Has your Nursing License ever been in Jeopardy?

Published

  1. Has your Nursing Liscense ever been in Jeoprody?

    • 96
      Yes
    • 132
      No

228 members have participated

Specializes in CCU, Geriatrics, Critical Care, Tele.

This months survey question:

Have you ever been put in a situation in which you think your license could be in jeopardy?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Brian,

I am a recovering addict, and was using narcotics . My employer confronted me, and reported me to the nursing board. I retained my license, but was on probation for 3 yrs, and under contract with the board to comply with requirements such as random drug screens, initial drug rehab then 12 step meeting attendance 2-3 times weekly, and other things.

This poll gives me the opportunity to let nurses who are using drugs/ or drinking too much that they are not alone, and if they seek help, admit they need help, the state boards do not take the licenses away. As a rule, they want to help, and return the nurse to work.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Brian,

I am a recovering addict, and was using narcotics . My employer confronted me, and reported me to the nursing board. I retained my license, but was on probation for 3 yrs, and under contract with the board to comply with requirements such as random drug screens, initial drug rehab then 12 step meeting attendance 2-3 times weekly, and other things.

This poll gives me the opportunity to let nurses who are using drugs/ or drinking too much that they are not alone, and if they seek help, admit they need help, the state boards do not take the licenses away. As a rule, they want to help, and return the nurse to work.

Exnursie and Brian,

I, too, am a recovering addict. I lost my job. I have been clean almost 7 months. I am currently looking for work, but I have a fear of rejection, that once I tell prospective employers that I am under contract for 5 years and have a key restriction for 1 year, they won't want to hire me. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Paige.

I went thru the same thing... fired... afraid I would be unemployed and unemployable because of my addiction. I did not return to a clinical setting ,I was counceled to stay away from the narcs and temptation. I worked as a nurse reviewer for a company that contracted with companies to manage their employees health insurance. Certified hospital stays, HHC, PT, psych. Then worked for a company that contracted with Physician groups and managed pts with HMO's, then worked in a Behavioral Health facility, and then for a Call center verifying insurance. All safe jobs, and all very foreign to me,since I had 18 yrs experience in hospitals. Did not know how to type, or even turn on a computer... but I learned, and I was a hot commodity, not a reject.

I will admit I interviewed for jobs and did not get them, despite being qualified. Most likely because the person did not like the concept of an addict working for them. I only told the person I would be working under, NOT HR, or others.

It is a daunting task Paige, but remember, you are not a bad person. You are taking positive action to better yourself. You made a mistake, and are now in recovery.

Good Luck

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank You exnursie, I went to my nurse support group last night and I feel better. Unfortunately, I live in a small town where there are not many non-clinical positions available close by. I have 2 interviews, one at a local hospital and one at a nursing home, on Tues. Nov. 9. I will let you know how it goes. Thanks for your support.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

This addicts, but yu recieved adequate trainning in nursing school and yu still remember yur nursing ethics, you should know that as an ethical nurse

going on drug is totally forbidden, somebody dealing with life it not a healthy development for nursing practice in this millenium.

you need a thorough rehabilitation(s). well, yur license may still be valid but you must refrain from such an act.

omotayo.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have felt at risk for lawsuit and risk for reporting to the BON many many times. When I speak out I have felt (and have been) at risk for my job as well. It is because of the 'squeeze' between by ethics and mandates of my NPA and the crazy workplace, politics, warm body syndrome, and other 'bottom line' health care tactics.

A nurse here once voiced this and it is so true: It is amazing how being a good nurse and a good employee are so much at odds today.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
This addicts, but yu recieved adequate trainning in nursing school and yu still remember yur nursing ethics, you should know that as an ethical nurse

going on drug is totally forbidden, somebody dealing with life it not a healthy development for nursing practice in this millenium.

you need a thorough rehabilitation(s). well, yur license may still be valid but you must refrain from such an act.

omotayo.

omotayo,

Yes, I know my nurse ethics and I have had a thorough rehabilitation. In this profession, you don't just get by with a slap on the hand for narcotic use. And I didn't just "go on drugs", I had bilateral foot surgery and became dependant on the narcotics I was given. I didn't choose to become an addict.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
This addicts, but yu recieved adequate trainning in nursing school and yu still remember yur nursing ethics, you should know that as an ethical nurse

going on drug is totally forbidden, somebody dealing with life it not a healthy development for nursing practice in this millenium.

you need a thorough rehabilitation(s). well, yur license may still be valid but you must refrain from such an act.

omotayo.

