Anyone relocate to another State while on a disciplinary contract?

gonzoRN, MSN, RN · Sep 3, 2016

I moved twice while on contract. Once to get away from a toxic marriage, and the other time to get home to care for a parent undergoing treatment for cancer. Both times, I had to physically go before the Board and petition for my license, and the right to enter their monitoring program. The first state accepted my "time served" from the state of the initial discipline. FL did not. I was required to do the full 5 years on top of the three years I had already completed. So, yes, I was monitored for a total of EIGHT years.

Documentation was key. I had to produce the actual contracts from both states, documentation from the inpatient rehab I attended, statements from the prior states programs detailing my progress through their program, letters of recommendation.

Tips: start gathering your documentation from the beginning of your time in monitoring, have at least 6 months of savings (I was single, and it took 6 months to get the FL license), be mentally prepared for the shame of begging for a license from a room full of complete strangers, and think long and hard about whether or not a move will be worth all of the above.

Would I do it again? Doubtful. Most stressful 8 years of my life, hands down. I felt like I had won the lottery when I finally completed IPN.

dekyrn · Sep 8, 2016

I did and I would not recommend it if you can avoid it, or at the very least I would speak with the BON in the state you are moving too.

I had 2 years left on a 5 year contract with no stipulations other than random UAs (had worked off counceling and other evals as well as meetings) when I transferred my license. The state was uncooperative and inflexible. Instead a gained a new 4 year contract (where time is only taken off if I am employed as a nurse) random UAs, 2 meetings a week, controlled substance (not just narcotics) restrictions, work hour restrictions, as well as several other restrictions. I have been on this contract almost a year now and still have been unable to find someone willing/able to work with these restrictions.

deltakappamu · Sep 9, 2016

I did not move while on contract, however I did move after I graduated from nursing school and while I had an application in with my home state of Missouri to take boards. I moved to Florida and I had to go in front of the board of course, then I was put into IPN which is their monitoring program in FL. I was in the program for 6 months before I was able to even take my boards. I passed them and now I am licensed here in FL. I do not have any discipline on my license, I am just in IPN. It is interesting and there are a few restrictions, however I have been compliant long enough that I am cleared to work and I do not have a narcotics restriction on my license, which hopefully makes things a bit easier. However, we are not allowed to "float," or work overtime. We are also not allowed to do home health or work in a treatment facility. It isn't so bad, except the part where you have to tell your prospective employer that you are in IPN BEFORE you accept the job offer.

I know its not entirely the same situation, however I just wanted to share. Don't give up :)

Good luck to you :)