I am going to self-report to Georgia BON

[Junebug59]

Hi! New to this site! Love it!

I am an r.N./cst with 30 yrs exp in the operating room. Since I've gotten my degree, I have lied to the Georgia board each time I renew. I have several arrests (no felonies). I want to come clean! No pun.... What do I do?

My license has never been in investigated thus far. I have an alcohol problem. I'm the weekend warrior drinker. Made stupid decisions to drive and have 4 DUI arrests with 2 dropped. One marijuana possession and a couple of domestic abuse (alcoholic boyfriend) and on shop lifting, all steming from drug abuse...... I sound like a criminal!! But I am a good nurse! Never been to work impaired. I've been traveling since 1992. Except in the last 8 mos.

Since my last arrest 20 months ago, my criminal background has caught up with me. My driving license is still suspended. Too scared to take another job for fear of being reported to the BON. I hear it would be better for me to do it myself. I've even considered going back to school and doing something different. But I am damn good at what I do! I have to waste all the experience I've gained. I'm one of those travelers you can put in any situation.

From what I have read on this site, I need a lawyer before going to the board. Any suggestions on what type of lawyer to hire? Thanks for any info!

[lifeistweet]

I self reported to the MI BON and it was the biggest mistake I ever made. If u can get u r self into treament, get a lawyer to get u r other legal issues straightened out without involving the BON DO IT!! U CAN get into recovery and straighten out your life without the BON! The BON will either take ur license, restrict ur license or put a permenant mark on ur license making getting a job almost impossible! Notifying the BON will not aid ur recovery! Their purpose is not to assist ur recovery. I would never self report again if I had the option to get into recovery and straighten out my life without their "help". Maybe the BON in ur state is different. Good Luck! Get into recovery and get a good lawyer that deals with licensing issues before u report ur self. Recovery is number one.

Peace8

[debnky]

Well,I did self report and most of what you read on this board is true. The BON is not your friend!!!!! I did not divert meds, get fired or ever even reprimanded by an employer. I met with the KY BON staff today, they were very cold, curt and extreme in there recommendations. There were two lady employed by the board as staff. I should never of self reported, I was not reported to them and I know why nurses do not turn themselves in. I am still trying to process this interrogation, the police were more cordial than the KY BON. I have not signed anything at this point. By the grace of God and his mercy I will not have to take a drink or a drug over this. I left there feeling so full of shame. I worked too hard for my sobriety to let this episode set me back.

[Code55]

debnky said:

I met with the KY BON staff today, they were very cold, curt and extreme in there recommendations.

I can understand both Debnky and Peace8 disappointment and frustration about your Boards of Nursings'. It interesting and frustrating how each state writes policy and procedures for monitoring. There should be some constancy with how health care professionals to both protect the public and treat our disease.

I self reported to my BON and it has been different for me. I'm fortunate that Oregon both helps protect the public and helps the addicted nurse. I feel they are supporting me and helping me get back to practice. I was encouraged to report myself by nurses already in the monitoring program so had some understanding how I might be met. If I had know that the board would have treated me like your boards, it would have been much more difficult. Oregon did not restrict or place discipline against my license. Once a month urines and monthly check-ins, that it! I feel very fortunate.

Now after about a year in recovery and having a unencumbered Oregon license , I made application to Washington State for a license. It took them about a year to grant me a license and the license they granted me was a restricted one. They also reported me to a national data base for health care providers. Go figure! Looking in hind sight, I would have never applied for a Washington license.

The bottom line: For nurses like us that want to do the right thing by wanting help, including notifying the BON, will not do so if the policies are overly punitive and met with harshness, with not only place the public at risk but are denying that nursing has a health risk disability. They are also denying it is a disease. People like us will not self report and that places everyone at risk. This can also be said for the folks that are reported to the board.

I believe that every case manager and one or some members of the board need to be in recovery their selves. No one that does not have our disease really understands what it is like to have our disease. They don't have to!

I'm sorry that your boards are not recovery friendly. It only hurts the profession and it should not be that way. Having said all that, you guys have a little more up hill climb to make but it has been done before. They are others that have come through just fine. In fact much better off. Do not place your recovery at risk. Plug in even more to recovery by meetings, sponsors, and getting to know other health care professionals in recovery. Your recovery is above being a nurse.

