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Why do nurses not volunteer to go into drug and alcohol rehab programs?? Because upon completion, their only choice is to re-take their board exams..how unfair....doctors don't have such stern rules why are we such expendables?
Number one...no drugs are involved here. Number two, this is a first and only DUI. My main gripe is that one should be able to voluntarily be able to give up a license, go through AA or whatever is the appropriate program for that particular person, and get the license back upon completion. The state has checks in place with these programs, ie: urine screens and breathalizers along with classroom time a few times a week. I have volunteered for this . I have never been on the job intoxicated nor felt myself a threat to my patients. However the other choice is to have my license ripped from me involuntarily which I also refuse to let happen.
I totally agree with you Devin. It's not like drinking and driving is going to make you a bad nurse. As long as someone realizes their mistake and gets the appropriate treatment. One shouldn't have anything to do with the other. Just my thoughts.
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One can. Through Statewide Peer Assistance for Nurses (SPAN) - a resource for RNs coping with chemical dependency (alcoholism and/or drug addiction) problems.
See:
Why do nurses not volunteer to go into drug and alcohol rehab programs?? Because upon completion, their only choice is to re-take their board exams..how unfair....
Retake the boards? I never heard of such a thing. In my state, nurses DO volunteer to go into drug rehab and they still keep their licenses. I agree with you - nurses could be more supportive each other, and to that end, we developed SPAN in my state - to help the addicted nurse voluntarily
get into treatment and get her life back. They dont lose their licenses and they dont have to "retake the boards" either. The license is suspended during treatment. The BON, treatment facility & the SPAN program all work together for and with the RN to help her through and resume her license.
It's nurses being compassionate & supportive of a nurse with a problem - and giving her a fighting chance to fix it.
Too often nurses are just so ready to hang each other from the highest tree.
callacodebrown
16 Posts
I completely agree. I don't thinks the laws are harch towards nurses--I think the laws are not adequate towards physicians.