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Hello all. I'm new here and I wasn't sure if I'd ever make a post or question regaining my license again. I graduated from nursing school in MO in 2004 and practiced several years there without any time of job reprimand or issue. In 2009 I went through a most terrible divorce and got addicted to opiates though I never worked a single day under the influence or once I began using. I got into legal trouble but was given 2 years probation which I completed successfully. I received SIS probation meaning I would not have any felonies once complete. At that time the MO nursing board ordered me to their drug rehab program. During this period I moved to Texas as I had no family in MO and wanted to be where I had a strong support system. Because I was dispicplined my MO I was not able to apply for a TX license and work. For a year and and a half I paid for UA's, hair follicles, and fingernail clipping testing while unemployed and trying to remain focused on recovery. At this time I became engaged and pregnant and had a ruptured ectopic pregnancy that hospitalized me. I missed some testing and between that and the cost of the program I decided to allow the board to revoke me. I had so much going on that I honestly questioned if I ever wanted to be a practicing nurse again. flash forward to 2017. I told myself that just like a bankruptcy I would give myself seven years of penalty and if I could stay strong that long I would do what I needed to go back to my passion. I've worked jobs and no matter what I do, I'm a nurse. July 5, 2017 I had

gone out with friends to celebrate my 7 year anniversary. I had a couple cocktails and am not used to drinking much at all. I know that doesn't sound good but let me please say that my use of opiates was strictly a suicide mission in relation to what happened in my marriage. I had not had any previous addiction or drinking issues so on occasion I'd have a margarita with dinner. This night I had 4 over the course of four hours and I got pulled over and blew slightly above the legal limit. I will be pleading that out to a misdemeanor DUI next month but I so badly want to apppeal to the state and board of Texas and throw myself at their mercy to do whatever I need to so I can go back to the only career I ever wanted. I haven't made the smartest common sense decisions but I'll do whatever it takes. Can anyone point me the correct way and tell me if I stand a Chance? Thank you for any advice

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Specializes in Varied.

You need to contact the BON in TX to see what their recommendations or guidelines are. You may need to hire an attorney specifically trained to handle these types of scenarios. Unfortunately, you are not likely to find exactly what you need here. Best of luck

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If you do decide to pursue this, I have heard that Texas is one of the tougher states to deal with for this kind of thing. Also, you probably know this but no matter what state you get licensed in, this will always show up and it could be hard to get employment as a nurse.

Another thing, I wouldn't present this to the board as a silly one time mistake, even though you might feel that it is. The mindset of being in recovery is true abstinence from all substances, not just from your drug of choice. So they will look at this as if you didn't embrace the true meaning of recovery, at that time anyway. I would present it like you have learned since that incident that you really are powerless over addictive substances and hopefully you can share with them what else you have done since then to embrace your recovery.

4 drinks in a 4 hour period of time, especially when you know you're driving, really is too much. I consider that to be a problem. Honestly, if it's true that you say you barely ever drink, that makes it even more significant because your tolerance should have been really low. An alcoholic isn't necessarily someone who gets drunk every day or even necessarily someone who gets drunk every time they drink. I'm not necessarily saying you need to identify as an alcoholic but you don't necessarily have to to decide to be abstinent as simply knowing you're an addict is enough to decide not to drink. At NA meetings they say alcohol is a drug, for example. I dont want you to appear to be in denial if you do talk to the board so just think about what I said.

I totally get where you're coming from though... I never had a problem at all with anything either until one day I did. I used to drink a MAX of 2 drinks when out and I had taken opiates after a few surgeries before without any problem at all, in the past. But after one surgery I had other problems going on (long story) and that slowly lead to an addiction with opiates that really really escalated. So even though I have many memories of being fine with addictive substances in the past, I can't really think of it that way. Your brain has experienced addiction already and you won't be the same as you were before, potentially even with things that weren't a problem before.

I don't mean for this to be a lecture or anything but this is how I believe the board will see things if you do talk to them so I hope it helps. I would start going to meetings now as I feel it will look good to share that with them when you meet with them.

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Thank you for the information. Can you recommend a way or place to sign up for refresher courses?

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You are absolutely correct in your rationale and I'm sorry if it came across as me trying to minimize it. I do take it seriously and am will omg to work diligently to get my life back. I worked too hard not to. I've been told that it is somewhat easier to get a job as a recovery nurse having this type of blemish on my record and I honestly feel as if I was brought down this path for a reason. I have never found myself addicted to any substance. I went to the best schools, had a wonderful upbringing, and by all standards should know better from a medical standpoint. There's a huge lesson to be learned and hopefully I can lead by example in the future to show people that it is possible and that we never truly know where another person has been. Thank you both so much. Any idea how long going before the board and such would take. I've tried calling Austin and that alone is impossible to get through. Idk if there's a secret or what but I have been completely unsuccessful

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Women's Health, LTC.

If you can PM, get in touch with me. I am doing the same thing right now. I'm taking refresher courses and applying for temp license soon.

I will be glad to help.

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My email is kburke1976@icloud.com. Please message me. In new to this and tried to send a request to add you but unsure if it worked. Thank you

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