Seeking Texas Reinstatement

Published May 28, 2005

1 Post

Hello,

I am seeking direction and/or encouragement re: RN license reinstatement. I vol. surrendered in 2001, and have recently begun the paperwork and the process. Here's the story...

I was referred to TPAPN by a colleague for abusing opiates. I was lucky that the colleague was (and is) one of my best friends and noticed my changes early on in my abuse, and so the "Habit rehabilatation" wasn't too physically horrible, and the mental rehab seemed to really take at the time. I changed jobs and worked under TPAPN guidelines for almost a year, but felt really burnt out in the profession. I took a "hiatus", which doesn't fit TPAPN guidelines, so I elected to "voluntarily surrender" my license.

Man, what a mistake that was. I switched careers, went into Sales Management, even started my own business...all of this without a relapse of any kind. Several years passed and I started missing the profession, the comraderie, the overall atmosphere, and decided to apply for reinstatement.

Here's where to problem incurs...I didn't even think about taking random drug screens, going to NA/AA meetings, seeing a counselor, etc... The only thing I believe I have going for me at this time is my upkeep with CE's and other education, recommendations from family doctor, and letters from my peer and family group.

Should I start the process at my BON by sending what information I have so far and start the urine tests/NA meetings now? Seems like I won't even face the board for close to a year, and I would rather not wait another entire year while documenting before I start the petition? Any suggestions?

We do have a refresher course at a community college, so that will be on my list of to-dos as well.

Thanks all,