Just had a Consent Agreement go into effect, I feel like I'm hanging in limbo

Nurses Recovery

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So to make a long story somewhat short, I was working at a hospital, full time, night shift ( I have been a nurse for 5 years) and also going through a lot of issues at home, husband with MS, taking care of 3 of my sisters kids for over 6 months, driving my husband to get Solumedrol treatments and then coming home, putting on my scrubs and going to work. I was also in the process of seeing a psychiatrist for the first time in my life because I guess I finally felt like I couldn't "hold it all in" anymore (long history of sexual and physical abuse) on top of everything that was going on at the time.

I thought I was doing the right thing, my job at the time didn't make it very flexible for me to switch shifts or call off (no-one wanted to switch with me I worked nights) SO I kept going to work, doing my job, until one night my supervisor pulls me off the floor (with a security guard) searches all of my stuff, drug and alcohol test me, sends me home...... Days later, everything came back normal, no drugs or alcohol in my system. The complaint stemmed from a "anonymous coworker" reporting that I was "acting strangely", "appearing tired in report". Well I was to go back to my job and the day before I was to go back they callled me in and basically forced me to resign or be terminated. They gave me a wonderful reference letter by the way.

I move onto another job, have been working their for almost a year, then a few months ago I receive correspondence from the board that my case in being investigated. I comply with them (knowing I didn't really do anything wrong), well then I end up being sent a consent agreement, putting my license on monitored probabation, with restrictions (such as not being a nursing supervisor, manager , etc) I do not have any drug or patient care restrictions. I have also hired an attorney to get the restrictions lifted (or try to).

Problem is, my current job, which I have been at for almost a year has had me on paid leave for 4 days while they "figure out what they are going to do with me". I have been their for almost a year, full time, great evaluations... And here I am sitting at home wondering If I am going to get a phone call and get fired!

I got kinda down on the world, like , can we not be RN's , nurses, whatever and be human beings also. YES, I was seeing a psychiatrist, I was tired, my body was adjusting to the medications he prescribed me but at no point did I make a med error, harm a patient or call off of work.

I find a lot of posts about drug and alcohol rehab but I cannot find anyone to talk to about this, or anyone who has been in a similiar situation. ANY bit of advice would be greatly appreciated!

Love ya!~

Specializes in LTC, MDS, Education.

Something similar to what happened to Anne happened to me a few years ago. How one person who worked with me less than a month accused me of stealing drugs. The count was correct and my urine was clean, but it still got reported to the BON and the investigator for some reason decided that there was "something wrong with me". I had to jump through hoops for nearly 6 years but kept my license. Had I been younger and in a better financial state I probably would have just given up.But I used my NSO malpractice to get a lawyer. When the $10,000 was used up, I represented myself. At a formal hearing, I took them apart with cross examination. The Board closed and dropped the case. My hair is now gray and I still take Zoloft, but I made it through this, and you can too. Sending a hug to you, Goto girl! :nurse:

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im sorry to hear about your situation. its too bad when we (nurses) provide everything from physical care to emotional comfort, and when we need some in return, and take steps to feel better, it is seen as a weakness.

in reality, 90 percent of people could not ever deal with the things we see on a daily basis on top of dealing with the harshness of just being an adult.

its too bad that is seen in a negative light by powers that be.

nursing is an awfully hard job in all ways.

your situation certainly sounds like a legal matter and im glad youve got counsel for that.

its the horrible dirty side of nursing that non healthcare people dont really understand.

this kind of stuff makes me mad

thoughts are with you.

it sounds like you are a "stand-up" individual and thats a good thing.

i hope the situation turns out in your favor

:flwrhrts:

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WE ARE NOT ROBOTS!

:selfbonk:

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Specializes in OB, HH, ADMIN, IC, ED, QI.
Something similar to what happened to Anne happened to me a few years ago. How one person who worked with me less than a month accused me of stealing drugs. The count was correct and my urine was clean, but it still got reported to the BON and the investigator for some reason decided that there was "something wrong with me". I had to jump through hoops for nearly 6 years but kept my license. Had I been younger and in a better financial state I probably would have just given up.But I used my NSO malpractice to get a lawyer. When the $10,000 was used up, I represented myself. At a formal hearing, I took them apart with cross examination. The Board closed and dropped the case. My hair is now gray and I still take Zoloft, but I made it through this, and you can too. Sending a hug to you, Goto girl! :nurse:

This post demonstrates how courageous someone who is not a lawyer can be, and by persevering she "made it through this" CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! :yeah: Laws are written in English, and everyone has the right to go to any library and ask to see them. Many law schools hold sessions for their communities and consult on legal problems. It's important to let BONs know that we won't allow unfair decisions of theirs to go unchallenged. I would have sued all those responsible individually, for defamation of character.

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Night duty = fatigue, simply because all of society and indeed our own circadian clockwork isn't set up that way.

If you walk the hallways of any facility, you will see mostly zombie-like employees doing what they have to do, in a somnambulent state. If an emergency occurs, their adrenalin kicks in and they're instantly alert, only to be more fatigued afterward. I know there are nurses out there who say they do fine on nights, and staying up days. It's a medical and psychological fact that they can only do that so long........

Those who are best on nights, have families who take care of things for them, keep the home quiet durung the day. Those who live alone still have to do housework and provide their own food.

i find this mostly untrue.

ive worked night shift over ten years and most nurses and people i have worked with have saved their exhaustion until after they are done working.

some people are not day people.

although that may not be "normal"

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I feel for you Goto. I ended up quietly resigning from a job when I started having problems with depression and started taking meds (my husband died of a medical incident,leaving me with a 9 and 10 year old). No one knew I was leaving, I gave notice and asked administration not to tell anyone till I was gone as I was afraid of this same situation. When I resigned I told them I just needed to spend more time with the kids. Now I am glad I didn't tell the truth...pretty sad once you think of it. We are supposed to work in a field where compassion is the rule...except when it applies to nurses.

