Finished in OHIO!!

Nurses Recovery

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I am officially done with monitoring. Some of you have read my story before, I am sorry I have been a cynical and negative participant.

Six years ago I got into trouble, inactived my license (per lawyer advice), and sat and waited three years for the BON. I found work using my degree which turned out to be a real blessing while I waited. I finally received my consent agreement three years ago, took a year to find a job (Ohio is not an easy place to find work.) I added a year to my agreement as time not working as nurse doesn't count, although you better believe I paid for drug tests.

I worked off my two year agreement with a few hiccups. All I can say is that if you agree to this cover your butt, to the point off annoyance. Verify every fax, every test, all the paperwork. The BON doesn't want to hear excuses, they don't care, they are black and white and you better figure out the rules before you break one. This is their job. They will not make things clear for you or go out of the way to tell you anything. I had to sleuth out every single bit of information with the help of a lawyer and this forum. I took screen shots of every login for three years, called testing places before I went on vacation, hovered over lab staff, held off on having another child, and suffered through illnesses rather than get prescriptions for anything. 

I have learned more about patience, humility, and organization than I ever thought possible. 

For those wondering how completion works in Ohio, here is how mine went down. I asked to be put on the agenda for the September meeting a month early. They met four days after my consent agreement was set to finish. I was certain they would make me wait to ask for release until after the date had passed like they did with my narcotic restriction but no! I was placed on the agenda and told I could email my monitoring agent after they met that day. No way it would be that fast right?! WRONG! She emailed me back "You have been released from the terms of your probation.  You will receive an official notice in the mail."

OK.... so do I log in still? Do you need anything? I emailed her about three more times clarifying this. I was told I did not need to login to First source ever again. DONE. That day. It was like a miracle! I deleted everything and went and cried in the corner for a while. 

After the humiliation of the last five tests being observed (during a pandemic, expensive, and hard to find places willing to do them.) How could I be just done? My life is my own again. 

Ohio has an 'alternative to discipline program' which a nurse can go through this and have a clean license at the end. Ohio has had less than 40 people allowed into it every year for the past three years. They wonder why?  People are terrified to reach out for help and rejected for this program when they do.

There will always be a black mark on my license. Six years ago I wanted to walk away. Knowing what I do now and having gone through the 'monitoring process' for the state of Ohio. I would still walk away and am considering it. I could have another career by now outside of healthcare. One that doesn't take people when they are down and absolutely railroad them into worse disease, financial distress, and make a public mockery of them for the rest of their career. I believe these programs help some people when separated from the BON. However I absolutely believe this was set up for people to fail, they don't want nurses like me making it through. Had I been a single parent, not financially able to cope, or unable to find work I would have failed. The board of nursing is there for a very important reason but this punishment I was forced to endure was punitive, expensive, humiliating, overbearing, anxiety riddled, and archaic at best. I really hope to see change soon. 

I wish you all the very best and will check back often. Keeping humble at the very least. 

 

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Women's Health, LTC.

Congratulations!  Now, go eat an everything bagel with poppy seeds and have some chinese food and maybe even eat something with vanilla in it!

Way to go!

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Specializes in Med/Surg; Case Management; LTC.

well done!!!! GO CELEBRATE Poppy Seeds, mouthwash, and cold medicine when you are sick!!!

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Specializes in RNFA.

Congrats! We share similar journeys my friend my date is coming up in January and it can’t come soon enough I was trying to figure out how to message you but apparently I cannot for some reason and wanted to pick your brain because I have a few questions myself! How do you message someone on this what a pain!

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1 hour ago, Kchilk said:

Congrats! We share similar journeys my friend my date is coming up in January and it can’t come soon enough I was trying to figure out how to message you but apparently I cannot for some reason and wanted to pick your brain because I have a few questions myself! How do you message someone on this what a pain!

I sent you a pm. I think you have to make so many posts before you can send messages. Let me know if you didn't get it! 

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Specializes in FLOAT RN I DID IT ALL EXCEPT DELIVERY AND OR.

hi. love your story, seems like this is a nationwide thing!  Do you know what cutoff levels they use for PETH in your state?

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2 hours ago, NuRsE ReScUe said:

hi. love your story, seems like this is a nationwide thing!  Do you know what cutoff levels they use for PETH in your state?

I never had PETH tests (actually was not restricted from alcohol, which seems to be pretty rare). Didn't stop me from being selected for one and having to fight it. Got nailed with a hair test a week later. THEN every test until completion after that was observed... 

What an embarrassing joke

 

2 hours ago, NuRsE ReScUe said:

 

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Specializes in ER.

Congrats! Can you PM me?

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Congratulations! OH is a very strict state for monitoring! What type of nursing are you doing now?!

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Quote

The board of nursing is there for a very important reason but this punishment I was forced to endure was punitive, expensive, humiliating, overbearing, anxiety riddled, and archaic at best. I really hope to see change soon. 

Well said!

After a mental health crisis, suicide attempt at work, I was dragged through the mud. Never had a positive drug test in my life, did not receive a diagnosis of abuse nor addiction, but now I have a public document detailing my personal health that will follow me the rest of my career. I live in a state that doesn't allow reprimands to be removed after X years. It feels like the Board has created a situation that will hold me to this awful time in my life not allowing me to move on and heal because I will never be able to finish the handed down punishment - every job, every employer, every step in my future will have this public reprimand attached until I say xxxx it and turn in my license or retire. 

I also agree with what you said about the board practicing and allowing things that would never happen in civil nor criminal court. Change is definitely needed.

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Specializes in Emergency & LDRP.

I gave up 5yrs ago in Ohio, been living in Missouri, now I am considering the long journey of petitioning for reinstatement. I don't know if it is worth it. 5 yrs ago in Ohio

, it wasn't and I am better that I didn't. It is painful to be treated the way they do. I just surrendered, now my license says prominently revoked which I didn't know they could do. Why did a pay 3k to surrender it if they were just going to put revoked? If anyone has ever successfully moved states and tried to get reinstated there please please message me or post how it went and was it worth it?!

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