Nervous!! Counting down the days....

Nurses Recovery

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Hi everyone, I'm fairly new to these posts.... I've been around but never added anything. So here's my story...i live in Arkansas (which by reading many of your stories with the BON, I think this one sucks) anyway... in 2009 I got in a car accident....shattered and dislocated my talus (worst pain I've ever had btw. Though God would let you die before that pain) needless to say the Dr put me on pain meds..... couldn't walk for almost a year...(still worked as a nurse though...on crutches) So probably could have stopped taking pain meds before I actually did. I and I mean I alone, decided I needed to go to rehab to get off the pain meds. I turned myself in to the BON, as they always say turn yourself in we will go easier on you if you do. Anyway got probation for 3 years, drug testing, meetings, quarterly reports, psych eval. Etc. Did 2 years got put on bed rest while pregnant and could no longer do all that. Notified the board...and they said "you entered in to this agreement so if you don't do it you're noncompliant" so 2 years in I got a new consent agreement. This one said suspension for 1 year followed by probation for 3 more years for noncompliance. I called and talked to an attorney and they said just surrender. It takes the place of the suspension and I couldn't comply w suspension bc I couldn't go to mtgs, or drug test....or anything that cost all that money. So I called board they said make sure when u request ur license back it's about 6 weeks before your year bc it takes that long to reinstate. So April of 2014 I request my license.... nothing.... call multiple multiple times. They said "when we get your request you will get a letter in the mail" w ouldnt even check to tell me they received it. November 2014 sent second request (certified of course) anyway finally get license reinstated in July of 2015. 1 year and 3 months after request. (Their explanation was they have high turnover so they got behind) started my 3 years of probation all over again after another psych eval that was 850 dollars. Anyway. I have 5 months left. 5....and the closer it gets the more I worry some bs thing will happen....bc that's my luck. Also have ADHD and board says doesn't matter that I'm seen by a specialist can't take my medicine....bc its a controlled drug. Straterra didn't do any good. The board did tell me though that when my probation is over "you can take any medicine you want" BAHAHA isn't that what got me here in the first place!!!?!?!!? Anyway probably going to be posting some the next few months as it gets closer and I get more anxious.

yeah ours is 3 also

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It is scary... Good luck to you!

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Specializes in ER, ICU/CCU, Open Heart OR Recovery, Etc.

Good luck. Breathe. You got this!

That said, there are a few things. DO NOT get overconfident and take/drink something until you have the letter formally satisfactorily discharging you from monitoring in your hand or on your hard drive (backup that too). Not that you would but it happens.

If you run into a hiccup, such as a positive or a dilute test, know your program rules. If they try and railroad you get a lawyer and fight them that way.

Lastly, if you know you followed instructions to the best of your ability, DO NOT let those *******s win. You can do this. Almost done.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Women's Health, LTC.
In Texas we have TPAPN and it does not show up on your license. I self referred, but then later there was a third party referral (I assume my employer but they didn't tell me) so they sent me a letter saying they'd changed my status from self referral to third party referral. However, it made zero difference in my contract, I'm still clear as far as marks on my license, as long as I successfully complete the program.

We also get an end date, and do not have to request completion or anything. It just happens. My case manager so far (2 1/2 years) has answered all my emails and phone calls within a day. So overall I've been fairly lucky. Of course, I haven't finished so things could still go south.

Recovering, do you know if TX allows nurses with contracts in other states to be licensed? I am awaiting a decision on re-issuance of my AZ license. I currently do not have a license at all. However, I moved to TX about nine years ago and fell in love with it. I know I will have to go to AZ for a time, once they re-issue and start the contract there. I am just not sure how long it will be.

Once I finish (or if possible, transfer), I am curious about the rules in TX. Will I have to start over with another contract? Will they take my completed probation in AZ into account?

Just wondering if you have run into any other nurses in similar situation. I really want to come back to TX (specifically the city I live in) and work my remaining years here.

Thank you for any info you can provide!

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Recovering, do you know if TX allows nurses with contracts in other states to be licensed?

I'm sorry I don't know. I haven't spoken to anyone in that situation. However, I've read so many stories of nurses who've had to start all over on their contracts when they move to a new state, so I would encourage you to contact the Texas BON as soon as you can after getting your license back, and see if you can do most/all of your contract in Texas, rather than doing several years in Arizona only to have to repeat it all again in texas.

Good luck!

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Good luck. Breathe. You got this!

That said, there are a few things. DO NOT get overconfident and take/drink something until you have the letter formally satisfactorily discharging you from monitoring in your hand or on your hard drive (backup that too). Not that you would but it happens.

If you run into a hiccup, such as a positive or a dilute test, know your program rules. If they try and railroad you get a lawyer and fight them that way.

Lastly, if you know you followed instructions to the best of your ability, DO NOT let those *******s win. You can do this. Almost done.

Thanks!! My biggest problem is the fact that they don't tell us ANYTHING!! so I feel like I never know where I stand..... I won't take a drink or take anything until I get that letter..... I am so ready to get that letter. I think that if I've done anything wrong in the last 3 years surely they would let me know. I know one nurse HAD some diluted urines and they sent her a letter that said she had too many and if she had another she would be in trouble. Well she had another.....and they added 18 months to her time. Ugh idk if i have the strength to do ANY extra time. If i wasn't MADE to be a nurse I would have just given nursing up many times in the last 7 years. The only reason it's even worth it is bc I'm good at what I do and I couldn't imagine doing anything else w my life. Any way thanks for the words of advise and encouragement I appreciate it!!

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