Has anyone been in this boat before?? *legal*

Nurses Recovery

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I have been an LPN for 22 years with an absolute unblemished disciplinary record, something I am very proud of. For the first time in about 15-16 years I smoked pot on 2 seperate occasions. Lucky me, 4 days after, I was called for a drug test by my employer to clear up a deviation on a narcotics count sheet. I was honest with my Supervisor and told her exactly why I was refusing and resigned from the company I was with for 15 years. I did not want a positive THC result on my record. I was reported to the State board, who after an investigation, came to the conclusion that I would have my license on Probation, enroll in a drug screening program and involve my primary care Dr. and Pharmacy to have any controlled substance prescriptions I might obtain monitored by the Board for a year. I didn't accept the agreement and chose to have a formal hearing instead. I wanted a chance to stand up for myself because the Board concluded that I was "unfit, or incompetent by reason of negligence habit" and "guilty of unprofessional conduct". I am currently waiting on a hearing date. I didn't think I would be this nervous, but I'm making myself sick over it.

Perhaps someone out there has been in this boat, or similar boat, before.

Thank you.

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We can't give legal advice here. I am not an atty and don't play one on TV, but if it were me, I'd take the probation and be done with it. Get a good nurse atty (TAANA) and ask him/her for advice.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

This is why nurses should NEVER indulge in illegal substances. Get a lawyer familiar with licensing issues...... the BON is NOT your friend

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

thread moved for best response. This forum will have nurses that have experienced this and will know how best to guide you.

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Thank you for moving this thread.

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What state are you in? Either way you are on the right track. Don't sign anything until you talk to a lawyer and def fight it because the board uses a matrix of offenses and consequences. There are no considerations into your actual personal situation. Hearing is best bet... but, a lawyer at the hearing would be better. If you carry you should be covered. message if you have questions.

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I have a consultation scheduled with an attny. Re-reading my post, I realize that I did it to vent and It felt better afterwards. Thanks.

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I'm in Louisiana

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.
I'm in Louisiana

Hi! I live in Louisiana too. Glad to meet another AN member from my state.

When is your hearing date? An old co worker of mine was in a similar situation as yours - I will get in touch with her and see if she can give me any info.

Anne, RNC

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Sissiesmama, I am an LPN from louisiana. Looking for some advice on my situation, I self reported and am trying to renew my license.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

The only thing I can tell you is to lawyer up for this hearing, and you've already done that.

Unfortunately, you did admit to using a Schedule I drug. You can't undo that, but hopefully the lawyer can help mitigate the damage for you. I do not judge you for smoking pot. But I do hope that others will learn from your experience and realize that marijuana use--even recreationally--and successful nursing careers are not compatible. The trouble you will have to go through with employers and BONs if and when your use is discovered isn't worth it.

I sincerely wish you the best of luck.

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It's a shame you have to go through all that BS over something as simple as pot. One person commented the board of nursing is not your friend and that is correct not to mention most people I've dealt with at boards of nursing were nasty idiotic NON medical individuals.

Unfortunately too late as it is you would have been better to simply refuse the stupid drug test and resign your position with no explanation or mention of pot. It's none of your employer's business what you do on your own time anyway.

It seems at this point the only thing you can do is simply what the board of nursing expects of you. So you play out their stupid silly game and get your license back in good order.

For someone such as yourself with 20+ dedicated years as a nurse to have to go through all this crap over smoking a little pot you should be able to sue your employer, the board of nursing, any state licensing agency that monitors boards of nursing and even the state itself for harassment, humiliation, and lost wages and whatever else a sharp lawyer could tack on.

I wish I could snap my fingers and make all this dissipate for you but unfortunately we live in a society controlled by fools and idiots.

Good luck with your outcome.

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