Earthmama

I would expect to have stipulations. Even though you've been clean for ten years, the nursing board will likely not see it that way since you are currently on suboxone. Each state varies, but the usual restrictions are a narcotic restriction for 6 months or so, random drug screens, counseling, 12 step meeting attendance and relapse prevention sessions. Some states also have restrictions on areas of nursing that you must avoid (home health, critical care, etc) and/or night shift restrictions. And yes, the boards will give us second chances. But unfortunately, those who hire us do not have to be so forgiving. It can be difficult to get your foot in the door. However, it is possible. I am one of those nurses who diverted and was then fired. But I've been clean now for four and a half years and am working full time in a job I love. It's a difficult and often slow moving path, but it's possible and very much worth it.

I would just do the IOP. Because like you said, they will probably recommend IOP afterwards anyway and the board insists you follow any and all recommendations of your treatment providers. I work at a treatment center that also has outpatient offices and they recommend IOP for every single inpatient discharge. You don't want to get stuck paying that amount of money twice.

It can be very difficult at first to eat healthy on a budget. A few things that have helped me 1. I cook a whole chicken in the crockpot every Sunday. They often have these on sale at bulk stores and they freeze well until they are ready to use. Then we have chicken for lunches and salads for the week. Also, after the chicken is cooked I make bone broth out of the carcass and vegetable scraps. 2. Dried beans and lentils are very cheap and pack a good protein punch. 3. I started freezing fresh herbs with olive oil in ice cube trays to save on waste. 4. Buy fruits and veggies in season, or in bulk and freeze some of them. I freeze berries that would otherwise go bad and use in smoothies. 5. Soups and stews are easy and convenient. You can freeze half a batch and they're great to pack in work lunches. 6. Look for co-ops in your area. I get a huge basket of produce once a week for $20 that would easily cost 3-4 x that much at a grocery store. Hope this helps, good luck.

When we sign up for our monitoring programs we are provided a long list of items that can give a false positive, given to our program by the lab that conducts the test itself. Pam is one of those items. Also, alcohol does not always completely evaporate, particularly when cooked at low temperatures (such as a crock pot) or if cooked for short periods. But thanks for the lesson in basic science.

Child abuse? Seriously? I've refrained from responding because I am torn on my answer. Is honesty necessary in recovery? Absolutely. Is the BON monitoring needed for nurses in active addiction? Of course. Does each slip require a new monitoring contract? I really don't know. That depends on the strength of that individual's program and their recommitment to their sobriety. Is there any way for us to know those variables in this particular arena? Probably not. The only red flag for me is that the OP states she is restricting herself in her exposure to narcotics while working. Does she require monitoring for this? I don't know, I would recommend speaking to your counselor for an added perspective. So as you can see, I have more questions than answers, hence my lack of response. But back to my original question. Child abuse? Seriously? Come on, man. You're seriously comparing felony assault on a minor with a relapse? The act of child abuse is in and of itself a reason to forever deny licensure. Child abuse is a criminal act, addiction (as was eloquently stated by a previous poster) is a chronic disease capable of management. Is addiction dangerous if left untreated? Of course. But in NO way is it even on the same page as child abuse. The fact that it was put there is shameful. I won't pretend that I don't have a personal stake in this. I am an addict and this comparison hurts me. This is not, and has never been, who I am. But the protective addiction nurse in me is also hurt, my patients are sick, and yes they often break the law, but they are more than common criminals. Addiction is not a moral failing, it's much, much more complicated than that. And ps. Addiction does not necessarily involve breaking the law. I treat patients every day who are alcoholics or addicted to prescribed pain meds that are law abiding citizens.

