Calling it quits after 17 years....

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I've been an RN since 1997 and have decided it's time to pursue a new profession. Long story short...Self reported to BON in 2004 after 6 month addiction to narcs after assault, started NC Alternative Program and had to drop out after 9 months due to finances and divorce. In 2011 I got license back and found a job in 2 months. Here I am with 4 months to go in the Discipline program & the BON is taking my license because I failed to report one rx of Hycodan back in Feb. I was sick with the flu and basically out of it for several days and honestly forgot to send in the rx form. Six months later the BON calls and says "you didn't send a rx form and have violated the contract". I have missed 2 call ins to Firstlab in 4 years, never missed or failed a screen, all reports from employer on time & outstanding nurse on the reports per employer.I would have to restart this entire process for another 4 years and can't afford it as a single mom. I'm sooo done with the BON after all my hard work!!

Sorry for the long story....thinking about cosmetology. Any one else decided to call it quits and pursue another field?

And,yes, I am still clean almost 10 years since date of sobriety.

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Wow what a story.. Can't help but wonder why u were so close and didn't report your script??? Maybe it is your calling to do something else.

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I'm sorry about the situation but congratulations on your sobriety!

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Am calling it quits pretty soon but not for the same reasons as you. Am callin it quits because I personally considered nursing a job and not a career. In addition, the fear of losing the license is involved to a certain extent, seeing the BON newsletter with all the names, esp. the ones w/ CRNA attached or a masters degree. Nursing is very volatile, human is to err but in this profession err is completely out of question yet the factors at times have nothing to do w/ u.

As for u. If everything u saying is true, then nursing is going to miss an experienced nurse. However, u sound like u talking our of frustration. When u do calm down I think u'll stick in nursing. U know why? U've bn in it for 17 years. U breath nursing. So yeah, take a break and jump back on the horse.

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I was sick with the flu when given the script and honestly didn't even think about it once I got well. (when i say i was sick, i was really crazy sick w/ the flu). My best friend threw out the med after I took one dose and asked her to throw it out. I was sitting here thinking also...I have recently worked with the most back-stabbing, "eat your young", selfish nurses I have ever encountered in my 17 years. I am just done with this profession and jumping through the NCBON hoops and the tens of thousands I have spent only to make 1 little mistake and get my license taken.

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I'm going into nursing after doing hair for 8 years. I have to warn you, if you aren't 100% passionate about it, it's hard to make money. Your income is all commission and it takes a few years to start making a decent living. BUT if you're good at it and passionate about it, you can make good money and make your own schedule. There's a lot of freedom in the profession but I just never really liked it. And if you think your fellow nurses are back stabbing and petty drama queens, hairstylists competing for clients (money) are no better! Lol Good luck! Congratulations on sobriety!

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I am sorry but I am so totally confused with your statement.

You were prescribed a narcotic for the flu, your in a recovery program for narcotics and you got the narcotic prescription filled, but forgot to report it.

Questions:

If you have "Never" failed a UDS, then how did your program find out.

Why would you accept a prescription for a narcotic, knowing you have a past history of addiction?

Now that you accepted the narcotic, did it ever cross you mind before you swallowed it that you seriously need to call you caseworker?

Sorry if I come across sounding judgemental. I am honestly just at a loss when I see and hear nurse's saying just what you said.

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, Med/Surg.

I have two thoughts for the OP. First, I do think SouthernPoint's questions are quite reasonable and they crossed my mind as well.

Second, it seems strange to me that you would have to start over rather than just having your current contract extended. I wonder if there is more to the story than you are saying.

In my case, it was very easy to comply with my contract once I got into the routine and as long as I had a job to pay for it. The only thing that was hard at times was that I was required to go to 3 AA/NA meetings per week, which was time consuming. My probation ended up going on for 6 years because I was unable to find a nursing job for years.

That being said, many have left nursing under similar circumstances to yours. Only you can know what is right for you.

Catmom :paw:

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I called it quits after 17 years myself, but for mental health reasons. I'm looking to reinvent myself at the age of 55 and still have NO idea what I'm going wind up doing. But it's not going to be something that swallows me whole and becomes my identity, like nursing did....no, all I want now is a job, not a career.

If you do leave nursing, just make sure you're doing it for the right reasons so you don't regret it later. I miss it, but I don't miss the BS that went along with it, nor do I miss being overworked or treated like a 7-year-old (I mean, write-ups?? Clocking in and out for lunch? Being 'disciplined' for petty infractions of a facility's 1001 rules? Really??!). I would have probably lost my license eventually because my illness is severe enough that I was making (or almost made) some significant errors toward the end of my career, and I couldn't have hidden it much longer. Far better to quit before I harmed anyone.Anyway, whatever you do, I wish you the best of luck. And good on you for staying clean and sober....keep up the good fight!:yes:

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.

I have also hung up my stethescope for good due to health issues. I've been a nurse since 91 and have always loved it. I entered our state's RNP in 1999 and completed it - I had started having health issues and was found to have an ASD. By the time I was able to get a repair scheduled I had a MI then after that a CVA.

Doesn't look like I will ever get very good control of my BP - that's been a tough fight! I've been dealing with fibromyalgia now - I do miss a lot of the things I used to take for granted before!

I filed for disability this past spring and have a hearing on Tuesday. My dh is also an RN and we sure do miss that second salary. Between hospital bills and pharmacy runs it would maybe life a little easier.

Anne, RNC

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I'm so sorry Anne for all that you are going through. Please take care.

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, Med/Surg.

Hi Anne-

I am very sorry for all the health challenges you have had. You have been a warm and wise contributor to this recovery forum for a long time. I hope your health permits you to continue posting here at least.

Good luck on getting approved for disability. I am sure that will help ease your financial stress a bit.

****BIG HUGS**** to you, Anne. Please keep us posted on how you are doing. :hug:

Catmom :paw:

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