Let us know how things are progressing.

Glenn ?

[debnky]

Thank you Glenn. My recovery is number one. I will adhere to their harsh punishments, I think, I haven't signed yet. However I still stand by my strong feelings that one should seek help for their disease on their own, do not report the the board of nursing if it can be avoided. Some cases it can't. There is a lot of help out there. I attend 12 step meetings almost daily, this helps me and I pray I help others. For I know that I can not stay sober unless I give it away.

[foraneman]

debnky~

Unfortunately your situation did not leave you much choice. By state law you MUST report to the BON any felony convictions. If you do not, the next time you renew and a background check is done your license would likely be revoked permanently. ANY guilty or nolo contendere plea for a DUI felony or drug possession felony, even one which allows probation and then expungement, MUST be reported. You need an attorney to deal with the board. Contact JackStem for an excellent RN JD who practices in Ohio and KY. The worst from the board is yet to come and you need help to protect yourself and your license.

[debnky]

OK now I am really upset. What do you mean the worst is yet to come? What more can they do to me. I think I mentioned that I have exhausted all my financial resources with my criminal defense attorney and fines. I now am looking at 30 days (minimum) inpt as recommended by the BON, they would like me to do 60 to 90 days. I am not sure my insurance will pay for 30 days, will I be disqualified since I may not be able to go exactly 30 days? I can not afford to pay out of pocket, that is absolutely not an option. I can see why many nurses get discouraged and say forget it to the BON. I am struggling to maintain my sobriety ever since I met with those two Nazi women, this has really thrown a curve ball at me, this is life indeed! I really feel like a worthless piece of garbage about now. 

[TXRN2]

debnky: you are NOT a worthless piece of garbage!!!!! i know at times you will feel that way, i still do from time to time- for different reasons, some reminder of what i did comes up or is pointed out to me. and i take a deep breathe, turn to my higher power, whom i choose to call God, say a little prayer, & redirect my thought pattern. tell yourself you are a good person who made some bad choices, some bad mistakes, have a bad disease, but you are now on the right pathway & trying your darndest to do the right things!! i did not have to deal with the BON in my state, so i cannot even begin to imagine what that is like- i am in a PAP. but, as has been mentioned before, don't look at the whole picture, just break it down into small tasks & tackle the first one on the list. hang on to your self-esteem, & when that is faltering- ask your HP for guidance & reassurance. keep your recovery first & the rest will fall into place. take care & God bless.

[lifeistweet]

Don't let the BON affect your recovery! They are a bump in the road but do not determine who you are! Keep doing the next right thing and your life will return. I was in your situation a year ago and it's taken a year but my life is turning around. You will survive and you will be better for it. I had to borrow money to get a lawyer to protect my license. Do what ever you have to do to protect your license. Once they revoke it its twice as hard to get back. I know, It's taken me a year and aa half with an attorney's help. Just keep recovering, It's number one. Hang in there! peace8

[foraneman]

I don't mean to upset or scare you, but there are some realities you are facing. Probably your major issue is the felony conviction. Because of that it is likely that the board has to be involved and notified. Without a felony, you could simply have contacted the KY KARE (the program you referred to as IPN actually) program which is a confidential alternative program associated with, but separate from the board. THEY are the people you should have self reported to since THEY can make the decision to accept you into the program without notifying the board of anything. In other words the board would not be involved yet and you would be dealing directly with KARE. However, with the presence of a drug or alcohol related felony, the board DOES need to be informed and rather than simply allowing you to enter the KARE program confidentially, you are more likely to be on public probation from the board AND in the KARE program. Was this felony DUI-alcohol or is there a felony drug conviction?

If I were you I would now call the KARE program and discuss your situation confidentially:

Quote

Request for information and/or assistance are strictly confidential. All records of program participants are confidential. Participation in the KARE for Nurses Program is voluntary and will remain anonymous to the Kentucky Board of Nursing as long as the participant is compliant with the terms of the program agreement.