Please describe your knowledge of the impaired nurse.

Have you worked with any, either in active addiction or in recovery??. Do you know what the consequences are for the nurse who has a problem?

Does he/she lose their license, are they criminally charged, what happens to them as far as their career, and thier liives?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

This is a huge problem in the HC field, and is not viewed as significant enough to be addressed in the way it should be. We [ HC professionals] have no clue how to decrease the numbers of nurses that are lost due to addiction.

As many as 10% of nurses have a problem with substance abuse.

YEt we ignore our coworkers that exhibit symptoms of potential addiction due ti ignorance.

I used for 4 years at one hospital, left there because I was getting 'out of hand', was worrried that I was going to get caught, and altho I had tried to stop, had not been able to, so found a job that had a much less access to the drugs. I worked for 5 more years before getting caught. Later found out, ( ironically there was a nurse that I worked from the 1st job getting treatment at the same time) that when I left there was a core group of nurses who all agreed that I probably had a problem with drugs/ alcohol, basd on my behaviors. But because I was the charge nurse, did an excellant job, was wellrrespected by all I worked with ( attending MD's. fellow, residents and med student, pct's, the charge nurses I had to deal with on other floors that we transferred our pts to,co workers, these nurses were reluctant to address the issue.

I sought these nurse out after I found this out, there were 2 still working there.THey did not want to"hurt my feelings' and were reluctant to believe that I could have a problem. I did not act like the street bum picture so many have of addicts. They think that all addicts act like a drunk,or high person if addicted, and are not aware that so many of us work functtionally for a long time, causing no harm to pts, ( only by the grace of God) but still very much in need of help.

Instaed most of us addicts progress to the point of severly impaired before the subject is pursued. The employer is reluctant to admit they have an addict for several reasons. They are afraid of the liabaility, they see it in a light that they have poor hiring practices for employing an addict, they don't want it spread to the public they allow addicts to work, and the possibility that the addict is withholding pain meds from them, or even caring for them.They don't want the hassle of dealing with the BON, or the paperwork involved.

A much more common reason is that many times they are in just plain old denial that it is even possible because the suspected nurse is a 'good nurse' . They can't see how can they possibly be doing this. The suspect is too nice, does not fit their idea of the addict, and as long as the nurse shows up, is doing her job, (and often the impaired nurse does a lot of OT to keep her supply more available) the employer ignores the problem. They want it all to go away, minimize the behaviors, and just want to ignore it if there is no definite proof. In their eye, they would lose a experienced and good staff member , and creating a staffing need problem.

.

Once the problem is id'd and the nurse is gone, either fired, or in rehab amd on leave, the staff all gossip about it, and form new ideas about the person. If the person does come back, they have no idea how to support the person,and many are uncomfortable discussing it, or form self rightous thouhgts like expressed , that the addict is unethical and thus not a good person...

Also, many people think that once the addict goes to rehab, that the problem is "fixed', and all better. They are unaware that the addict who returns to the same place they used at has a huge potential to relapse , and many do eventually. But because they appear to be all better, again the using is not identified until it has again become significant.

This addicts, but yu recieved adequate trainning in nursing school and yu still remember yur nursing ethics, you should know that as an ethical nurse

going on drug is totally forbidden, somebody dealing with life it not a healthy development for nursing practice in this millenium.

you need a thorough rehabilitation(s). well, yur license may still be valid but you must refrain from such an act.

omotayo.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have never had a problem like many of the posters here have written about. But, as a nurse working today, I feel the politics in nursing is always a threat to my license. If you are a good nurse you cannot be a good employee, this puts you in the position of having to watch your back and your license while at work. I won't go into details but I am sure many of the members of the BB have faced this situation many times in their careers.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I guess I took this question wrong. Yes, I have felt my license was in jeopardy but due to staffing issues. When you work in a large ER and you have 4 nurses on duty with upwards of 40 patients, never knowing when a trauma will come through the door or two or three or a full arrest - then yes, I have felt my license was in jeopardy.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion