You're not alone! The only reason I don't have many felonies is because I never got caught. I had an extensive history of drug abuse before before I started diverting at work and this made me feel quite different then all other recovering nurses. I am fairly new in recovery and in the NJ RAMP program. For me, membership in a 12 step program is essential and i've come to believe that practicing nursing again is a benefit of sustained, monitored recovery. If you want to talk, e-mail me chris
It's been awhile since I have been on this site. I am so glad to see that I am not the only one going through all this. Does anyone know what the length of time it is best to ask the NJ RAMP if you can return to work?
I asked to go back to worth with around 9 months clean and it was suggested to me to look for part time nursing work, until this years school semester is over. I am enrolled in one college class toward my BSN (This is a benefit of recovery...for years I said I will go back to school and never did it). I HIGHLY suggest keeping in constant contact with your case manager at RAMP. Every monday I drop my case manager a short e-mail and let her know how things are going. I include things like my recovery and progress in my 12 step (contact with sponsor, working steps, commitments, networking; i keep it vague but let her know that i'm doing what i'm supposed to), attendance at my weekly peer meetings, school, work, living situation, and even personal stuff with family because that was an issue for me in early recovery. I feel like she knows me very well and I think that was something that made her feel comfortable with me going back to work. I hadn't asked to go back to work sooner than that but I think she might have said yes.
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