Considering reinstatement, is it worth the hassle?

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Jan 27, 2015

Will you be able to do something else that provides a decent income?

nursewen1069 · Jan 27, 2015

It is most definitely my hope that I will be able to do something that will provide a decent income. The only 2 positions I have held in the last 20 years is either a CNA or RN. To satisfy the requirements of probation you must be employed as an RN for at least 6 months during that time. So basically if I don't find employment as an RN while on probation its pointless to go through the reinstatement process anyway. Not to mention that I'm going through a horrible divorce involving domestic violence. I will have sole custody of my 2 teenage children along with my 2 year old. Being a single Mom with little help from ex, I need to find a way to provide for my children.

CryssieD · Jan 27, 2015

nursewen1069: Sorry to hear about your problems:(. I wound up in a 5-year program for a DUI (my own prescription muscle relaxant) and possession of a controlled substance (given to me by someone else)--like you, not at all related to my job or profession; the possession charge was dropped after 2 years' criminal probation, and the DUI penalties weren't too bad. The nursing board took it much more seriously. Don't misunderstand me--I felt deeply ashamed of myself--I felt like I disgraced the nursing profession because I knew better than to use someone else's narcotic medication, and I certainly knew I should have waited until I got home to take the muscle relaxant. Anyway, that was more than 5 years ago: I am employed at a decent (if stressful and relatively low-paying nursing job) and am in the final year of my monitoring contract with the Board. It's been a VERY long haul, expensive, and (I won't lie to you) humiliating, tedious, and frequently very frustrating. However, the end is in sight, I am healthier (thanks to mandated counselling and NA/AA meetings) than I have ever been, and I feel that in spite of the humiliation, frustration, and expense, the whole thing has actually been worth it. Only you can know whether you are willing to put up with the strain, and I will tell you that finding non-healthcare work when it's all you've done for 20 years is very, very challenging: but I made up my mind that I wasn't going to let my mistakes take nursing away from me--I'm an excellent nurse and I LOVE my profession, and so I made it work for me...and I bet you could make it work for you too! It's tough, and it really, really helps if you have supportive family, but it's definitely possible--I didn't think I could hack it but it seems to be working out so far. If you don't want the hassle, there are plenty of careers that relate to nursing and use similar skills--just keep in mind that any licensed profession is going to address the issues you are having with nursing, and will probably require similar probation and/or monitoring. I always hate to see nurses leave the profession, especially when they feel they're being pushed out by untenable circumstances. But, whatever you do, I and your fellow nurses will always support you! Best of luck!

nursewen1069 · Jan 28, 2015

CyssieD - Thank you so much for your comment! I really appreciate all your words and support more than you can know. I actually had an amazing conversation on the phone tonight with a "sort of" family member who is an RN and went through similar things as I, but actually much more severe. He chose to stick with nursing, do whatever the board asked of him, endure the probation, and he says he's a better person today because he did all that. He now has a great job as a director of a dialysis clinic and loves his job. In fact, he even told me he currently has 5 employees on probation. As of this evening, I have new-found hope that I can do this! Your comment was the icing on the cake, thank you!! Which state is your license in? Also, did you have to apply for reinstatement of your license?

CryssieD · Jan 28, 2015

I basically entered into an agreement--as long as I am compliant with the state's monitoring program, I can practice. FL BON formally reprimanded me, and that will stay on my record. In my current state (VA), I have to complete the monitoring program, and then I'm good to go. It has been rough, and I haven't been perfect--no relapses, but several lesser failures like missed check-in's and phone calls returned too late; the program is strict but not unreasonable, and, like I said before, the mandated counselling and NA meetings have been some of the best things that have ever happened to me. I can't tell you how good a feeling it is to know I'm doing well and finally blossoming into the person I should have been all along. I feel you have a good foundation--you have reconnected with your sponsor and gotten back on track; you can do this--don't let your fears of what might be turn into regrets about what might have been! Stay the course, and do whatever you have to do to stay in your chosen profession if that is what you want. When looking for work, focus on what you have learned and gained by your experiences--don't be afraid to talk about past mistakes when they have led you to a better place. Good luck!

CryssieD · Jan 29, 2015

Sorry, nursewen1069, think I got you temporarily confused with someone else (oops). ("reconnected with your sponsor", etc etc) Anyway, I initially thought the whole thing would be impossible, wasn't worth it, all that--and I was so wrong! I am almost done and so glad I stuck it out. Lots of us in these situations found work eventually, and I know you will too. Glad I could be of help:)!

LilRedRN1973 · Feb 1, 2015

The thought of entering into Nevada's monitoring program was so daunting to me that I actually placed my license on inactive status and attempted to do the whole sobriety thing on my own. Big fail. I was back to my old behavior within a few months. I finally called the BON from inside the rehab and agreed to their monitoring contract. I am SO glad I did. They gave me back my life...no, they gave me a better life than I had before. Although there were some rough times through my contract, I did complete it. I was very blessed in that before they granted me a restricted license back, one of the RN's who was in my nurse support group encouraged me to apply at Liberty Dialysis as a tech so I would have some dialysis experience when I did get my license back and hopefully procure employment as a dialysis RN. And they did just that. I was hired as a tech and on the day my license was reinstated (a restricted license), they moved me from tech position to RN. I ended up leaving that job for one I would stay at for the remainder of my 5 year contract, which was an outpatient psychiatric clinic run by the state. But I will forever be grateful to that RN's suggestion that I look into being a tech before getting my license back. It was good for me to have a job within the medical field so when I did get my license back, becoming gainfully employed as an RN was not as difficult. Our monitoring contract stinks in that you only get credit towards your 5 year contract while working as an RN. So if it takes you a year to find a job after getting your restricted license, your time doesn't start coming off until you begin work as an RN.

All that being said, I never second guessed entering my monitoring agreement. I learned things about myself that I will be forever grateful to the Nevada BON for and I never would have done so without their program. It wasn't easy at times and I absolutely hated having to call in 365 days a year for drug testing and all the money I paid out for the drug testing, nurse support group, counseling, aftercare and monitoring fees to the board. But I wouldn't have had it any other way. My life, even after a brief relapse, is so incredibly different these days and most of the time, I like who I have become (hey, I'm a work in progress....lol).

Good luck in whatever you decide!