack. Thanks you for not being too anonymous. I am leaving Wed. for inpt. This is a requirement for the BON. I have gotten a better attitude about going in patient and it will only be for @30days.Maybe I might be able to say or do something to help someone else.( not that I think I am powerful or important), I am letting God do the driving, life goes a lot smoother when I stay out of the way. This attitude adjustment is a God thing because I know I didn't do it. This will be the first time I ever entered a program sober. Yeah! God is good.:redbeathe

I am curious as to the stats for RN's who become addicted?

I admire your courage:Life is good. I too lost my Mother when I was your age and unfortunately that is when my addiction took off. I relapsed after 12yrs of sobriety. I had one brief relapse during that period of 12yrs. Loosing your Mother has to be one of the hardest things a girl has to face in life. My Mother was not ready to die, I wasn't ready to let her go and it was a wrongful death on top of that. I miss here terribly. I had to grieve in recovery, years after she passed. That has been difficult since few people understand how I could still be sad. I miss her terribly. Thank you for sharing!

Here is an update on my meeting with the CARE unit from the BON: the therapist who did my evalutation has agreed that a 30day in pt would be sufficient however I must follow the inpt recovery programs recommendations when D/ced and they must keep the Care manager constantly updated. When I spoke with the Care manager she was actually much nicer on phone. So this isn't too bad, I would rather do outpt since I have already done inpt however at least the therapist convinced the CARE manager that 30days would probably be sufficient vs 60-90 days. I am grateful I have insurance through my husband and I pray it pays for the entire 30days. With that being said now I must decide on when to go, thank goodness my family is being super supportive despite the pain I have caused. I started DUI classes so I'm not sure if I will finish these classes or go ahead inpt. I have lost my driving license for 30days however I wont get them back until after I complete the DUI classes. These are cadillac problems, I am grateful that the legal side is finalized and now will begin this journey. I have faith that as long I stay sober and work my program I will be able to handle the future one day at a time. Thank you all for your support and information.

Thank you so much, I can breathe a little bit. Will find out more tom.

This exactly who I spoke with. They are employed by the BON, she stated they are consider staff of the BON. So it is not a separate entity as some states have. Paula is the one who did the interview and is talking with therapist who did my initial evaluation. I feel like the therapist is genuine and professional, she is concerned for my sobriety as am I. That being said she is going to contact a recovery rehab close to me that does accept my insurance. I will know Monday if she approves that or not. I was not even offered to sign the contract until after I complete in patient. I do have a felony drug possession charge, I am fortunate that is will be expunged after 3yrs, they do not do that in our state anymore. I did know I did not have a choice to self report to the BON, I guess I would of prolonged the inevitable had I know how difficult it was going to be, good that I didn't. So I am grateful, I only will lose my driving license for 30days vs the normal 120days and my family and great sponsor ship family are behind me 100% as long as I stay sober. God willing I will be able to trudge this road with many of you. Thank you for you wealth of information.

OK now I am really upset. What do you mean the worst is yet to come? What more can they do to me. I think I mentioned that I have exhausted all my financial resources with my criminal defense attorney and fines. I now am looking at 30 days (minimum) inpt as recommended by the BON, they would like me to do 60 to 90 days. I am not sure my insurance will pay for 30 days, will I be disqualified since I may not be able to go exactly 30 days? I can not afford to pay out of pocket, that is absolutely not an option. I can see why many nurses get discouraged and say forget it to the BON. I am struggling to maintain my sobriety ever since I met with those two Nazi women, this has really thrown a curve ball at me, this is life indeed! I really feel like a worthless piece of garbage about now.

Thank you Glenn. My recovery is number one. I will adhere to their harsh punishments, I think, I haven't signed yet. However I still stand by my strong feelings that one should seek help for their disease on their own, do not report the the board of nursing if it can be avoided. Some cases it can't. There is a lot of help out there. I attend 12 step meetings almost daily, this helps me and I pray I help others. For I know that I can not stay sober unless I give it away.

