Please help... (felony and nursing?)

Nurses General Nursing

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Can someone convicted of a felony recieve a nursing liscence?

I understand your view however even my lawyer said the burglary was an overcharge. I am a compassionate caring RN. I have done ER for ten years without any diverting. I got divorced in October of 2004 and it crushed me. I believe not dealing with my feelings simply put me into using. I have joint custody of my three year old girl. I felt as if she were abandoned. I am in therapy for this now. I have over ten doctors that have written letters to my lawyer. They are all ER physicians who say how excellent, caring and a good nurse I am. I hope to someday return. If anyone can say rock bottom I believe this was it. I believe strongly that in time if I get back to nursing I wont divert. The consequences are far too great however I am taking it one day at a time. I really hope all goes well. For a person with no criminal past to all these felonies. I am saddened by this whole ordeal. Each day is a struggle in my life. I stay alive for my children because I think it would crush them if I did anything to abandon them.

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I sympathize, believe me. And I am sure you are a very caring, compassionate person. I've never met an alcoholic or an addict that I didn't like, and I'm sure I would like you.

You sound like you are in a strong recovery program.

I am concerned, woman to woman, that you are having suicidal ideation.

However, I think you would agree that very few, if any of us, have never had an earthshaking, heartbreaking, horrible experience. I wish I could say I had had only one!

But most of us don't abuse substances because of it, and most of us don't commit crimes.

I do hope you will reconsider finding a satisfying career where you will not need to meet the requirements set up for professionals. There is a reason why we are "held to a higher standard."

What's the point of having those standards if they are going to make exceptions for someone with, for example, five felonies? And what does it say about the profession if they do make the exceptions? How do they know which of us has the record?

Again, I sympathize, and I am sad for you and your predicament.

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Thanks you are all kind however thru the years I have been a flight nurse for native air, a critical care rn and a great Er nurse. I have worked with other nurses who have had felonies and they were great people. They learned from their mistake and moved on. The board of nursing deemed appropriate they paid their debt to society. I dont have any suicidal ideations. I think it to be a selfish act for my children to leave them without their parent. It is a daily struggle to get thru this however I believe I need to face up to this and re pay my wrong doings. If in the distant future the board allows me to go back to practice then I can share my experiences and help other nurses. We are all human as god made us to make errors. I made big errors. I do cry daily. I am holding on. You are all very kind and I wish I knew of this forum months ago. You all keep me going. Thank you all.

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I sympathize, believe me. And I am sure you are a very caring, compassionate person. I've never met an alcoholic or an addict that I didn't like, and I'm sure I would like you.

You sound like you are in a strong recovery program.

I am concerned, woman to woman, that you are having suicidal ideation.

However, I think you would agree that very few, if any of us, have never had an earthshaking, heartbreaking, horrible experience. I wish I could say I had had only one!

But most of us don't abuse substances because of it, and most of us don't commit crimes.

I do hope you will reconsider finding a satisfying career where you will not need to meet the requirements set up for professionals. There is a reason why we are "held to a higher standard."

What's the point of having those standards if they are going to make exceptions for someone with, for example, five felonies? And what does it say about the profession if they do make the exceptions? How do they know which of us has the record?

Again, I sympathize, and I am sad for you and your predicament.

Geeze.....

I've read just a few of your posts in this thread and others. Please lighten up maybe you need to take a few days off of school/work and decompress.

As to your post in this thread, maybe your right and maybe your not, which ever it is the person you are judging (over the internet I might add) is in need of understanding not judgment.

You are not protecting patients, as this person is at least 5 years and a grueling period of rehab, incarceration, and investigation from when they have a small chance of again being licensed.

You haven't worked as a nurse yet and you don't know how harmless it can seem to people in bad situations to just take a wasted narc home and get a few hours relief from their sorrow.

I have never considered diverting narcs but I can see how hopeless people could make that mistake. I also work with a fabulous anesthesiologist that did temporarily lose his license due to diverting narcs.

This MD is a godsend to his patients, extremely skilled and compassionate it would truly be shame if he were forever band from practicing due to being a flawed human.

I'm not sure what in your life is causing you to be so bitter but it is really coming across in your posts.