Please feel free to contact Paula S. Schenk, KARE for Nurses Program Manager, at 1-800-305-2042, Ext. 236, or Jill M. Cambron, KARE for Nurses Program Coordinator at 1-800-305-2042, Ext. 289.

DO NOT put off signing a contract, entering a program and getting drug tested. First of all, if you refuse to sign the contract the board is going to present to you since they know about you, your license will be revoked and it will take longer and be harder to get back. You will be reported to the practitioner data bank and likely the OIG for medicare exclusion. Plus, any restrictions they place on it once you get it back will NOT take into consideration the time you have been revoked...meaning if they want you to have no narcotic access for a year, that year will start after you get the license back. So, if u have a 3 year probation criminally, then apply to get your revoked license back, it will be 4 years EASY before that happens and the revocation is a permanent part of your public license record. NEVER ALLOW YOUR LICENSE TO BE REVOKED IF YOU CAN AVOID IT.

Don't throw in the towel. It IS possible that you will be referred to the KARE program by the board and things will turn out relatively stress free. Call KARE and ask them how your felony affects that possibility.

[debnky]

Quote

 

Request for information and/or assistance are strictly confidential. All records of program participants are confidential. Participation in the KARE for Nurses Program is voluntary and will remain anonymous to the Kentucky Board of Nursing as long as the participant is compliant with the terms of the program agreement.

Please feel free to contact Paula S. Schenk, KARE for Nurses Program Manager, at 1-800-305-2042, Ext. 236, or Jill M. Cambron, KARE for Nurses Program Coordinator at 1-800-305-2042, Ext. 289.

 

This exactly who I spoke with. They are employed by the BON, she stated they are consider staff of the BON. So it is not a separate entity as some states have. Paula is the one who did the interview and is talking with therapist who did my initial evaluation. I feel like the therapist is genuine and professional, she is concerned for my sobriety as am I. That being said she is going to contact a recovery rehab close to me that does accept my insurance. I will know Monday if she approves that or not. I was not even offered to sign the contract until after I complete in patient. I do have a felony drug possession charge, I am fortunate that is will be expunged after 3yrs, they do not do that in our state anymore. I did know I did not have a choice to self report to the BON, I guess I would of prolonged the inevitable had I know how difficult it was going to be, good that I didn't. So I am grateful, I only will lose my driving license for 30days vs the normal 120days and my family and great sponsor ship family are behind me 100% as long as I stay sober. God willing I will be able to trudge this road with many of you. Thank you for you wealth of information.

[smiles04]

God bless you and I pray for the best. I tend to agree that these agencies just want to know everyones buisness for their own benifit. I feel that your health insurance and AA and all of these anonymous orgs are awesome and truely there to help you. I know a guy in the military that was injured bad and had to have surgery and was on all kinds of med THEY prescribed for him but when they medically retired him the boards etc were brutal they made him look aweful and made him feel aweful. If you are in the MILITARY don't get medically retired either that isnt the way to go and believe me tell your friends. Just get out if thats what you have to do. God bless love and smiles

[foraneman]

OK GOOD! The KARE program, while it is administered by the board and the staff is employed by the board, it IS a confidential diversion program. This is a common set up in many states. States with a completely separate third party alternative program, like the Florida IPN, are in the small minority. In practice, there should be no difference in the effects on you. Reporting to KARE is very different from reporting to the board. Under the KARE program no action is taken against your license and all files and information pertaining to your self report and participation is confidential and protected by law. This is in exchange for your signing the participation agreement. No member of the public can access it and nothing appears on your license check.

When someone is not accepted into the KARE program, or they do not comply with the contract they sign, they may be reported to the board which will then take public action either suspending, revoking or placing on probation, the license of the individual. Depending on the action taken the licensee is then required to sign an agreement restricting practice and requiring treatment and drug screen monitoring which is often very similar to the contract they would have signed with KARE except that it is now administered by the board itself and is public record. This is then a matter of public record which can be accessed online by anyone when they verify your license.

You are right where you should be with all of this. Should you be refused admission to KARE, or find that the board is getting involved, or if the board (remember KARE is not the board for our purposes here) schedules a disciplinary hearing you would then be well advised to get an attorney.