anyone have a board complaint

You okay, buddy?

Personally and mentally I'm good. Professionally, I have a deep conviction that things will never be the same again. There is no way to fix what has been broken at my current job. I can't look for another job for many months while complaint is being resolved. I'm having big and exciting fantasies about moving into another field entirely. What would that be?? No idea, but surely there is something, right? I'm open to suggestions haha

kuippo you are right. I'm relying on my lawyer a lot and he says that it will be impossible for me to secure another job in nursing, or probably in any hospital, while this is going on. And that will take many more months, even up to or more than another year.

On 6/29/2020 at 8:43 PM, jobellestarr said:

I’ve been a nurse in AZ for over 20 years and I don’t know of anyone that has had a complaint filed against them. I’ve heard this before from nurses on social media but I’d have to understand the circumstances, complaint, etc. before I would say that it was the BON’s being overzealous.

You may very well have worked with nurses who have had this experience. Most would not want to talk about it.

I am not familiar with AZ BON, but I’ve had this experience in CA. I ended up taking a job out of desperation due to being out of work for approx 18 mos. I have been miserable ever since and soon will be moving on.

The charges were bogus. Any nurse who has worked in intensive care would understand the error I made. It truly was my worst nightmare, but an error none the less and NOT the trumped up charges/overkill the board put forth. I was defenseless for several reasons too complicated to explain here.

The BONs in some states seem to have overwhelming power over nurses and to defend yourself requires thousands of dollars. Mine cost me over $20,000 before it could even go to a hearing. In the end, the BON does NOT HAVE TO UPHOLD THE JUDGES OPINION, and do not in many cases.

I wasn’t willing to shell out another $40,000 minimum, for a gamble that I could end up in the same situation in the end. I’m not sure I had a good lawyer in hindsight.

Yes yes yes to the need for nurses to learn about the laws that govern us, and more importantly, how to defend yourself.

The person I will file against if there is any possible way when this is all over, is the person who filed this slanderous, false complaint. I'm not in AZ and I have no previous experience with the BON.

25 minutes ago, Bluebird777 said:

kuippo you are right. I'm relying on my lawyer a lot and he says that it will be impossible for me to secure another job in nursing, or probably in any hospital, while this is going on. And that will take many more months, even up to or more than another year.

I am so sorry you are going through this. Been there. Hang on and don’t make any decisions until you are fully informed and confident in them. Hopefully you have a good lawyer.

What a thought: having never been in this boat before nor known anyone else that has been, I hope I have a good lawyer. Thank you so much for your kind comments. It means a lot.

On 7/1/2020 at 3:03 PM, Bluebird777 said:

Yes, I am currently dealing with a BON complaint. It is without basis, and was filed by one of my coworkers anonymously. Every time I think things are all discussed, and the stress might die down, another thing comes up. Someone (or more than one) at my workplace hates me enough to want to destroy my career and my reputation, and I have no idea why. It is really difficult to continue to show up for my shifts and pretend like everything is fine. I can't discuss any of it with anyone at work, so I have no cohort support. It is awkward to know that all the higher ups see my name in this context. I can't describe very well how horrible this experience is.

I know what you are going through. I couldn’t find one single source of support when I went through it.

Does ANYONE know of support groups or anything like that for nurses who have been charged? In CA, the only thing like this I could find was related to “diversion” issues. Not my situation and so I was alone. Actually traumatic in many ways. Huge financial burden to my family, almost lost our home. My confidence as a nurse is still shaken to this day. The feeling of injustice eats away at me at times. The whole experience has been a topic in my therapy multiple times since.

I feel for you. Do all you can to take care of yourself now.

BeenThere2012, my gosh you are one of the few people who can truly understand what has been happening! All the management, lawyers, investigators, coworkers, etc can all talk to whomever they wish, but I am not supposed to talk to anyone! Management keep pushing me to call EAP, not a bad idea, but not specifically helpful either. Apparently there is not a support for nurses navigating this problem, but there is one for physicians. I'm so sorry that you went through this. I feel that the injustice and damage and grief cannot be repaired, and your experience tells me I'm probably right.

1 hour ago, Bluebird777 said:

Personally and mentally I'm good. Professionally, I have a deep conviction that things will never be the same again. There is no way to fix what has been broken at my current job. I can't look for another job for many months while complaint is being resolved. I'm having big and exciting fantasies about moving into another field entirely. What would that be?? No idea, but surely there is something, right? I'm open to suggestions haha

When I went through this, I tried to think of other careers as well. Having been a nurse for more than 30 years at that point, I couldn’t imagine what I would do otherwise. I was so desperate to find any work at all, I applied to Costco and couldn’t even get an interview! Hahaha!

In my case, I felt higher powers were telling me not to give up. I learned a new specialty. Fortunate and great full for the experience, but not happy.

Its journey for sure. I’ve been trying to figure out a way to help others going through this, or some way to foster change for us in these situations. Anyone have suggestions?

22 minutes ago, Bluebird777 said:

BeenThere2012, my gosh you are one of the few people who can truly understand what has been happening! All the management, lawyers, investigators, coworkers, etc can all talk to whomever they wish, but I am not supposed to talk to anyone! Management keep pushing me to call EAP, not a bad idea, but not specifically helpful either. Apparently there is not a support for nurses navigating this problem, but there is one for physicians. I'm so sorry that you went through this. I feel that the injustice and damage and grief cannot be repaired, and your experience tells me I'm probably right.

Yes, I am a “different” nurse than I was for sure. But don’t give up, Bluebird! And try not to worry that you’ll have the same as I. There is no way to explain all one goes through, but the learning and experience will broaden you as a nurse and as a person. It certainly taught me compassion for others going through this, and sure woke up my unrealistic expectations of the BRNs etc...My Hospital and another nurse had responsibility in this as well. Yet I took the fall as the hospital protected itself from its liability in the matter. They had already been “looked at” for other similar issues. And the other nurse...well, what can I say? They took her comments out of context and she was shrewd in how she handled her part.

Find out all you can now or as soon as possible in your case. I didn’t even know any of this until the discovery was given to me and at that point, it was too late. Or at least that is what my lawyer told me and he was unwilling to open that can of worms.

Get second opinions, expert opinions, and see if you can find an RN/Lawyer who understands the nurse’s perspective. I’m sorry I don’t have any specific referrals for you at this point. Please just hang in and fight!