Getting charged in multiple states?

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I know we can't give legal advice on this page but I am a travel nurse that got caught diverting in SC. I just had another state send me a letter in the mail saying that they are investigating me. Has anyone had experience with this and allow me to contact them privately?

I think, as dirtyhippiegirl suggested, it is time to obtain legal counsel; if you haven't already done so. I Don't think that you necessarily need a criminal defense lawyer, but you definitely need a lawyer with experience handling this type of case in front of your state's board of nursing. If you haven't found such a lawyer, and you opt to do so, you might consider The American Association of Nurse Attorneys.

And, as the internet is not nearly as anonymous as many like to believe, you should give careful consideration to posting any additional information regarding this situation.

Best wishes as you work through this issue.

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I know that in my program, my multi state privilege is revoked and void as long as I am in monitoring. I can only practice in my home state for the duration of my contract.

Now, you are going to have to deal with each BON individually. Just from reading this board, some people have said that they had to do each state's monitoring program, one after the other. I recall one poster here saying they were able to do two states programs concurently when they were able to wrangle the drug testing issue out of state. I imagine that would be tricky, but that person was able to do it.

For multiple state disciplines, I really think a BON savy, administrative attorney is going to be your best friend.

I didn't use an Attorney for my case, but I was dealing with a single state and self reported for monitoring prior to any formal Board action (but after being reported).

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Nathan brought up a good point. I'm in Pennsylvania with a Nurse who completed a program in another state and she moved here. When she applied for a nursing license they made her join our program and start all over. Essentially she is being punished twice for the same DUI years ago

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Specializes in OR.

My state went to the multi state thing while I've been chained to a contract and one of the requirements to get that multi-state license is to not be under monitoring. Admittedly I'd have to say that makes sense. (God help me-I'm admitting that something makes sense). I would hope however that when a person finishes a program and is able to obtain/re-obtain that multi state license, they could re locate to a state where that license is recognized and practice without having to traverse this gauntlet again as they already have a valid license, right? As the number of compact states are increasing, ideally the number of people in double jeopardy like the individual that Spanked cited should decrease, right? On the other hand, while double jeopardy is, i believe illegal in the real world, it appears to be perfectly okay in monitoring Nazi-land.

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It is illegal in the real world because it is simply wrong. I think one of the tenets of basic justice is that once you have paid your debt to society you get to move on with life. I pray your sentiments are correct. This woman got a DUI six years ago I think. She completed her program out west and moved home only to find that the spanking by Pennsylvania Nurses was endless. Its simply wrong and I hope other nurses don't have to go through this nonsense

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...I would hope however that when a person finishes a program and is able to obtain/re-obtain that multi state license, they could re locate to a state where that license is recognized and practice without having to traverse this gauntlet again as they already have a valid license, right? As the number of compact states are increasing, ideally the number of people in double jeopardy like the individual that Spanked cited should decrease, right? On the other hand, while double jeopardy is, i believe illegal in the real world, it appears to be perfectly okay in monitoring Nazi-land.

Just to clarify the multi-state nursing license. If you are issued a multi-state license in any of the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) states, you can work in any of the other eNLC states, as long as you maintain residency in the issuing state. If or when you relocate to another eNLC state, you can work for either 30 or 90 days (depends upon state) on your previous state licenses while you apply for your new license. When you apply for licensure in the new state, you have to comply with all of that state's requirements for licensure. If one of those requirements is disclosure of a previous drug or alcohol event, then you will have to disclose. Unfortunately this places you at the mercy of the new state's board of nursing (BON).

It is illegal in the real world because it is simply wrong. I think one of the tenets of basic justice is that once you have paid your debt to society you get to move on with life. I pray your sentiments are correct. This woman got a DUI six years ago I think. She completed her program out west and moved home only to find that the spanking by Pennsylvania Nurses was endless. Its simply wrong and I hope other nurses don't have to go through this nonsense

I must have been fortunate. When I applied for licensure in PA I disclosed the fact that I was arrested for a DUI in VA, in 1981. While I was eventually issued a license without stipulations or required monitoring, it did delay the licensure process by nearly 6 weeks. During this same time, I reactivated my OH and WV licenses, and was required to submit documentation to both state's BON even though the incident was reported with my initial licensure applications, and completely documented. This is the reason that I now maintain all nursing licenses in an active status, as I am not 100% certain that I will never work in these states again. I'm hoping that if I ever wish to work in WV or VA again, this won't be an issue as both of those states placed my licenses on inactive status when I returned to NC.

