Desperate daughter of a Nurse

[Daughter_of_a_Nurse]

My mother is a nurse and has been a recovering addict for years, however I feel she may have had a relapse.  She can no longer function as a nurse, let alone function normally.  My brother passed away a few years ago and she has been on a downward wind whirl ever since.   She "was" taking ativan and oxycontin.  She has also been diagnosed with Graves disease and hyperthyroidism.  She says she hasn't been able to take ANY meds due to lack of insurance, so I don't know if her behavior is from using (if she is) or lack of using meds for the Graves disease.
I want to help her, but I don't want her to lose her license.  She knows she can't practice and she has agreed not to.  
The other issue is that since she has given up practicing, she doesn't have insurance.
I don't know where to turn to for help.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thank you in advance.
Sincerely,
Desperate daughter of a nurse

[Daughter_of_a_Nurse]

We live in Ohio and I am not sure what the laws are here.  My mom said that she has thought about rehab before, but thought she would lose her license.  Therefore, she told me that she quit everything cold turkey and says that she is not taking anything, including the meds for the Graves Disease & Hyperthyroidism.  She lives about 1 1/2 hours from me, so I can't see her regularly to check on her.  

I don't know if her symptoms are from the lack of necessary meds or from abusing the other meds.  She has slowed/slurred speech, confusion, lack of or no appetite, sleeps all the time, dazed at times, weight loss, memory lapses (short term), etc.

She has fought the addiction for years and I don't want to accuse her of something that she may not be doing, but I just don't know.

I am leaning towards the addiction issues, based on my research so far, but I know she won't go if she thinks she will lose her license.  

[taytay90]

I'm a nurse who went to rehab and I still have my license. I live in Georgia and it might be different in each state. Call the state board of nursing in her state and ask. You can remain anonymous. Is she willing to go to rehab?

[luppygirl]

Isn't there some web site you can check this out on or maybe in her union book.  There must some information that came with her nursing license, like all the do's and don'ts.  Or maybe an 1-800 number you can call anomysley  (spelling) and ask these questions.

[Daughter_of_a_Nurse]

So can anyone tell me, if my mom went to rehab, would she automatically lose her nursing license?

[Daughter_of_a_Nurse]

No, we haven't.  I don't know of any, sorry.

[broknbck]

well from my experience the perscriptions we all get just treat our symptoms and not the cause.
have you 2 explored the natural path for her condition?