GA board of nursing

Nurses Recovery

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Last year, I was accused of diverting and fired from a job. My drug test was negative but I still hired an attorney under direction of other professionals. It's been 8 months and I still have not been notified of any complaint filed against me. I called the BON today for a general question of how long it takes for a nurse to be notified that a complaint was filed. They were very vague stating that in come cases a nurse may not be notified that a complaint was filed. I realize the investigative process may take years but does it take that long to be notified? Does anyone have any experience with GA BON?

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If your test were negative I don't see how a complaint w/the BON could be filed. If you hired an attorney ask him/her to contact the hospital on your behalf and find out if they ever filed a complaint. I haven't contacted th BON in GA in years but I know in the past it was customer service type reps that could only answer general questions.

You can check the status of your license on line so if nothing is there it seems to me you would be able to apply/work if you wanted.

You may also want to go to Atlanta News, Sports, Atlanta Weather, Business News | www.ajc.com and read the recent - as recent as today - complaints about the GA BON and how long it is taking for them to get complaints handled.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

It could be that they fired you and left it at that. Employers are not necessarily obligated to report every termination to the BON. Georgia is an at-will state and really don't need a reason to fire someone. If they didn't contact the board, I would say cut your losses and move on. As far as future employment, I would explain the situation just in case something arises later but also explain that you have not receive anything of an accusatory nature in writing regarding the validity of your license or your competency as a nurse.

Just my opinion......

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
If your test were negative I don't see how a complaint w/the BON could be filed.

Because not everyone who diverts takes the drug that they divert: many divert to give the drug to other people, to sell for extra cash or to trade for their drug of choice. A negative drug test is not bulletproof protection against disciplinary action being taken in diversion cases, though it often helps.

In addition, if the drug diverted was a controlled substance, that could result in a felony charge.

Any way you cut it, diversion is theft...and that's something that is very much reportable.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
Last year, I was accused of diverting and fired from a job. My drug test was negative but I still hired an attorney under direction of other professionals. It's been 8 months and I still have not been notified of any complaint filed against me. I called the BON today for a general question of how long it takes for a nurse to be notified that a complaint was filed. They were very vague stating that in come cases a nurse may not be notified that a complaint was filed. I realize the investigative process may take years but does it take that long to be notified? Does anyone have any experience with GA BON?

I'm not familiar with the GA BON. But I do know that BONs receive many complaints. Those that are unsubstantiated are usually tossed out with no action taken. A nurse may not be notified that a complaint was filed against them, unless a BON decides the complaint has merit and wants to investigate it further.

Unfortunately, some BONs are far slower than others.

Good call on hiring the attorney.

In addition, if you feel you have an addiction problem, consider getting treatment for it. Nothing else in your life will fall into place unless you get a handle on your addiction.

Best of luck with whatever happens.

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