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I do hope you will reconsider finding a satisfying career where you will not need to meet the requirements set up for professionals. There is a reason why we are "held to a higher standard."

WOW!! What a self-righteous, disengenuous thing to say. I am a recovering nurse of almost twenty years. All diverting nurses commit crimes, some are prosecuted, others are not but WE ARE NOT ANYONE'S CASTOFFS. All nurses deserve a chance at recovering their lives and their careers, provided they follow the terms of their back-to-work agreement to the letter..

Luckily, I never encountered anyone with an attitude that is demonstrated in that comment. I know this one thing to be true, I am now a manager (bet that chaps your southbound side) and a peer advocate in my state- the only nurse that I know to be clean is the one that just handed me a drug-free, random urine specimen!

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Thank you everyone for your comments. I myself am going thru this five felony indictment. I hope and pray to stay alive everyday. I believe his comments were downright hard. Hope he never encounters addiction. If the board gives me back the right to do nursing someday then I will be happy. If not then there is a reason for that. As of now I stay clean, try to not take my life and end this torture and hope not to face prison. You are all so kind and caring.

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If you have a sponsor, call them. Share what was said and tell 'em how you fell about it. If you haven't already, you will get a chance soon to process all of this in a very loving, supportive environment. Doing step work is the wonderful gift that offsets the hell of the disease.

You can and you will get through this. When I was in treatment, I watched out the window to see when the Feds were coming, and they never came.

The God of my understanding got me thorugh that, minute by minute, and then hour by hour, and so on...

I am saying a big 'ole prayer for you and your family tonight.

Tomorrow, go to a meeting and get a pocket full of phone numbers- and then USE THEM.

God's peace and weclome to the sane side. You don't realize it, but you have been given a lifetime pass to peace and understanding that "earth people" never get.

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NO and as well, they shouldn't. Period the end.

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Specializes in Home Health, Hospice.
NO and as well, they shouldn't. Period the end.

Wow. every day I find another reason to question my decision to go into nursing.

People can change. People do incredibly stupid things.

But do you believe that a felony for say, murder or rape, is the same as a worthless check charge?

Are you implying that a person cannot change?

The judgemental attitudes I see are really bothering me!

I am not saying that we turn a blind eye to everything, but I do believe that everyone deserves a second chance.

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Specializes in Transplant, homecare, hospice.

I was watching Dr. Phil a couple of weeks ago. I was in complete horror. I apologize for not understanding the psyche of the person...aggressor, who attacked her husband. She was a nurse. I was floored. Her husband has a drinking problem and she had an anger problem. He passed out on the floor. She was at wits end, but decided to become violent...and Dr. Phil's cameras were rolling! The husband was passed out on the floor and she stomped his abdomen several times and then began kicking him in his torso. Needless to say, she lost her nursing job. Sought help and according to a follow up, Dr. Phil said that she was working again. I don't know if she was charged with a felony, but her actions were sure warrented it. I would definitely get as much information as you can. If you need a lawyer, get one of those as well, but I think the BON will tell you everything you need to know. Good luck.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatric, Behavioral Health.

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Specializes in Transplant, homecare, hospice.
I sympathize, believe me. And I am sure you are a very caring, compassionate person. I've never met an alcoholic or an addict that I didn't like, and I'm sure I would like you.

You sound like you are in a strong recovery program.

I am concerned, woman to woman, that you are having suicidal ideation.

However, I think you would agree that very few, if any of us, have never had an earthshaking, heartbreaking, horrible experience. I wish I could say I had had only one!

But most of us don't abuse substances because of it, and most of us don't commit crimes.

I do hope you will reconsider finding a satisfying career where you will not need to meet the requirements set up for professionals. There is a reason why we are "held to a higher standard."

What's the point of having those standards if they are going to make exceptions for someone with, for example, five felonies? And what does it say about the profession if they do make the exceptions? How do they know which of us has the record?

Again, I sympathize, and I am sad for you and your predicament.

Wow...You're posts are mean. You shouldn't be giving this kind of advice. In fact, no advise. ESPECIALLY to someone you THINK may be suicidal. You just crushed this person with your words and basically told that person you're above anyone who has ever made a mistake. Harsh.

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