Bad messed up

Gr4ceffa, CNA · Sep 1, 2017

pcbeachbum,

I would think even with a lawyer, you won't get too far. You were caught stealing drugs which aren't yours, which is huge.

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Sep 2, 2017

Give up your license and move on.

noctanol · Sep 2, 2017

Ok, first of don't listen to anyone that says give up your license. I don't want to use any insults. Second, if this is your 1st offense then the likely hood of you going to jail or even getting the felony charge is slim to non. Again, not a lawyer buy 1st time offenses will land you on probation or some adjucation where you have to pay the state some money, do drug test and so on. The same will happen with your license, you have to pay your state board money, get a board order and do a 3 to 5 year deal with drug testing, counseling or whatever the require. At the end of it all, you will spend money.

***I'm speaking from a Texas view point, I've yet to see a revocation of license if the nurse complies with the board rules.

Lisacar130 · Sep 2, 2017

Excuse me who are these people telling you to give up your license and/or trying to make you feel worse? They don't belong on this forum as they obviously are not in recovery and are not being helpful to you at all.

I'm from Illinois, and I know a nurse in my recovery group who was charged with 4 felonies for taking IV dilaudid and was found in her car passed out after work. Although she did hire 2 lawyers, one for the criminal charges and one for the BON, she did get the charges reduced/expunged and later when she went before the board, she got into our program where she won't have any public reprimand on her license (because she self reported) as long as she goes through a couple years of random drug tests. The felony charge will still show up on her criminal record for 5 years but then will go away, as I understand it. She's not going to be working as a nurse until after the 5 years are up. This is Illinois though I don't know how it is in FL. The most important thing is to get these charges reduced to misdemeanors or expunged, as a felony can hurt your chances of getting any job. You dont want a felony on your record. Self reporting is a must as the board will find out anyway and they often go easier on you if you self report. Report yourself ASAP as it's best to do it before the hospital does. Also, you'll want the board to see that the charges were reduced to misdemeanors so it's best to have the criminal part done before the board hearing. At least that is how it is here.

I still recommend hiring a lawyers or lawyers but even if you can't, you could still try to call around to find out what they charge and some give you a little free advice on the phone.

SororAKS, ADN, RN · Sep 2, 2017

I would get a lawyer, even a public defender, for your criminal case. See if you can retain a different lawyer with experience dealing with the Board. If you self report to the program in your state, the possibilities of keeping your license are there. I did a similar thing a number of years ago. I did manage to make it through my monitoring program successfully, and last year got my license unsuspended. You can do this.

pcbeachbum · Sep 2, 2017

Thank you all so much for your kind words and encouragement. I have never been in trouble. I was a hospice nurse for 10 years. I started out taking Xanax to help with the emotional hardship. I then decided to go back into Med/Surg and take a break. The horrendous anxiety and panic attacks continued. I had a massive panick attack at work and that's why I took the medicine from the Med cart. I have an active prescription for the medication bit was still charged with Possession without a prescription. I don't have the funds for an attorney. I guess I will see about a Public Defender. Also any ideas anyone on what type of job I can do while waiting? Can I continue to work as an RN or would that not be advisable? Thank you all again so very much. Any information is appreciated.

emergencynurse2011 · Sep 2, 2017

Do NOT report to the board! Call IPN, which is the Florida peer assistance program. If you can show steps that you are getting help and doing what you are supposed to, it will look much better for you when it is time to go to court. The board will refer you to IPN anyway, but bypassing the board is always better for you. The BON is not your friend!

catsmeow1972, BSN, RN · Sep 3, 2017

Give up your license and move on.

How nice of you to be so supportive to someone who's already beating herself up over a mistake. As my mother used to tell me " if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all"

Mavrick, BSN, RN · Sep 3, 2017

How nice of you to be so supportive to someone who's already beating herself up over a mistake. As my mother used to tell me " if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all"

Is being "catty" and sarcastic OK by mom's way of thinking huh?

Mavrick, BSN, RN · Sep 3, 2017

I am an RN in Florida. I was caught taking five 0.5 mg Xanax from work (on camera). I have a prescription for them but took them from the Pyxis system. I was terminated, arrested and charged with 2 felonies (grand Larceny and Possession of a controlled substance without a prescription). I just bailed out and got home. I am exhausted, devastated and lost. I don't know what came over me to do such a stupid thing. I have never been in trouble before. The Administration at the hospital told me to self report to the BON. I do not have money to hire a lawyer and will have to use a public defender. I am wondering about others that have been through this or similar. Im hoping to plea the charges to misdemeanors. I HAVE to work and make a living. I am single with 2 daughters. Any information or ideas would be so helpful. Thank you all so much. Please don't judge. It was my drug of choice to self soothe

The BON will not care so much about you, your level of exhaustion, your need to make a living, find cheap legal advice or provide for your daughters. Your nursing license is a privilege bestowed upon you by people that have a huge responsibility to protect a vulnerable population. The BON is concerned about your ability to take proper precautions with regard to the safety of their public. That you would risk so much for so little is certainly a concern the BON will focus on.

Neither the BON nor this forum is a free counseling service. If you put your sad story on the internet, be prepared for any and all kinds of comments not just helpful platitudes or virtual hankies.

From personal experience I will tell you any discipline you receive from a BON will remain a PERMANENT red flag on your license for anyone to find using NURSYS. There will also be PDF's of the findings that will describe what you did and agreed to do to retain your license.

You are going to have to take responsibility and admit some hard truths to convince a Board that you should retain that license. Many people on this forum will tell you all about the hoops and hurdles you must navigate to stay in compliance with any number of "ridiculous demands" by the BON to keep that precious license.

OR you can give up your license, admit nothing, learn nothing and find some other way to make a living.

You still do have choices. Make getting a BON savvy lawyer one of them.

catsmeow1972, BSN, RN · Sep 3, 2017

Is being "catty" and sarcastic OK by mom's way of thinking huh?

Maybe that came out wrong. I just think telling someone to give up like that is a bit harsh. There are options. There are certainly some hard choices ahead and there most certainly will be consequences. I just think prudent counsel is that it's too soon to just walk away.