I see that this catagory has been slow moving lately and I wanted to start a new thread with a different direction. I would like to get everyone's opinion (even the people that have never suffered with addiction). What do you think about your state's peer assistance/recovery program? Do you think it is too harsh or not harsh enough? What state are you in, and do you know the rules or guidelines of your states recovering nurses program?
I just want to get a general view of nurses' education on the matter. I have noticed lately in my hospital that the nurses do not know that there is a recovery program out there. They don't know that there are options and many are scared to report someone, especially if it is their friend. They are scared to report themselves if they need help.
I know that there are more impaired nurses out there than any of us want to admit. I think that if we were educated more on the matter, we could get a better grasp on the situation.
Thanks a lot!! I appreciate the note!! I fully believe that everything that has and is happening to me is for a reason. It has made my love for life and recovery stronger but I also believe that had I not gone through what I have and am I wouldn't understand where my daughter is at right now. She is 21 and a beautiful girl but I knew from the time she was a baby that if any of my kids would suffer from addiction it would be her. Strong-willed, needs to be in control...lol...she was ME!! I didn't chose to become an addict but it has brought special blessings. I see the great things that life has to offer me and my family. My husband is a recovering pharmacist and their peer group IS part of their Board. Their license is suspended then once they complete treatment they go before the board of pharmacy and if they have complied their license is reinstated. The board works closely with them. They go to their support group once a week and just like any other 12-step meeting they donate a dollar but then at the end of the year they take the money they have collected and give it to a charity that they all agree on. The nurse support group meetings here in TN are $40 a month and some who aren't working can't even afford that as they struggle to even get gas for their cars to get to the meetings. There definitely needs to be some changes in the nurses system here. I could go on but right now nothing is going to change and I don't have the ability to change it so until I do...lol. If I ever have the opportunity I will embrace it with open arms. I believe in supporting other nurses in recovery and in fact sponsor several that I have known since they came in for treatment. I know having a nurse there from the beginning was a blessing for me so I try to make sure the new nurses know they are not alone and they are not bad. My lawyer and I have briefly talked about ideas for her practice and things that need to change with TNPAP. Once this ordeal is behind me, whichever way it goes, I fully intend on continuing to give back. I would not be here today without the ones who freely gave to me and I will be forever thankful for them. I am so glad I found this site
Isn't it a wonderful feeling to just look around and be happy for the simple reason that you're happy? And to be grateful and happy for all the things around you? It is so hard for me to explain my feelings, but I can see that you have felt it too. It is a long hard road to travel, a life long drive throught twists and turns and straight aways.. I also believe that as a recovering nurse I have a certain feeling inside that drives me to help other recovering nurses and to educate my coworkers about addiction and recovery. If not us, then who else will do it? Also, when I see a nurse who needs help, it puts my recovery into perspective. I always have to remember how hard it was that first year of recovery... so that I don't put myself through that again!
Like I said earlier, I find that a lot of people don't know about it until they are FORCED to know about it. You know what I mean? And yes, the aa/na requirement is kind of strict. If they could some how have some sort of alternate requirment that could take the place of aa/na atleast a few days a week, that would work out better and have a better effect on the nurse's recovery.
I almost wish that there was an online aa/na for recovering nurses. That would be the ultimate.
Why not start one????? There are other online AA/NA groups with special focus-why not healthcare workers?
I appreciate your post and will keep you updated. But to go back and forth is not going to get anywhere as several of the questions you asked I explained in previous posts. Things will work out great no matter what I have to do because I am not in control of it anyway. You go by "exnursie"....why are not still a nurse?
Isn't it a wonderful feeling to just look around and be happy for the simple reason that you're happy? And to be grateful and happy for all the things around you? It is so hard for me to explain my feelings, ......... I always have to remember how hard it was that first year of recovery... so that I don't put myself through that again!
Isn't it a wonderful feeling to just look around and be happy for the simple reason that you're happy? And to be grateful and happy for all the things around you? It is so hard for me to explain my feelings, but I can see that you have felt it too. It is a long hard road to travel, a life long drive throught twists and turns and straight aways.. I also believe that as a recovering nurse I have a certain feeling inside that drives me to help other recovering nurses and to educate my coworkers about addiction and recovery. If not us, then who else will do it? Also, when I see a nurse who needs help, it puts my recovery into perspective. I always have to remember how hard it was that first year of recovery... so that I don't put myself through that again!
Thanks for sharing your story.. :)
Thanks so much....I am really excited about this year and the good things I know are going to happen. Yes, it is wonderful to be happy. And that is what God want for us anyway...to be happy and enjoy our lives.
