In trouble with the BON

Nurses Recovery

Published

I'm looking for advice...

I was fired 14 mo ago for misappropriated meds. I had worked for this hospital for 3 years and had never been in trouble, but instead of asking me to explain or counseling or even peer review they fired me. Then turned me into the Texas BON. JUST 2 weeks ago I had a chemical dependency eval. The psych is recommending TPAPN. I am very upset over this.

I took multiple drug tests and even a hair follicle test all came back negative. The issue is some uncharted ambien and unwasted and uncharted fentanyl.

The psych says he thinks I need TPAPN due to that and my being raped 9 mo ago. This is unfair. How can he say i need TPAPN for PTSD. It has nothing to do with the way I practice. It happened after I was fired.

I am in the process of fighting it. I'm going to talk to a lawyer. I hope I have some options.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Call your company. Many will offer not only legal representation for court cases but also for BON hearings. If that doesn't work, try TAANA.

However, just because the rape happened after you were fired doesn't mean the PTSD can't affect the way you practice. Are you currently seeing a therapist? Take care of yourself first. Also, take away from this to be extremely careful with properly documenting and wasting narcotics.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree but I have been better emotionally because of work.

I have learned so much from this. I did wrong by not charting appropriately. But thats my mistake. I didn't take or use the drugs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Oh and I don't have . ):

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Then also take away from this that you get when you want to practice nursing. It is a necessary cost associated with nursing, like buying gas for the car to get to work.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Call your malpractice insurance company. Many will offer not only legal representation for court cases but also for BON hearings. If that doesn't work, try TAANA.

However, just because the rape happened after you were fired doesn't mean the PTSD can't affect the way you practice. Are you currently seeing a therapist? Take care of yourself first. Also, take away from this to be extremely careful with properly documenting and wasting narcotics.

Agree.

Having PTSD myself, for a period it did affect my practice; I now see a therapist, a psychiatrist for medication management.

Sometimes PTSD has symptoms where it effects memory, issues with dealing with the stress of multitasking....sometimes feeling stuck in time, or not having any concept of time where highly focused senses are utilized, causing anxiety and thought processes to be affected; it's insidious enough that the person affected doesn't know because the amount of anxiety seems "natural" and one can think they are fine-as I did, but when I stepped back, I knew I needed help, and got it -I thought I was doing well until I WASN'T doing well. :down:

I hope you get the help that you need and seek legal counsel that will help you get the best options and solutions possible; moving forward get that !

Best wishes.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Maternity.

I'm sorry your in this situation. The Texas BON is difficult to deal without legal representation. You need to get an attorney ASAP. Don't try and handle this yourself. The Bon does not care about you, they are protecting the public. You might want to post in the recovery forum, just to get advise on handling Bon and TPAPN issues.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think you've received some really great advice here. As far as TPAPN goes there are some great nurses here who will have experience to share with you. I'm glad you are fighting this. Addiction or not, you need support, and you've found a safe place to vent and seek guidance. Best wishes, keep your head up.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

On top of what I've already said, i also just started with a hospital here on the stroke unit. I am

1. Worried about getting fired

2. Worried about being a burden on other nurses who have to pass my pain meds and...

3. Worried about dealing with the humiliation of people knowing I'm in TPAPN.

Any advice?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Bumping

Up Vote Up Vote ×

So after talking to my lawyer, i have options. I will be having another evaluation done by their shrink and then we will fight this. He agrees that this is unfounded. The rape was nothing to do with what happened for me to get fired and without a diagnosis of substance abuse disorder the board can not order me into TPAPN. (Thats to say he hasn't diagnosed me with such as I don't know because he hasn't mailed me that info yet.).

Let me be clear. I don't have a substance abuse disorder. Dr said he was recommending me to TPAPN because he feels I had a problem with ambien.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If the doctor feels that you have a problem with ambien it is likely the investigators feel that the mistakes in documentation may have been diversion. No matter what this will be okay, even if you end up under a contract you will get through it. Keep us posted.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment