Starting Nursing school... to disclose or not to disclose? HELP!

[jeshicuhx3]

Hello everyone...

I am a straight A student and mother of a 3 year old little girl, who is my reason for wanting to become a nurse.

I'm almost done with my prereq's for my Associate's program, but now I'm thinking I may have issues being accepted/getting my license... This is why....

At the end of November of last year (2012) I went to detox for heroin. I used for a month... my grandmother had just died and I had a "friend" who constantly pushed me to do it, I was also very depressed at the time. I went to detox for 4 days and have been doing great ever since with the support of my family, psychiatrist, and therapist. I am currently on suboxone but I want to stop taking it. I get drug tested every month with my therapist, so there's a way to prove my sobriety.

Some people tell me to keep my mouth shut, but I am afraid. What do I do? I don't want a stupid mistake I made ruin my life. All I want to do is be a nurse, take care of babies in the NICU or work at a Children's hospital. I would NEVER do anything to risk that. I had no idea getting treatment would cause future problems.

Someone please help me!

-J

[whyisthissohard369]

Like advice from lawyers-only answer questions legally asked as on an employment form etc, not just shooting the **** with an instructor or another nurse/student. And why would you tell them anyway?! That info will,WITHOUT A DOUBT, be used against you. The majority of nurses are extremely judgmental and lack all compassion when one of their own is human(like being an alcoholic/addict). And as they say "a nurse's worst enemy is another nurse". Sad but true.Need to know basis and really think it over before you share the ugly. As addicts, a friend rn and I like to laugh and say "we walk amongst you". We"ve both been clean for over 12 years. You can get back to good. Best wishes.

[elkpark]

So basically my last question is... so the BON doesn't look into your medical history unless they have a reason? If so, I can relax because I will never, ever give them a reason to doubt my sobriety or competency.

Um, AFAIK, the nursing licensure application of every state asks some kind of question about hx of drug/alcohol abuse and treatment -- sometimes they ask about whether you've had any problems within the last X number of years, sometimes they just ask if you've ever had a problem. When you answer "yes" to whatever the questions are, that will be the reason for them to look into your history.

State BONs, in general, are a lot tougher on people with histories who want to get into nursing than they are on people who were already licensed nurses and then developed drug/alcohol problems.

I'm not saying you won't be able to pursue your dream, but it's likely to be more complicated than you are sounding like you think it's going to be.

Best wishes for your journey (and recovery). :)