UnsavoryCharacter

I know under my restrictions there has to be another nurse or doctor on site with me at all times, so I cannot work in a flu shot clinic. Check with your case manager.

I really thought this whole situation was the worst thing that could ever happen to me. But my life has really turned around because of it. I am truly grateful.

Rigorous honesty has never hurt me with when working with my BON. Lying, however, has.

Thank you for sharing!! I had my first meeting with my BON case manager this morning. The last time I saw her she made me take out my prescribed xanax and count them. I didn't believe I was addicted to them. I counted and half of the prescription was gone. It had only been a few days. Today she had so many positive things to say to me. She said that I seem so different. What a beautiful thing to hear. :) She says that I should not be deterred by my license being encumbered, that plenty of participants in the program go back to school. She also said she would fight for me to be able to do this. FIGHT for ME. I am feeling so full of hope and gratitude today.

Treatment, investigators, nursing board. Sounds exactly like my story! It's amazing to hold our heads up through this. As we should! Thank you for responding. That fear gets me everytime. Just gotta keep pressing forward!! :)

As I write this, I am just over 19 months clean and sober. I am recovering alcoholic and addict (pain pills - chronic pain). I became a licensed registered nurse in August 2010, and by November 2011 I was terminated from my first nursing job for diverting narcotics. I was reported to the board of nursing and made a sorry attempt to stay sober. I wasn't able to do that. Or maybe I didn't want to. My RN license was suspended. March 1, 2013 is my sobriety date. It finally clicked that I am the problem, that alcohol and drugs were mainly a symptom. A big, fat symptom for me. I gave in and tried AA. In the beginning it was only to get my RN license back, but along the way I got a lot more than I bargained for. I life I never knew I wanted. This past August, I went before the board and was rigorously honest. RIGOROUSLY. I ended up getting my licensed reinstated. I am currently waiting to be taken of the OIG list and then hopefully I can start applying for jobs. I love nursing. I hope I can get a job again. That is really my fear here. I am afraid that I will not be able to get a job. I am in Kentucky's recovery program for impaired nurses, the KARE program. I am there by choice. Its where I need to be. I have restrictions on my license. Does this make my license encumbered? That's what I am worried about. I want to go back to school. I am looking at programs, and I am fearful that I will not be able to go back because of the mistakes of my past. I know what I would tell someone else if they are in my position. To do what is in front of you. I am worrying about something that hasn't even happened yet. I would be happy just with getting a job, but there is a drive inside of me that wants my BSN. Then my Master's. Maybe that's not my path. I am scared. But I have gotten this far and I have made it. Its been struggle some days, but it is certainly better than the alternative. Can anyone give me a happy story that will fill me with hope? Or some harsh reality?