Accused of narcotic/ alcohol abuse... No clue what this is about!

ILCCRN · Jul 29, 2015

Haven't seen all the post but did u check the BON website for ur name to see if another person has the same name as you?! Or if a complaint was filed against you? Good luck!

Graduatenurse14 · Jul 29, 2015

We can't give legal advice but can review the laws of the US which must be adhered to regardless of Criminal, Civil or Administrative court.

It's these kinds situations in Administrative courts like the BON and more recently under public scrutiny, the Administrative Disciplinary Review Boards at US Colleges and Universities where miscarriages of justice and violation of constitutional rights of students have been cited due to the lack of following the the US Constitution especially the 5th, 6th, 7th Amendments in those settings. Those rights do not go away even thought the setting is not in a big courthouse with all of the things we see on TV shows and televised real trials.

Not knowing if it's a scam letter or not, but look at what it's saying about what you can't be made aware of which is direct violation of the 6th Amendment, in my understanding of it from my classes for my first degree in Education and wanted to teach High School History so took a lot of History classes and Political Science electives.

It does not specify exactly the nature of the complaint

The the letter states if I decline the program they will start the investigation and until then they can't provide me with any information about the complaint.

"We will not be able to discuss the report we have received.

I like the getting a hair drug test and getting an attorney who has dealt successfully with your states BON and then contact them.

Good Luck and please keep us posted!!!

No Stars In My Eyes · Jul 29, 2015

I don't know that it is a scam....I do know that when you have a complaint lodged against you, you are the one at a distinct disadvantage because they will NOT discuss specifics.....which is pretty stinky, but there you go. That's the BoN for you. They aren't looking out for you, believe me. Seems like "guilty until proven innocent" is the stance they take.

I went for the investigation. Do you know that NEITHER the BoN NOR my employer did any kind of drug test, which I thought exceptionally weird. I mean, if you're going to accuse me of something, why leave that big gaping hole in the chain of evidence?

Why go into a substance abuse program if you don't 'do' any substances? Besides which, I gather from other posters here, but on different threads, that those programs tie up your license for , what, 5 years or so, and THEN it is on your record permanently regardless of the outcome. I don't know how long restrictions apply after all of it is said and done with.

WhatNext? · Jul 29, 2015

I went through a process with my state BON. It was unpleasant and painful, even though I came through it with my license intact.

The letter from the BON comes through registered mail. It took them nearly a year to follow up on the complaint that was made.

Before I contacted them, I hired a lawyer to guide me through the process. He provided guidance about what was enough information to disclose and what was too much. The referral came from my state nurse association. They know professionals who deal with licensure issues.

While I do not have chemical use issues, I do deal with depression and anxiety. At the end of the review, the BON suggested that I might benefit from participating in the Professional Assistance Program but it was not a condition of continued licensure.

Get a lawyer. That is my first and best suggestion based on my experience. And good luck getting through this experience.

mercurysmom · Jul 29, 2015

I've experienced a weird, yet similar situation...someone was using her own name, but my address as her own! I found out about it by registered mail from the state board...of Cosmetology! (One look at my hair would be enough to know that I'm definitely not a cosmetologist!) :blink: She had received her license, which evidently had been mailed to my home address. She must have been staking out our mailbox. I don't know how long it had gone on, since the first time I ever saw her name was on a registered letter from the licensing board. I filed a complaint and had all of our mail transferred to a P.O. box for several years, and made sure that all packages received a signature on delivery which was a major PITA. Fortunately, my husband and I didn't lose any money, or get any "funny" credit card statements or letters regarding our professional licenses, but we paid for identity theft protection just in case. We had our credit reports flagged, as well as the SS#'s of our kids (including our youngest child, who passed away 10 years ago.)

I know you have enough to worry about simply with this bizarre letter that could potentially threaten your livelihood, but while you're getting everything straightened out you might want to take the opportunity to double check your credit report, home/auto/life/health insurance, and your electronic footprint as well. People do awful things. One person's crazy action (using our address as her own) cost us an awful lot of money in damage control. It could have been MUCH worse, though.

Best,

mm

No Stars In My Eyes · Jul 29, 2015

Yeah, that is one thing about the BoN...they take their own sweet time and let you marinate in fear endlessly. They like their nurses to be tender, not crispy.

And I do remember, once I asked for the investigation, they wanted me to sign a paper agreeing that I would NOT hire/use a lawyer! Honestly!

Adele_Michal7, ASN, RN · Aug 20, 2015

Update?

macfar28 · Aug 20, 2015

Assuming it's not a good update but hoping for the best.