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Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.

I would be more concerned about accruing criminal charges in other states. Your ability to practice nursing is moot if you're in prison.

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Specializes in OR.
Just to clarify the multi-state nursing license. If you are issued a multi-state license in any of the enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) states, you can work in any of the other eNLC states, as long as you maintain residency in the issuing state. If or when you relocate to another eNLC state, you can work for either 30 or 90 days (depends upon state) on your previous state licenses while you apply for your new license. When you apply for licensure in the new state, you have to comply with all of that state's requirements for licensure. If one of those requirements is disclosure of a previous drug or alcohol event, then you will have to disclose. Unfortunately this places you at the mercy of the new state's board of nursing (BON).

I must have been fortunate. When I applied for licensure in PA I disclosed the fact that I was arrested for a DUI in VA, in 1981. While I was eventually issued a license without stipulations or required monitoring, it did delay the licensure process by nearly 6 weeks. During this same time, I reactivated my OH and WV licenses, and was required to submit documentation to both state's BON even though the incident was reported with my initial licensure applications, and completely documented. This is the reason that I now maintain all nursing licenses in an active status, as I am not 100% certain that I will never work in these states again. I'm hoping that if I ever wish to work in WV or VA again, this won't be an issue as both of those states placed my licenses on inactive status when I returned to NC.

So the eNLC is only worth anything to travelers, I'm gathering. Otherwise it's basically another layer of paperwork and probably another higher fee, and for us poor schmucks another opportunity to get our pockets emptied and punished yet again for the same sins. Figures.

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So the eNLC is only worth anything to travelers, I'm gathering. Otherwise it's basically another layer of paperwork and probably another higher fee, and for us poor schmucks another opportunity to get our pockets emptied and punished yet again for the same sins. Figures.

Yes, it will primarily benefit those that travel. Having said that, there are areas where two or more eNLC states border where it will benefit non travelers; southeastern NC comes to mind. In addition to NC, you could work in GA, SC, or TN. This is why I never understood the fascination that many seem to have with the multi-state license.

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Specializes in OR.

I agree. I have no interest in relocating anyway. Besides family being here, all of this garbage has beaten out of me the notion that the rest of my career will ever be anything more than a paycheck. I will always do the best I can for my patients but I won't expect the same from my colleagues.

As far as the OPs question, if the criminal charges were in one state, I don't see how any other state could file criminal charges just because a professional license was held that state. If the action did not occur on that state's soil what's the issue? BON action? Different story. We already know they don't seem to recognize any sort of boundaries when it comes to being able to punish someone more than once for the same crimes. Federal? Also doesn't seem likely there as notices would not be coming from a specific state. This just sounds like the BON from a state in which OP also holds a license has gotten wind of what is currently going on and wants thier respective bite of flesh.

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Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.

The individual state boards are independent of each other. They set their own fees, CEU requirements, background checks etc. so it doesn't surprise me they would allocate their own punishments. A court of law can't try you twice for the same crime but apparently a state board can.

With all the boards' connectivity to Nursys, a red flag on your license in any state is available to be seen by anyone signing on the their website. Forever.

Thus, any future employer, school, dating partner etc. can look you up by name or nursing license number and will see the red flag. Some may even see a PDF of the actual agreed stipulation, and disciplinary action.

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The individual state boards are independent of each other. They set their own fees, CEU requirements, background checks etc. so it doesn't surprise me they would allocate their own punishments. A court of law can't try you twice for the same crime but apparently a state board can.

With all the boards' connectivity to Nursys, a red flag on your license in any state is available to be seen by anyone signing on the their website. Forever.

Thus, any future employer, school, dating partner etc. can look you up by name or nursing license number and will see the red flag. Some may even see a PDF of the actual agreed stipulation, and disciplinary action.

So even if I'm in a monitoring program in one state.... bc another state is involved and i can't do two monitoring programs at once.... I will still have a red mark on my license forever? So what's the point of me even going through this hell for 5 years? I love being a nurse but it's not worth five years of my life, just to still have marks on my license. I may never find a decent nursing job. I'm going to contact a nursing lawyer today but if that's the case I'm just gonna throw in the towel. Of course, I'll wait until after my criminal case (praying for pti) so I can get the felony charges dropped. And then try to get a job in medical sales or something where my nursing license won't be looked at.

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