Sobriety and NCLEX?

Nurses Recovery

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I am in my second year of nursing school, ADN RN program and have been looking at the requirements to apply for licensing. One of the questions is: 5. Having a history of abusing or being addicted to any controlled substance, a regular user of any controlled substance with or without a prescription, or habitually intemperate in the use of intoxicating liquor (pattern of making poor decisions related to alcohol use).

I have been sober almost 11 years and will be close to 12 at time of application. I have never had a legal issue of any kind, never had a diagnosis of addiction/alcoholism and never been to treatment. I am legally required to disclose this information?

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

When it comes to BONs, I'm of the mind that honesty is usually the best policy. But I can't and won't tell you how to answer that question: you need to make that decision for yourself. Just remember that whatever decision you make, you will have to deal with all future outcomes that come from it.

I know nurses who chose to disclose their past substance abuse, and I know nurses who didn't. All of them ended up getting licensed (albeit the ones who disclosed had some more hoops to jump through). I think no less of either group.

Congratulations on maintaining your sobriety!

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FOR GOD's SAKE KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT ON THIS ISSUE!!!! If you don't you run the risk of being placed in a cookie cutter, punitive program that will hurt you and your career & such treatment is nothing you deserve. You are to be congratulated for your sobriety not punished for it. Here's a sad nursing reality 101 lesion not all nurses are good, compassionate people. Some of them get pleasure by judging and punishing others for whatever reason. That minority of nurses often find themselves in position of power both in management and on state BONs. Do not trust these soulless vampires to help you. Put your cross and garlic on and steer very clear of them.

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Specializes in NICU.

Please

you made the mistake of sharing highly personal information,close your mouth now and stop reminding them.I commend your sobriety,but leave it private,you have no idea how things come to haunt you ,even innocent remarks,everyone tells.If someone other than you knows ,other people will know.Too hard to pass up juicy gossip for some.

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Specializes in NICU.
FOR GOD's SAKE KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT ON THIS ISSUE!!!! If you don't you run the risk of being placed in a cookie cutter, punitive program that will hurt you and your career & such treatment is nothing you deserve. You are to be congratulated for your sobriety not punished for it. Here's a sad nursing reality 101 lesion not all nurses are good, compassionate people. Some of them get pleasure by judging and punishing others for whatever reason. That minority of nurses often find themselves in position of power both in management and on state BONs. Do not trust these soulless vampires to help you. Put your cross and garlic on and steer very clear of them.

So very true.!!!!

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The BON is not going to do this much investigating for each and every NCLEX application. Even if they checked your FB and MySpace from years ago, they can't prove anything. Even if they found a picture of you getting high 10 years ago on MySpace, that doesn't prove 1- it was actually you and 2- you were actually getting high.

But what they DO love to do is thoroughly investigate anyone who admits they had a past issue, no matter how long ago. That one is a promise. Some states are very unfair so with knowing that I wouldn't admit to something that has no legal trail and that was over 10 years ago.

Make sure you read the link I posted from another thread and what she has to go through... 3 years sober and she is STILL not licensed.

PLEASE consider continuing as the sober person you are now and have been for 12 years. I absolutely promise you that the BON does not do Facebook and Myspace checks of applicants. Please do not mention your past to another person. It is totally your business and your alone.

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Absolutely not. Dont do it

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I made an account literally just to reply to this. Absolutely not, You have no reason to and saying that you did puts a big flag to the nursing board on you. say god forbid in your career a nurse on your shift steals meds and you need to speak about it. ya youre guilty already with your history. youre over thinking about this, Do NOT disclose this.

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Why are you even telling everyone about your sobriety? stop talking about this youre seriously setting yourself up for failure im shocked right now at all this

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tonyl1234 - this is absolutely untrue. you are required to inform them if you have a substance abuse problem this is not a hippa issue. it is a nursing board requirement

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Oh wait... here's the thread...

https://allnurses.com/nurses-recovery/nursing-grad-dealing-1145982.html

Follow her other posts/comments and see what hell she has gone through being honest.

That is crazy! They were going to discipline her for entering a sobriety program years before she ever even became an LPN?!

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

If your user name in any way resembles your real name, please change it yesterday. The mods can help you with this. I'm of the mind that if there is no medical or legal paper trail, it didn't happen. I believe honesty is the best policy, but every rule has an exception. Based on the personal experiences of many who have posted here, I think this may be one of them. Best wishes.

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Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.

I've worked in 2 states, presently CA and have never been asked that question. That's a HIPPA issue. I've only been asked about criminal history. I would keep my health info private if I were you. It's none of their business. An active problem on the other hand could be a safety hazard for the public, not an old problem that occured a decade ago.

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