I self reported a positive drug screen 5 months ago. I don't do drugs, it wasn't an intentional thing. Let's just leave it at that.
BON is finally looking at my case. I got a phone call from IPN that the investigator on my case from the BON contacted IPN for an "emergency referral". IPN lady said I had 24 hours to agree to get an evaluation and voluntarily withdraw my license. The ironic thing is I already got an evaluation per my lawyer, who is approved, but since it was not "IPN facilitated" I cannot use it with IPN. ?I knew this would probably happen but my lawyer was hoping to present it to the BON and not deal with IPN.
My evaluation I got on my own did NOT suggest monitoring which is amazing! So I plan on sending that to the new, IPN owned, evaluator. I'm sure he is in their pocket and financially driven to say that I'll need monitoring. I'm mentally prepared for that part.
My concern is I've received nothing from the DOH/BON. My lawyer says I have two choices. Play the IPN game, or try to deal with the BON, but risk a suspension on my license while they "investigate", and a public complaint on my license.
I can see why IPN backs you into a corner and makes it seem that the only way is through them, by their arbitrary rules.
I'm waiting to hear back from IPN. I knew I'd get sucked into this, but a positive evaluation made me think for one moment I'd prevail.
do you think I could ask the hospital HR if they reported me , or would that be a bad idea ? Do you think it is possible they did not , since the lawyer said that legally they did not have to (she quoted some laws why)
I am currently under investigation. Ipn lied so much on my evaluation. Hopefully, that's over soon and win the victory with no mark. God is good. I am taking my master in business now. After that battle, I'll stay away from the bedsides.
Do nothing until you have to, work as if nothing happened until otherwise told by BOH or IPN. If you end up being reported to the BOH or IPN directly then there are steps you should take. As far as right now, you wait to see if you are reported to IPN. Your attorney doesn't know how it works unfortunately.
On a side note, it doesn't matter if you smoked pot "where it is legal", IPN doesn't care. Step by step, right now.
just brainstorming . Washington state passed a law in 2023 that makes it illegal for employers to do pre employment drug screening for THC. This makes me think they do not care as much if you tested positive while outside of the country. If I were to change residency to WA and transfer my license to WA before investigation, maybe investigation would not be pursued , and or it would not go on my record
I tested positive for THC on a pre-employment drug screen in July and was just completely unaware that as a nurse, these things are not allowed, not even medical marijuana. I used gummies to help me sleep and had obtained a medical marijuana card for anxiety. My evaluator was a certain someone in Tampa, ifykyk. I finish my outpatient program on November 10th. I've already been allowed to return to work, I no longer have a multistate license and I will be monitored for 2 years. I resonate with everyone's frustrations on this thread. For me, this was the best option financially. I'm currently navigating finding a job and awaiting an offer letter from a correctional facility. You have to disclose that you are in the IPN program before accepting an offer which can be nerve wracking but they offered me the job during the interview. I'm just excited to get back to work and get through this. One thing that I haven't seen on this thread is that if you successfully complete everything regarding monitoring, no dilute urines, good quarterly paperwork...you can request to end monitoring early after 1 year(only on a 2 year contract). It's not guaranteed but they will consider it. I hope everyone can find some sort of peace during this process.
I think medical marijuana will become an issue more and more when it comes to healthcare providers. The majority of the participants in my group meetings are there because of marijuana. We are considered federal employees and unfortunately marijuana is not federally legal. It's crazy how the department of health that recognizes my nursing license also recognizes my medical marijuana card. I should not have been able to obtain one in the first place. Apparently the main issue with marijuana is that you can't determine whether you were under the influence at work because it stays in your system so long. With alcohol you can at least do a breathalyzer and get some sort of number. I do still feel like a lot of other things should be considered like whether you have had any issues as far as performance at work but unfortunately non of the evaluations are fair and they will always recommend some sort of treatment or monitoring regardless of how mild your issue is. Unfortunately, just like other aspects of healthcare there is a financial agenda and if there was any way there could be a small amount of reform I support it.
In New York they can't test for CBD. It's not legal nationwide so you get a monitoring agreement whether you have a substance abuse disorder or not most places so they can profit from you.
I have 9 months left of my contract. I am on the count down. I agree that IPN is a money maker and that the evaluators are bias based on the fact that most of them own or work for a rehab center making it monetarily beneficial to refer nurses into the program. If any one has any questions regarding IPN, I would be glad to answer them.
Specializes in Mental health, Critical Care, Nurse Educator du.
IPN won't accept an evaluation from a provider that they did not refer you to. Even if it's an evaluator who does IPN evaluations, if it wasn't someone that they provided you a referral for, you are probably wasting your money and time.
I was reading through these comments and I totally identified with this thread. I am in law school too, if the other poster in law school is still around, and/or any of you who discussed getting together to compare notes on a non- public forum. I still have nightmares about the Florida BON and the IPN after 29 years. I was naive in my early 20's when I encountered that tribunal.
