drug diversion vs practicing without a license?

[meloo1969]

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[TD=class: post2, width: 100%, bgcolor: #F4EBE7]I have been a nurse for 20 years and due to much stress at home and more stress working in the Emergency dept, I started taking tramadol for the last year from work. the pharmacy reported me . I did a UA which I am waiting to hear back on. I hadn't taken tramadol for three days so not sure if it will even show on my UA, but they have pharmacy records showing that I signed out tramadol on many occasions without an order. I told them I had given them all to patients and just forgot to get the order, but there's a pattern of this, about 2 to 4 a week for about six months or more. is there any chance I will be able to talk them into NOT reporting me to the board of nursing? I don't even mind getting fired or not being a nurse any longer, but I just don't want to go out with an ugly reputation, after 20 years of being a great nurse. I live in a small community and know many people here. Everybody will be shocked if this comes out. I am so scared!

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[meloo1969]

no not working and the special investigator was from the local police dept

[feb127]

How's everything?

[meloo1969]

still waiting to hear back from the investigator.....hopefully the longer it takes , the better the news? I'm having crazy thoughts that every time the dogs bark it may be the police coming to arrest me! the board is doing an investigation with the hospital now so just waiting for that. thx for asking !

[feb127]

It's been a few days since we've heard from you, how's everything going?

[meloo1969]

I haven't heard a word from the investigator so I'm thinking maybe they just dropped it? I'm still waiting on the BON for their disciplinary action. how are things going for you?

[SororAKS, ADN, RN]

Anything is possible, but I doubt it. These things take time, police offices and government departments just don't move fast.

[k10-rn]

Hopefully I'm not being redundant, I didn't read all comments. I live in Ohio, I'm not sure what state you're in so things could be different. I was turned in to police by the BON it took a month for the detective to call me, I had to turn myself in couple weeks later, however I was immediately released on an OR bond after I gave my statement. I was charged with two felonies about 5 weeks later.

Being honest & cooperative is the ONLY way to make it through this horrible ordeal. Don't lie... Not saying you did or want to. But I lied until I got in front of the investigator for the BON and quickly realized that pride is expensive. I finally admitted I had a problem, if I hadn't... My license would have been revoked and I would've gone to prison for 3 years!

Luckily my county has a drug court program and once you complete it, your record gets expunged. The BON will want you in treatment, so going to drug court killed two birds with one stone. It all SUCKS. Not knowing what to expect SUCKS.

It would be most beneficial to find a fellow nurse in your state that has been through this or is at least ahead of you in the process, luckily I had one and it was my saving grace. Now I reach out to nurses in my area.

Swallow your pride, you'll be amazed by how many people DON'T THINK YOU'RE A MONSTER FOR MAKING A MISTAKE. I hid for over a year because I didn't want to face any of my old coworkers. I beat myself up so badly over my mistakes. I wasted so much time doing that.

Embrace a second chance and prepare to be humbled!!! If you want to get back, you will and I just know it's worth the struggle. I lost my license Dec 2012 and I am due to get reinstated in March. Everything that could go wrong has... I'm getting my license back a year late... But I am still grateful!

You Got This!!!!

[SororAKS, ADN, RN]

How are things going? Have you heard from any of the involved agencies, and what happened if you care to reply?