Getting my license reinstated - REALLY nervous. Advice? (involves hx with TNPAP and license discipline)

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Specializes in Long-Term Care.

I'm going to try to give a brief history so you can understand my situation without making this too terribly long, so please bear with me.

I got my LPN license in 2009. Immediately went to work, everything was great. Then 2013 came and began the beginning of a few very difficult years for me. Problems in my marriage and injury to my back b/c of epidural led to a pretty bad addiction to pain pills.

Let me be clear - I never diverted, I never got in trouble at work related to drugs.

However, it did affect my work. I had a few different jobs, couldn't find job satisfaction b/c my mind was so messed up and my personal life was wrecked.

At one job I had, I did get in trouble but to me it was a HUGE misunderstanding. I had to take an IV course for a week to become IV-certified. At the end of the week, the instructor told us all to go to the floor and begin our skills check-offs with our preceptors. SO I did. However since I had to leave early one day, I still had an hour to make up in the class before I was technically finished. But the instructor said I could make that up another day. So, okay, fine....I did what she said and went to the floor.

Well, I began working with the preceptor with IV meds and long story short, they ended up kind of doing me dirty, saying I was dispensing IV medications (not necessarily narcotics...it was ANY IV meds) without proper certification.

So I got in trouble and they called it a "Nurse Practice Act" issue.

They wanted me to take a drug test following this incident, so I did...I mean, I couldn't really tell them NO, you know? Or at least at the time that's how I felt.

And it came back positive for opiates.

I'm not sure of all the details because it was 7 years ago, but I believe they suspected me of diverting or something even though I wasn't and they definitely had NO proof because I WASN'T (honestly...I was always way too scared to pull that).

So one thing led to another and they recommended I join TNPAP. At the time, I was so naive. I didn't know anything, didn't have the balls to stand up if I felt wronged, didn't think to do my own research, I just trusted these people and now I regret that.

However, I did join TNPAP. I don't believe I ever failed a drug test with them but I did get creative and figured out ways to pass the tests if I had to go take one. I was really messed up during this time in my life.

Anyway, stupidly I dropped out of TNPAP...I honestly couldn't afford to do it anymore after I lost the last job that I had. Under TNPAP I had NO restrictions on my license and only had to do TNPAP for 2 years. So it was incredibly STUPID for me to drop out. But...I don't know, what can I say now....I was an idiot and my mind was screwed up.

So in 2014 my license was revoked. After that happened, I was so down and depressed and felt really hopeless. BUT....I did end up going to rehab in 2015 and since then my life has slowly and surely gotten a lot better.

Fast forward to now, it's 2020 and I am 4 years clean. I had another baby which gave me a brand new reason to turn my life around. I've just been a stay at home mother since I stopped my nursing job. But I am ready to get it back and do whatever I have to do now. I am ready. My baby is 3 now and I worked so hard to get my nursing license and truly, TRULY LOVED being a nurse. I took so much pride in it. I desperately want it back.

I did contact the BON and explained everything and they said I would likely have to go through TNPAP again, probably this time for 5 years. And I will have to fill out an application for reinstatement, report anything more than a minor traffic violation since I last practiced (had a small non-drug related incident in 2016 involving theft...again, it was stupid) so I will have to report that, but otherwise there hasn't been anything. And since it's been over 5 years since I practiced, I have to take a continuing competency course, whatever that is.

So, that's where I am at and I am really nervous. I am willing to do whatever it takes, I just have NO idea what they are going to ask of me. I am worried about the expenses related to TNPAP if they don't let me work at the same time.

But have any of you here had a similar experience? Anyone able to get your license back after revocation and what was your experience? I would appreciate any advice, any stories, anything you can offer. I am really scared and nervous, but it's something I want so bad. ?

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Well, you will have to report to TNPap. And they will want you to go for an evaluation with a TNPap evaluator prior to beginning another contract, and they will evaluate your ability to return to duty, whether they feel you need any ongoing treatment, any special monitoring stipulations, etc. it’s possible that you would be cleared to work fairly quickly (with restrictions, of course) but you’ll need that license reinstated first. Which means you’ll have to be TNPap compliant until your hearing. So yes, the money will be an issue. You’ll probably have to take a non nursing job if finances are tight.

Are you involved in any 12 step programs? If so, get your sponsor to write you a letter attesting to your compliance. If you see a therapist, get them to do the same. It won’t change the fact you have to basically start from scratch with TNPap but it shows that you’re committed.

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Specializes in Telephonic and Addictions Nursing.

I know nurses personally that got their license back after being revoked. They had to prove that they have been clean for 2 years in my state. You can do this!

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

I am getting my back after being revoked. It can be done!

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Specializes in Telephonic and Addictions Nursing.
14 minutes ago, rn1965 said:

I am getting my back after being revoked. It can be done!

I love these stories. Congrats!!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Women's Health, LTC.
27 minutes ago, chadprepton said:

I love these stories. Congrats!!

Thanks! It has been a long road and mine was revoked for MANY years. I am happy to be back at it!

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Specializes in Non judgmental advisor.
On 2/29/2020 at 7:25 PM, rn1965 said:

I am getting my back after being revoked. It can be done!

Congratulations

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Specializes in Family Medicine.
On 2/29/2020 at 7:08 PM, rn1965 said:

Thanks! It has been a long road and mine was revoked for MANY years. I am happy to be back at it!

Did you hire a lawyer when you went for reinstatement? 

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