I surrendered my license there 25 or so years ago. The surrender is disciplinary action on Nursys and TO THIS DAY some employers like travel nurse agencies refuse to hire me. I was going to tutor as a side gig me, they hired me and then revoked the offer after they got my background check. It has nothing on it except disciplinary action on a professional license.
I have been working as an RN for 6-7 years since I became licensed in my current state. The BON here investigated me very thoroughly and granted an unencumbered multistate license. So I am permitted to work in Florida under the compact?? The BON said I could on the phone when I asked how that worked.. I don't believe them.
But my entire family lives in Florida and I would love to pick up a short contract down there once a year. I also have licenses in 5 states outside the compact (which were a b**ch to get in some states, but others had no qualms once I provided an explanation) Still, the eternal Florida Nursys discipline warns that I'm a nurse-criminal, although I've been safely practicing as an ED nurse and flight nurse since 2014 —outside of Florida.
Some states have passed rules that eliminate disciplinary action after a certain number of years; But in Florida that record remains, "protecting the public" even after we're dead. Our ancestors can look it up. But Joe Felony got his record expunged 10 years ago
A lawyer I spoke to said if I go back to FL and ask for a license reinstatement they may refer me back to the IPN,, but he said he knew some addictionologists that didn't refer nurses to their own kickback treatment centers. Other Florida attorneys know about various problems, and a lot of us believe there is something at LEAST unethical about a BON who act as the accusers, investigators, indictors, judges, and sentencers in every case they hear. The Florida Governor is supposed to oversee admin. agencies, but he seems to have a personal non-interference policy.
We could write to the legislature or administrative law committee and request rule changes and increased safeguards. That may be effective if there are enough nurses presenting grievances. Even anonymous complaints for fear of "backlash" from the Board would illustrate the widespread suspicion that nurses' free speech isn't as free as it should be.
I can speak out about the FL BON and IPN freely and so can nurses in other states, if we can gather evidence, share experiences, and decide what to say.
So, If any of you did ever get together, let me know how to get in touch. I'd love to rant and join our brain power. There is at least one other group of nurses with the same concerns gathered across other states - I won't post the name here-but I know they would love for more nurses to join the party
If we're going to complain, this is the time— with so many nurses leaving the profession we might finally get someone's attention!
I was reading through these comments and I totally identified with this thread. I am in law school too, if the other poster in law school is still around, and/or any of you who discussed getting together to compare notes on a non- public forum. I still have nightmares about the Florida BON and the IPN after 29 years. I was naive in my early 20's when I encountered that tribunal.
I surrendered my license there 25 or so years ago. The surrender is disciplinary action on Nursys and TO THIS DAY some employers like travel nurse agencies refuse to hire me. I was going to tutor as a side gig me, they hired me and then revoked the offer after they got my background check. It has nothing on it except disciplinary action on a professional license.
I have been working as an RN for 6-7 years since I became licensed in my current state. The BON here investigated me very thoroughly and granted an unencumbered multistate license. So I am permitted to work in Florida under the compact?? The BON said I could on the phone when I asked how that worked.. I don't believe them.
But my entire family lives in Florida and I would love to pick up a short contract down there once a year. I also have licenses in 5 states outside the compact (which were a b**ch to get in some states, but others had no qualms once I provided an explanation) Still, the eternal Florida Nursys discipline warns that I'm a nurse-criminal, although I've been safely practicing as an ED nurse and flight nurse since 2014 —outside of Florida.
Some states have passed rules that eliminate disciplinary action after a certain number of years; But in Florida that record remains, "protecting the public" even after we're dead. Our ancestors can look it up. But Joe Felony got his record expunged 10 years ago
A lawyer I spoke to said if I go back to FL and ask for a license reinstatement they may refer me back to the IPN,, but he said he knew some addictionologists that didn't refer nurses to their own kickback treatment centers. Other Florida attorneys know about various problems, and a lot of us believe there is something at LEAST unethical about a BON who act as the accusers, investigators, indictors, judges, and sentencers in every case they hear. The Florida Governor is supposed to oversee admin. agencies, but he seems to have a personal non-interference policy.
We could write to the legislature or administrative law committee and request rule changes and increased safeguards. That may be effective if there are enough nurses presenting grievances. Even anonymous complaints for fear of "backlash" from the Board would illustrate the widespread suspicion that nurses' free speech isn't as free as it should be.
I can speak out about the FL BON and IPN freely and so can nurses in other states, if we can gather evidence, share experiences, and decide what to say.
So, If any of you did ever get together, let me know how to get in touch. I'd love to rant and join our brain power. There is at least one other group of nurses with the same concerns gathered across other states - I won't post the name here-but I know they would love for more nurses to join the party
If we're going to complain, this is the time— with so many nurses leaving the profession we might finally get someone's attention!
You're I law school? Can you be a lawyer with this in your past? You lost your license in Florida? I have considered another career so I wouldn't have to deal with this bs but I thought it would follow me in another career.
JewelBijou
6 Posts
do you think I could ask the hospital HR if they reported me , or would that be a bad idea ? Do you think it is possible they did not , since the lawyer said that legally they did not have to (she quoted some laws why)