This is exactly the type of attitude that we must all fight against. She has sought help, gone to the available resources, and been deemed fit to work while under a monitoring contract. She is no longer a student, she is having difficulty finding work - because others, such as yourself, do not think she deserves a chance. Your post reeks of judgment and superiority. Rest assured, none of us are under the impression that anyone is to blame for the mistakes we made while in active addiction. We are well versed in consequences. We all well aware that our actions are not easily forgotten - we get a healthy dose of humility and acceptance every single time we check in for a drug screen, urinate in front of strangers, hit our required 12 step meetings, attend our counseling sessions that are anything but private, or any other of the steps we take for five years in order to remain licensed. We know that we are fortunate for a second chance, and please understand that the BON does not hand out those second chances indiscriminately - we work very hard for them. The aspect of all of this that is often the most frustrating for us is that after everything, after we have been deemed fit to practice, we often struggle for years to find someone willing to hire us because of our past. We as a profession, who should understand that addiction is a chronic disease that can be managed, are much harder on each other than is necessary. If the BON deems that we can work, knowing all they know of us, then that should be the end of it. To the OP. I'm very sorry for your circumstances. All I can say is that the best course of action for you is to throw yourself into your recovery and keep doing the next right thing. When we do that and trust that our HP will guide us in the right direction, opportunities open up for us that are better than we could have ever dreamed. I looked for a job for three years and found one in a treatment facility where I often spoke with my NA group. They knew me, knew my story and wanted me not in spite of it, but BECAUSE of it. Just don't give up, you can make it through this.

I have kind of a love hate relationship with 12 step meetings. I find that it is mostly b.s. with some little gems of wisdom thrown in - but those little gems have proven invaluable to me. When I get focused on the things I don't agree with or don't like, I can miss those little nuggets of truth that could one day save my life. I just try to go in with an open mind - low expectations and high acceptance - and I usually walk away with at least one thing I can use to aid me in my journey. I have also worked the steps with a sponsor, and when I look at them as a process of self discovery instead of required work, it goes much easier for me. It's all about perception, and it's amazing how the picture changes when I alter the way I look at it. And finally, if I get nothing else from these meetings, I get to spend an hour out of my day with people who are struggling with the same disease that I am. Sometimes in my daily life I feel like no one understands me or what I deal with and going to those meetings remind me that it's not just me and I'm not alone. I hope your meetings get better for you. Good luck on your journey.

Started in CT, finishing in AL. both programs are five years, although it is actually five and a half years because it took CT 6 months to do the investigation and that didn't count towards my time. Come on and hurry up, May 2016!

Yay! Congrats, that's amazing!

I am also in VDAP, and yes it is very stressful in the beginning. Counseling, relapse prevention groups, random drug screens, medical releases - it all seems like so much, I know. But it does get easier to manage, you will eventually wrap your head around it. My advice to you is to read your contract several times so it all sinks in, and then follow it to the letter. Staying under the radar has served me well. I've had zero problems so far. As far as finding work goes, it may take time. It took me several months (not to mention the two years I spent in another states program), countless applications and many interviews to find a job. I finally found work at a drug treatment center. Just keep applying, going on interviews and being honest. Keep your recovery first, do the next right thing and everything else will fall into place. Good luck, you can do this. And you are not alone.

I have to call in Monday through Saturday (but we are not in the same state) and have had to test on three Saturdays in a little over a year. Requires a little more planning to find a testing spot that's open on the weekend, but otherwise not a big deal.

No, because I've been totally compliant with everything they didn't cause any trouble for me. I basically just keep under the radar, I've spoken to my case manager maybe three times total.

I have a tip for you. On days that your routine will be different, get yourself an extra reminder of some sort. We fall into routines with the times we check in and it's very easy to forget if those routines differ. Last week I had to go in for a day shift for training and I normally work 2nd shift. The alarm on my phone went off while I was in training and I couldn't check in right then - so of course I forgot until 8:30 that night when all the labs were closed. I have a good drug screen record, so there was no punishment this time. However, I've had to test four out of the last eight days since then. At $47.50 for each screen, I made a very costly mistake.

Call HAVEN and speak to them about this. I was monitored by them for two years before moving to another state and transferring to another program. There is only so much they can tell your employer, and will not give unlimited access to your history. And you will also have to sign a pretty specific release form. When I was in the interview process, they gave me a written and verbal recommendation stating my drug screen history, compliance with treatment, meeting attendance, etc - basically anything that showed my foundation in recovery and ability to work as a nurse. They did NOT tell them about my using history and all the negative ramifications that went along with it. I suggest you give them a call tomorrow just to set your mind at ease.

No, there was no trouble. Just a lot of hoops to jump through. Just make a list of all their requirements, tackle one thing at a time and be as patient as you can. It will be a long process - for me, it took about two months of daily attention from my first phone call until I had my license in hand.