Diversion

Published

I am sorry to say I was recently brought in for medication diversion. I am being offered a substance abuse program through work and have an attorney. I can't sleep the past week because I'm terrified of going to prison. Is it likely that the employer/investigator will see I'm in the program and have an oustanding positive record and do a Pretrial diversion/allow me to continue help through the program, or do medical professionals go to prison for this?

You hired an attorney, that's the first step. I was in your situation, scared to death. I took a deferred sentence with counseling. I 100%% recommend pretrial diversion program, it is best overall all especially if you can get the charges dismissed after. I've made it through so far, I'm not going to lie it is a long process but you can get through this. The reason I recommend pretrial is to make sure you do not get on the OIG exclusion list. At the time of my decision, I was over being a nurse and swore I would never be one again then I come this far, maintaining my license while under the nursing board and now I have a mandatory exclusion that will hinder me working as a nurse for 5 years or more. Make sure your attorney knows the ins and outs of your states board of nursing and the other consequences that come with a criminal felony charge as a nurse. Mine didn't 

Ewnursing said:

You hired an attorney, that's the first step. I was in your situation, scared to death. I took a deferred sentence with counseling. I 100%% recommend pretrial diversion program, it is best overall all especially if you can get the charges dismissed after. I've made it through so far, I'm not going to lie it is a long process but you can get through this. The reason I recommend pretrial is to make sure you do not get on the OIG exclusion list. At the time of my decision, I was over being a nurse and swore I would never be one again then I come this far, maintaining my license while under the nursing board and now I have a mandatory exclusion that will hinder me working as a nurse for 5 years or more. Make sure your attorney knows the ins and outs of your states board of nursing and the other consequences that come with a criminal felony charge as a nurse. Mine didn't 

hi 

did you get your charges after talking to the investigators or before? im so scared im going to jail too. I did self report myself the my states peer assistance program.  

Any update on this? 

RNEV said:

Any update on this? 

so during my investigation interview (which was back in October) my lawyer told me to enter my state health care assistance program to get evaluated by them for SUD, I did. I went through that for one month, I went through drug testing and evaluations and I was not deemed eligible for their program. they didn't give me a diagnosis so they closed my case, this was in December (when they closed my case).

now Im waiting for the board to decide what sanctions they will take against my license. I don't think mine will be prosecuted for criminal, it was only two vials missing. nonetheless, I was freaking out and Im still a bit scared of what's going to happen. At least right now I won't get the states peer assistance program. that is all I know. 

You have an attorney and you are doing all the right things so hopefully all goes well. I diverted from a federal facility, was convicted of a felony, went to prison, ended up in the oig exclusion list and Medicaid sanctioned provider list, licensure loss. It was rough for a while but after I was able to return to the profession after a few years, now my felony is expunged, all my prescriptive authority has been reinstated, removed from all sanction lists, dea license reinstated and I know work as a addiction medicine NP, dual certified in family and psych. Life has a funny way of working things out if you continue to do the right thing. Good luck, you will be fine. 

I've heard of people coming back from this and even being able to practice again. I'm sure you're scared, I would be. All you can do is be cooperative and transparent. I wish you luck 

+ Join the Discussion