Well,I did self report and most of what you read on this board is true. The BON is not your friend!!!!! I did not divert meds, get fired or ever even reprimanded by an employer. I met with the KY BON staff today, they were very cold, curt and extreme in there recommendations. There were two lady employed by the board as staff. I should never of self reported, I was not reported to them and I know why nurses do not turn themselves in. I am still trying to process this interrogation, the police were more cordial than the KY BON. I have not signed anything at this point. By the grace of God and his mercy I will not have to take a drink or a drug over this. I left there feeling so full of shame. I worked too hard for my sobriety to let this episode set me back.

"I spend about $600 a month on drug tests, counseling and medications." Wow, that is a tremendous amount of money to spend when you are not working. What state are you in? I meet with the board tom. My old job called today and offered me a job, they even know my situation. I want to wait till after I meet with the BON. I agree that AA/NA is the best bet and yes it is still free. I have tried it all and for ME the 12steps are the solution. I am grateful to be in recovery today, I never thought I would say that!

I did not really understand and "get" recovery until this last relaspe when I really started going to NA meetings, got a sponcer, started working the steps and working on me. This time I got it. I have more than 3 years clean now. I am very thankful to God that I have another chance. I look at some of the nurses in my "support" group I have to go to each week and know that they are not getting it. Recovery is life changing. You have to want it. My life is better. I am greatful. One of the greatest rewards for me is seeing the light bulb go on in a recovery persons eyes. You know their soul has begun to awake.

This board is truly amazing, I'm grateful I found it. I meet with the BON on Wed, ugh!

I had to write them a letter and explain what happened and request admittance into the IPN program. I did not get into details and I had not entered a plea at that time. So the answer is no they do not know that this will be a felony. I am not sure if that will prevent them letting me enter the program. I realize I will not probably be able to get employment until after the felony is wiped off my record. This latter thought makes me wonder if I should wait to sign a contract with the board until I am closer to getting off probation. I was thinking it might save me 100.00+ a month from the urine testing however I don't want to ruin any chance I may have to clearing my license.

Do keep us posted. I am concerned for a couple reasons. First, have you have any substance abuse issues before the board previously? Second, are your possession charges felonies? Third, have the charges against you be adjudicated? Meaning has there been a hearing/trial which resulted in your being sentenced/placed on probation etc.? What was the result? What was your plea? All of these impact the hearing and actions of the board. I have never gone before the BON or had difficulty with any employers in the past. I did do a plea bargain, 3yr probation, if I am without another incident the felony will be wiped off my record. I go before the judge in Jan for the final hrg, then I will have my drivers lic. suspended for 30days, I must complete a D&A assessment by the state and attend their classes they recommend. I already had an assessment by a bon appointed therapist and she recommended inpt. I plan to do this after my hrg in Jan, I already have a place contacted that I am going to , it is accredited. I meet with the board the 13th and then I am to sign a contract, they presented me with a draft when they sent the letter with the appointment. It seems like a long road but I am sure I will be able to do it if I stay firmly planted in my program of recovery, without that I will have nothing. I am fortunate that I have insurance. I have never diverted however after reading all the post it seems like I would of got a lighter sentence if I had stole. The drink always came before the drugs. I guess that is how I made it this long and still have a license. Maybe not for long?

"Well, I'll tell you this, a lawyer is likely to cost you between $7,500 - $10,000 to represent you in front of the board!" In response to this and many other post I have been reading I just can not afford that. I feel this has to be cut and dry since I self reported. I did not divert and self reported after a DUI and possession charges. Truth is I would not of self reported if I didn't feel that they were going to find out from the police officer who arrested me. He is the one who called my employer. At any rate, I certainly am not new to recovery and believe it is the only treatment that works for my disease(12 step program). I work only casual part time and have not gone to work impaired. I have many nurse friends who are also in recovery who have had experience with the BON and I must say none of it has been positive. It is what it is and if I want to keep my license I know I must sign their contract. Maybe it is foolish of me not to take a lawyer when I go in Jan. to meet with them but the truth is I am broke after paying my defense attorney and now fines and classes. I absolutely do not have the means. I am grateful I am in recovery and did not kill anyone or myself. Unfortunately I was not carrying malpractice insurance either. I will keep you posted on the outcome.

Excellent information. Thank you. I pray I do not have to jump through that hoop. I think I am researching too much. I am imagining a lot of what if's.

Excellent information. Thank you. I pray I do not have to jump through that hoop. I think I am researching too much. I am imagining a lot of what if's.