Any tips with Ar probation/monitoring?

[Bkmw1989]

Hi all!!  So my story-  I self reported in Oct 2021 for diversion.  I was terminated from my job and they also reported me to the board.  I haven't worked as a nurse since then.  I took my time, went to treatment and into recovery.  Now, a year later, I have done my psych eval and signed my consent agreement and am officially on probation and monitoring.  I am currently looking for a job.  I'm nervous about the next four years as well as finding employment in my location.  If anyone has any experience or tips they can give I would be soooooo grateful!!  I haven't ever felt so alone in my profession as I do now! I currently reside in Ar. 

[DistressedRN]

Dialysis, blood banks, plasma centers, ‘shot nurse’ jobs, pre-admission testing, non-bedside positions like chart review all are decent jobs for nurses with narcotic restrictions/board orders.  You may have to humble yourself a little and take a job that you might not have considered before, but it will be okay, and this too, shall pass.
 

 Even though you have some clean time under your belt, my advice is don’t go back to a position where you will have access to narcotics at all.  It’s one thing to feel confident right now, but quite another when you’re in the middle of a three day stretch of horrible shifts and the temptation is right in front of you. 

I posted this on another thread, but when you’re job hunting, frame your monitoring as a positive asset.  You’ve shown that you can persevere and overcome terrible circumstances, you’re actively in a program where you HAVE to toe the line…as an employee you won’t risk being tardy or call in a lot, you’ll want to avoid getting caught up in workplace drama, and you’ll be super diligent about your charting and responsibilities because your license is on the line. 

[ArNurse33]

Have you found a job yet?

[Bkmw1989]

ArNurse33, 

Not yet.  It's been a long 6 months looking and my savings is running low.  But I'm still hopeful!

[Helen jaure]

Hi I know your post is old, but may I ask what did you bring with you to show that you had rehabilitated yourself without going through a diversion program? Like personally I was on medication for a few months. That helped get me off the abused medications. Now I'm only doing therapy. But I can't really figure out what I should or can bring to the board when I do go to them or the attorney general. Thanks I appreciate it in advance if you see this ? 

[Bkmw1989]

From my experience, and from what I have learned from others on this forum, once the board knows you have problem there is no getting out of anything.  It doesnt matter how long you have been clean or what you bring with you, they will insist on some type of monitoring to keep your license. 

If you have the option I would recommend going through the diversion program.  It is alot of responsibility and it is expensive.  But they keep it confidential, which will help you immensely in the future.  If you choose to not go the diversion route then the board will still make you enter a monitoring program.   From my knowledge the Enforcement Monitoring is exactly the same as the Diversion Monitoring Program with one exception.  And that is that everything will be public on Nursys for the rest of your life.