Isn't it a wonderful feeling to just look around and be happy for the simple reason that you're happy? And to be grateful and happy for all the things around you? It is so hard for me to explain my feelings, but I can see that you have felt it too. It is a long hard road to travel, a life long drive throught twists and turns and straight aways..
....and sometimes you are doing something and smiling and not know it until someone asks "What are you smiling about?". and you cant answer because they would not understand....and you can't even explain it to yourself sometimes.........
I appreciate your post and will keep you updated. But to go back and forth is not going to get anywhere as several of the questions you asked I explained in previous posts. Things will work out great no matter what I have to do because I am not in control of it anyway. You go by "exnursie"....why are not still a nurse?
I admire your attitude and again, hope that this ends up well for you. I am sorry for being such a bulldog and in looking back, did not need to respond as I did.
I left nursing for a long list of reasons, but to sum it up, nursing was not healthy for me, emotionally and for my recovery. It took over 2 yrs for me to actually walk away, and I discussed it with a therapist, my family, my support network and my SO. I did not know about the OIG exclusioin when I did so, and intended to work in the HC field using my experience...
I too was blessed with nurses supporting me in early recovery and am positive that not only was it a God thing, but that without those people I would never have recovered. I remain passionate about helping other nurses new to recovery and have several ideas tht would help, but don't have the ability to actually put them into action.
I also think that there are areas where the BON's could improve, but since all states have individual regulations, have not gotten involved with this. I would support any nurse who wanted to take action and am encouraged to actually see someone who is willing to attempt this. If you want to toss some ideas out to me I am open to helping you out.
Gee Mag...why don't you just tell us how you really feel?
Actually.....WELL SAID!!! The sad thing is, many, many nurses will read your post and just blow it off as the rantings of an.....addict.
I like your description of addiction
And while it's doing this, it sends out smaller versions to do the same thing to family, friends and colleagues. It destroys families, not just the addict.
And Su...you are absolutely correct about the WILLFUL IGNORANCE about this disease. It's difficult to watch someone with barely a high school education who doesn't understand this disease. It's understandable why they don't "get it". But to watch and listen to supposedly educated health care "professionals", many with "advanced" degrees, spout some of the "oil of vitriol" [concentrated sulfuric acid] I've seen on this web site, and heard at board of nursing meetings is beyond acceptable. I call people on this kind of hate speech just like I do when I hear someone use the "N" word or make a comment about a patient's personal life.
This isn't a popular position, but I believe much of the reason for the continued ignorance about addiction and recovery is because nurses (and recovering people in general) don't talk about their struggles with this disease. They don't share their successes found as a result of successfully facing this "huge, black, slimy, fleshy, gluttonous" disease, going through treatment, and the things they do on a daily basis to remain clean and sober. I can truly say it has been an extremely liberating experience to tell my story,whether at church, at schools, at seminars and national meetings, with new friends and aquaintances. For me, NOT telling my story is difficult (in the proper situation...which happens to be WHENEVER and WHEREVER the topic comes up). If we want to see this disease defeated, silence can no longer be an option. That's why it's so encouraging to see organizations like Faces and Voices of Recovery, Nurses In Recovery, Anesthetists In Recovery, and other taking a more public stance on this disease in it's members and in society. Can you imagine anyone turning down the opportunity to educate about HIV, AIDS, breast cancer, and other chronic, progressive fatal diseases? My goodness, the angry backlash would be astounding. But it's OK to ignore this disease, this NUMBER ONE PUBLIC HEALTH problem, because of what I call the "3 M's" of addiction...Myth, Misbelief, and Misunderstanding".
If we keep talking about it, even when people find it uncomfortable, things WILL change. But it is WE who have to have the courage to bring this message to our colleagues, even when they don't like it. ESPECIALLY when they don't like it.
I hope everyone has an excellent day! I'm heading out the door to watch my youngest daughter (who is also recovering) run in a 15K race. GO KIMMY!!!!!
You go Jackstem and Mag!!! Even though I don't struggle with drug and ETOH, the potential for those addictions is always there for me. I however have an addiction that can kill me just the same as drugs/ETOH. In talking with my coworkers, I pick up if they are "12 steppers" and we now have our own little network where we can talk about our addictions and current struggles @ work. We've got to get the message to our collegues to dispel the misinformation and lies out there about this disease.
Specializes in Impaired Nurse Advocate, CRNA, ER,.
