shoozy76

Thank you all for your comments!! You all have very valid points and I appreciate your feedback!

I've been in recovery for nearly 5 years and under monitoring with IPN for the same amount of time. I find that I run into fairly frequent situations where a patient or family member is in recovery themselves or need to find recovery. I struggle with the line between helping someone in need (or encouraging a fellow in recovery) and protecting myself. To this point, I have never had a bad experience with breaking my own anonymity, but I have heard stories from others who have. Typically, I listen to my "gut". If something tells me I should break my anonymity, I do. I'm just wondering how other nurses in recovery feel about this topic?

I wish I had wise feedback for you, but this is a tough question. I feel like you handled it well by saying that you'd like to discuss it in person. If someone is that pushy, it would be difficult to find the right answer. Frankly, I'd rather work for someone who respects my statement of "I'd rather discuss this in person" rather than someone who pushes me for an answer.

Thanks so much for the encouragement. I have about 6 months to go on a 5 year contract. I haven't had a bad experience with IPN, but I can say that I won't miss having to check in every day and we will be glad to have some "extra" cash in our pockets. IPN has given me another level of accountability and I am grateful for that. Life is good...looking forward to it getting better from here!

I am currently an IPN participant in Florida. While I can't tell you what your employer will do, you are getting wise suggestions to seek help now. In the end, this is about saving your life, not whether or not you can practice as a nurse. Begin going to AA meetings NOW and reach out for help from other women. By all means, get a sponsor. If you are in need of detox or rehab, I would highly suggest seeking that out. While IPN is intimidating, they are a program designed to help nurses with addiction issues. I have come to be grateful for them as they have given me an added level of accountability in my recovery. I have found that they appreciate honesty and will work with participants when they are doing what they are supposed to be doing. Through seeking a program of recovery and doing the next right thing, I have found a life that I never dreamed possible. There IS hope in recovery...I wish you the very best!