Accusation filed on my License. Regarding a discharge

[Caligirlrn22]

I'm just following up on a matter with the BRN in Calif. I had a accusation placed on my license Aug 2016. I had a investigator interview March 2017. I heard from the Board Aug 2016 when they put a accusation on my license and subsequently I had my travel contract end due to that. I've been to court on Jan 2017. I had a meeting with a judge and a attorney for the BRN. About 2 weeks later they sent me a settlement letter. It stated a "public reprimand" and a $5,000 fine. The public reprimand stays on my license for 3 years. The three years don't start till I have paid the $5,000. Even though I am totally innocent I signed the letter. To hire a attorney and go to trial would put me into bankruptcy. So now I am doing registry with a registry I've worked for prior to this ordeal. I cannot get many assignments but I do get some a hour from my home and I am grateful. I am so behind in my bills and car payment and barely surviving only getting 2 days a week max. I've spoken to the BRN atty. She has heard nothing. So now I'm going to contact the BRN. I called many busy signals... No luck. Thinking of writing a certified letter. Just asking what's going on. My quick question has anyone ever been in this situation. It doesn't involve DUI or any drug stealing. Its regarding a discharge. no one was hurt. There are no lawsuits. I've heard with the board any case can take years. if that is so I need to go back to school and find a new career. I can accept that being a RN is over. I've been doing this 30 years. I just would like to know how long does it take to make a decision from them. There were two other nurses. One who wrote the order and never followed through and did what the order said. The second nurse a charge let the order go by all through night shift into the 2nd day of the day shift. She never knew of the order or passed the info on. The day shift nurse did not see the order either nor passed it on to me at 5 pm when I was floated to their unit and given this patient. 2 days several hands. I got the blame. The other 2 nurses had accusations which were later dropped. In actually their was never a order written by the Physician. He lied to save his own skin. It did upset me now I've just accepted life isn't fair

[caliotter3]

Why can't your attorney help you? On the surface sounds like the wrong person got the punishment. Your attorney should have turned this around.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

How can we help you?

[dishes, BSN, RN]

They didn't hire an attorney because they thought it 'would put them into bankruptcy', unfortunately it looks like not hiring an attorney is going to result in bankruptcy.

[Caligirlrn22]

I hired a attorney at the investigation level. We both walked away from that feeling confident that I was not aware of any order because there was no order or proof of a order. When they filed a accusation in august from a investigation in March I knew she didn't help me at all. She never even told me what to say and what not to say..... I called several attorneys that wanted 12,000 to 15,000 to take the case. I just didn't have that kind of money nor could I get that kind of money. I hadn't had a job since they let me go March 2015

[Marisette, BSN, RN]

I'm so sorry your going through this ! Did you say after 30 years ! Have you been in nursing 30 years and now feeling like you have to find another career or did I misunderstand? I don't know how long it will take the Nursing board to make a decision. However, 10 to 15 thousand is very expensive. Have you searched for free representation within state resources? Is there any way to pay in smaller increments to obtain legal representation, because it really sounds like you need some legal representation.

I do understand the need to not be too detailed in your post to protect your identity. In my nursing practice, I have come across situations where I believe things were not done and somehow fell on me. I try my best to carry things through, although, I have felt that it should have been done prior to getting to me. Your post, is an eye opener for me. Perhaps, it's best to question the source of the orders and others who failed to act on an order or situation instead of trying to be heroic. Sometimes, the best of intentions can go sour. I hope you find a quick resolution to this.