I think something nurses need to look at when faced with a situation like this is to take time off under the Family Leave Act. It may prevent something like this from happening.

I know I learned something from your post. Thank you for having the courage to share it with us.

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Specializes in ped/adult medsurg, specialty infusion.

No such thing as "compassion" in our field. I haven't heard from my current employer but have alredy sent for applications to go back to school for other fields. It sucks. I love nursing. I love the patients. I am a damn good nurse. But I am sick of the politics. I am sick that "a seasoned" nurse can go on leave to take care of a "substance abuse problem" (which I think they should be able to) but people find out I am starting to see a psychiatrist and now my entire nursing future is n jeopardy. No wonder there is a NURSING SHORTAGE!! Dammit can't we be human and be nurses too? I never once put any patient in jeopardy, I checked and double checked my MARS and called DR's in the middle of the night to clarify orders that were unclear! I am not perfect, but no one is! It ******* suks that someone can hear something personal about another employee and "anonymously" report it to the BON. I know the BON is there to protect the public. But in my case I have provided everything they have requested and have been cleared by more than one DR. to practice nursing with no restriction but still will have this on my record FOREVER!!! I am so angry at the situation. Basically what this whole ordeal has taught me is

1) Hold your problems in until you can't take them anymore (Dammit we can't be human annd nurses too!)

2) When you can't take them any longer, self medicate yourself and become completely unhealthy. God forbid you see a medical professional to take care of your problems, (I mean that shows that you are an unfit nurse)

3) I have lost ALL FAITH in what is right and wrong, hopefully one day I can get this back. I don't know. The more I think about this, the more Ill I feel, regarding this profession and society in general.

I am having an extremely ****** off day!!!!!!!!

Just recently a teacher in my area left their child in a car for like 5 hours, the kid died after suffering brain injury. YOU think this teacher was punished by the board of education! NOPE!!! Yes it is horrible that this person has to live with this on their conscious forever. BUT no action taken by the board of education.... My sister is teacher and I am not saying that teachers (or any other profession) is immune from this scrutiny, but come on,, I was reported for being "tired and acting strange" and now my license that I worked hard for is on probation with restriction when everything (urine/blood) turned out normal and no patient complaints or med errors! Screw it all, I will take a 2 year computer training program like some of my friends did, make twice the money, have half the stress and not have to worry about farting in the wrong direction because it may be reported to the BON.

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Another nurse bites the dust.

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Specializes in ped/adult medsurg, specialty infusion.

Yes not wanting to "bite the dust" but I have a husband with MS, a house to keep up and an incredible sense of pride in being the best that I can be. I am ashamed and embarassed and who the hell is going to hire me for supposedly being "Mentally impaired"(after being sexually and physically violated for 12 years)-- when 3 doctors reported I have PTSD and depression in substantial remission, have never missed an appt, have never had a patient complaint, have never had a med error.... But who the hell will hire me with this on my LICENSE! Put myself through college and graduated 3.5 gpa.... Student Loans here I come, guess I will go back to school. I will not work in a profession where I cannot be a human being also. I will not work in a profession that reiterates compassion and communication when fellow coworkers will stab you in the back as soon as you turn around. Perhaps I am naive, perhaps I haven't learned the great art of kissing ass to get ahead; I thought I could just be the best nurse I could be, keep the patients safe and comfortable and somehow make it in this field. I guess I was wrong. 4 years of college down the *******!

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Specializes in OB, HH, ADMIN, IC, ED, QI.
i find this mostly untrue.

ive worked night shift over ten years and most nurses and people i have worked with have saved their exhaustion until after they are done working.

some people are not day people.

although that may not be "normal"

You have a right to your opinion. I'll stick by mine, having about the same amount of experience you have, on nights+38 years on days......:nurse:

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Specializes in OB, HH, ADMIN, IC, ED, QI.

GotoRN:

I feel so sorry that you've been treated so badly; and I hope you won't give up appealing what happened.

PTSD is curable, and people who go through it are stronger and more ammenable to being helped, after help is sought.

You really hit a terrible situation, which isn't the norm but it's prevelent enough that we all must do what we can to prevent the concerted effort of management, etc. to do another nurse in.......... we should make a concerted effort to see that the kind of thing that was done to you, doesn't work, or many of us will find our faces in it.

Until cases have been proven without a doubt and all appeals are exhausted, the ding on your license should be removed! Then you can get another type of nursing position with nurses who care about each other. I've been in some of them.

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Specializes in ICU.
GotoRN:

I feel so sorry that you've been treated so badly; and I hope you won't give up appealing what happened.

PTSD is curable, and people who go through it are stronger and more ammenable to being helped, after help is sought.

You really hit a terrible situation, which isn't the norm but it's prevelent enough that we all must do what we can to prevent the concerted effort of management, etc. to do another nurse in.......... we should make a concerted effort to see that the kind of thing that was done to you, doesn't work, or many of us will find our faces in it.

Until cases have been proven without a doubt and all appeals are exhausted, the ding on your license should be removed! Then you can get another type of nursing position with nurses who care about each other. I've been in some of them.

I agree with this. Don't give up,,, if for some reason this restriction is left on your license,, there WILL be a manager that will hire you. They will understand what happened, and they will know that you are all the better nurse for getting through this.

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