You go Jackstem and Mag!!! Even though I don't struggle with drug and ETOH, the potential for those addictions is always there for me. I however have an addiction that can kill me just the same as drugs/ETOH. In talking with my coworkers, I pick up if they are "12 steppers" and we now have our own little network where we can talk about our addictions and current struggles @ work. We've got to get the message to our collegues to dispel the misinformation and lies out there about this disease.
Amen Blueheaven!
Back in the mid to late 90's I was teaching a couple of courses nationally, one on pain management and one on "conscious sedation". Little did I realize then how much of my recovery "philosophy" came through in my lectures. After on pain management course a participant came to me afterward and asked if I was "a friend of Bill's"? Another participant asked, "Bill who?" It's a mutual friend was my reply.
It's a shame we can't get the rest of the profession to learn more about this deadly disease and it's prevalence in all areas of society. People with over 5 years remission from cancer can say "I'm a cancer survivor", and people know they have fought a tough battle and are ahead of the game. I look forward to the day when we can say "I'm in recovery" and folks will understand we have foguht a tough battle and are also ahead of the game.
....and sometimes you are doing something and smiling and not know it until someone asks "What are you smiling about?". and you cant answer because they would not understand....and you can't even explain it to yourself sometimes.........
Mark
Right!
Life is precious and it is much better spent happy. Truly happy. I owe some of this happiness to my state board's recovery program. The rest of the happiness... well, I owe it to myself of course! 2009 was the best year for me, but I know there are others out there who are at rock bottom, sometimes I wish I knew what to do to help them.
Specializes in Impaired Nurse Advocate, CRNA, ER,.
Right!
Life is precious and it is much better spent happy. Truly happy. I owe some of this happiness to my state board's recovery program. The rest of the happiness... well, I owe it to myself of course! 2009 was the best year for me, but I know there are others out there who are at rock bottom, sometimes I wish I knew what to do to help them.
For most addicts it takes some sort of "intervention" before they get the help they need. Think back to your own situation...something had to happen to make seeking help appear less "harmful" than seeking help. As Jeff Vanvonderen from "Interventions" says in his book, "The Good News for the Chemically Dependent and Those Who Love Them", an addict must face some sort of intervention in order to finally enter treatment. The intervention can be a threatened divorce, a DUI, loss of a job, some sort of accident, attempted suicide, accidental OD, or the state board of nursing sending you a registered letter telling you they are conducting an investigation. If the person is lucky their employer will have a policy and procedure for intervening when substance abuse or dependence is suspected. Unfortunately, very few hospitals, nursing homes, agencies, etc. actually have a policy to deal with this disease. No, they'd rather fire the nurse and let someone else deal with the problem.
When I was doing homecare there was a nurse who fit the profile of a chemically dependent professional. The general manager wanted to fire her. Another recovering nurse and I approached the nurse manager and told them we wanted to do an intervention and get her some help. To his credit, he was more than willing to do so. The nurse must have caught wind of the coming "storm" and resigned. The general manager was relieved because he didn't have to "do anything"! She never returned our efforts to contact her, so I have no idea what ever happened.
The best way we can help others is by example, following a solid plan of recovery, and by sharing our story. I firmly believe things won't change until those of us in recovery are willing to speak out. as long as we remain anonymous no one knows recovery is possible.
It's why I speak to all the nurse anesthesia programs in Ohio (or wherever I'm invited) every year. It's why I send letters to the nursing programs where I live and offer to speak to their students. Unfortunately not many programs accept the offer. Shoot, most never even respond! It's almost as if they fear the students will somehow "catch" what we have! Pretty sad.
Jack, That is why I tell of my diverting drugs and my inability to make direct amends to those patients. I make my amends by sharing honestly at the podium and at step meetings and I have had several nurses approach me after meetings to tell how much they can identify with my story.
It's a mutual friend was my reply. 
Magsulfate, BSN, RN
1,201 Posts
Isn't it a wonderful feeling to just look around and be happy for the simple reason that you're happy? And to be grateful and happy for all the things around you? It is so hard for me to explain my feelings, but I can see that you have felt it too. It is a long hard road to travel, a life long drive throught twists and turns and straight aways.. I also believe that as a recovering nurse I have a certain feeling inside that drives me to help other recovering nurses and to educate my coworkers about addiction and recovery. If not us, then who else will do it? Also, when I see a nurse who needs help, it puts my recovery into perspective. I always have to remember how hard it was that first year of recovery... so that I don't put myself through that again!
Thanks for sharing your story.. :)