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 mo...

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...

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...

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 evapo...

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 contr...

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 wor...

While I find most of these people's comments horribly offensive, my mind wanders to some of the things I've said at work that could be received just as poorly. We nurses tend to have a twisted, dark sense of humor and I cringe to think about what cou...

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 ...

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 a...

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 d...

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...

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. ...

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 m...

I transferred from CT to AL after almost 2 years in the voluntary alternative to discipline program. There is no reciprocity between these states either, but it didn't matter in the end. Luckily AL had a similar program and I didn't have to go on pro...

You are not alone. I work in a treatment center and one of my coworkers was escorted out of the building tonight for being under the influence. She relapsed after over ten years sober. This disease is cunning, baffling and powerful - and it does not ...

Hello. I would just encourage you to apply everywhere, even if you think they may not hire you - because the person interviewing you may be more understanding that you think. Also, don't be afraid to apply at the same place more than once, I was hire...

I understood your original post to mean that IPN was not aware of the ultram. I meant no offense.

In my program, I'm not allowed to take ANY prescription med without a MD filling out a form. And I'm only allowed OTC meds from a very short list without written MD approval. It sounds like you're running kind of wild with IPN, and with your recovery...

I was not making that comparison, that is not what I was saying at all. I said it's a slippery slope when we begin passing judgment on people's lifestyle choices. Because ultimately almost all of our patients have made some poor choices. And diversi...

Rest assured, I'm in daily contact with my sponsor and I've also worked the steps. Part of being in a program is that I'm in touch with my feelings. And yes, I'm allowed to be angry. Being spiritual does not deny me the ability to have a full range o...

I'm really so sick of this naive attitude about addiction, and it never fails to shock and infuriate me when it comes from a medical professional. Addiction is a complex disease that affects people in a myriad of ways. The problem is that the symptom...

I'm assuming that you're not an addict. I certainly thought I would never do it either - until I was in active addiction. While you may have studied the disease, cared for those with the disease and even lived with and loved those with the disease - ...