Board Ordered Mental Health/Substance Abuse Evaluation in KY

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I am a recent graduate of a RN nursing program in KY and am applying for an initial license. I have a couple old misdemeanors all over 5 years old. They are DUI (8 years ago and misdemeanor possession of marijuana from 22 years ago).

I applied for my license and notified KBN of each misdemeanor. They didn't grant me an authorization to test. Instead, they asked for a letter of explanation detailing the circumstances of each misdemeanor. KBN's website states that no letter is necessary for misdemeanor convictions that are over 5 years old. Since I have more than one, they decided they needed a letter of explanation from me. I sent it. I explained that these were mistakes of my youth and I'm a different person now who hasn't been in any type of trouble for over 8 years and told them what I had learned from my mistakes. I was honest with them. They said they still would not grant me an authorization to test based on the letter I wrote and now they have ordered me to undergo a mental health/substance abuse evaluations which costs hundreds of dollars and I have to pay for it out-of-pocket of course. Plus, I have only one month.

Has anyone been through anything like this? Can you give me any advice other than be honest, each case is evaluated individually, do whatever they ask, jump through any hoop they ask, keep a positive attitude and all that ********. I feel like if I had consulted an attorney they would have told me exactly what that letter needed to say and I would have been granted an authorization to test based on the letter alone. Not that I can come anywhere close to being able to afford an attorney. So, what's up.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

The board is charged to protect the public not nurses. I'm not certain that an attorney would have prevented needing a formal assessment after two legal issues involving alcohol and an illegal substance, even from quite some time ago. (I assume both matters were resolved with the courts?). However you might want to consider an attorney post assessment to ensure whatever stipulations the board may decide are reasonable and appropriate.

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Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.

Try to get an assessment at a place that is not affiliated with an IOP/partial/inpatient program. You might luck out and actually get an impartial assessment.

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Specializes in Long Term Acute Care, TCU.

The problem is not the fact that you had two misdemeanors, it was the fact that there was such a large time gap between the two. The board figures that if you did not learn from the first mistake that you probably did not learn from the second.

My advice is to do exactly what they tell you to do and do not make a lot of excuses.

Your biggest hurdle will be if you are on prescription narcotics at this time.

The following statement is the best legal advice you will ever receive:

Consult with an attorney with a proven record and a good relationship with the board

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Thread moved to elicit responses from those with similar issues.

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Hey there

if you can give us some updates in ur case that will be great. I am in the same situation

thankd

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