jadedRN04

Oh goodness...
About 15 years ago I had a big problem with alcohol. I had no legal or work issues whatsoever but I wanted to stop drinking and couldn't do it on my own. I figured if I showed up to a therapist they would report me to the BON. Also, I feared that if I went to AA someone would recognize me and do the same.
Well, I reported myself to my state's assistance program for impaired nurses. Mind you, I had a stellar work history and not even a parking ticket in my history.  When speaking with the therapist I was referred to she stated that had I come to see her before reporting myself that she would not have reported me since I had no prior negative legal or work history. She thought I would only end up with a 1 year contract. Well, my state's program saw me coming and saw fit to give me a 3 year contract which was the most given at that time. Then it was 3 yrs of reports, drug screens, AA meetings, check ins, etc. I left a job that I absolutely hated and caused horrible stress without having another lined up and had a terrible time finding another job because I was in the program. The shame and embarrassment alone was just about enough to make me leave nursing.
I stayed sober for the 3 years and made it out of the program without being reported to the BON. I got absolutely nothing out of the program except a lot of stress and a smaller bank account. I relapsed a few months after the program and fell back into drinking. This continued for a few years. Still, no work or legal issues. I finally found total sobriety on my own.
My point is -If you have no work or legal issues that compel you to report to your BON or your state's program. I would recommend getting help elsewhere and do not disclose that you are a nurse. These programs are not set up to help the nurse in any way. They are just a way for the BON to show the general public that they are being protected from "impaired" nurses. There was nothing therapeutic about my program that I could not have done on my own had I known that I had the option.