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

This months survey question:

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

heres the skinny, the board only does state background checks, and will only go into depth if you give them the information, the offenses you are charged with will have refound effect on your moral turpetude and the board will view this as a questionable offense ato be reported to the OIG, the board is only going to be interested in felonies, keep all your past misdameanors, just that in your past, another thing to remember, there is a legal statute of limitation that any offense can be reported on a background check, all states are different, you also can petition the Court to have the offenses expunged from your record, and in doing this the only way anyone could find out, would be to physically go to the Court house and physically locate your aoffenses in the Court Docketts, remember, as in the state of oklahoma, this board is unethical and will report any offense to the office of inspector general, felony or misdameanor, best advice is to seek the advice of a criminal attorney, if you can afford one. Good Luck

I have posted this question before, with very little response, I am a nursing student who has a couple of misdemeanors on my record from back in 1995, I was 19 at the time and now I am approaching 30 years old! The charges where shoplifting and a bounce check, has anyone ever been denyied a lisence because of this!! I am very concerned because I have worked very hard to get where I am and have totally turned my life around! I have to file a declaratory order, but this has my nerves all up on ends.. Any response would be sooo appreciated.. if anyone has any info on the matter, by the way I live in Tx..

thanks

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.

I used to work with a nurse who was an addict. She was a dear friend of mine. I'm a CNA, so I never knew about the times the count was off, or any of that. I never saw any of the "signs." But in my heart, I just KNEW. And I didn't say anything. She did eventually get caught. She got fired, but still has her license with a key restriction and she's been clean for 8 months. If only I had confronted her, she may have come clean to admin. who would have put her on probation, and she could have kept her job while getting help. I love her to death, and it kills me that I didn't try to help her. Denial was easier. I will NEVER look the other way again.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
It's just too easy for people to write false reports about nurses to the BON. These reports become a living nightmare for the victim.

How true your words are. Someone put drugs in my purse, Darvon, Liorisel, and Haldol. A total of 5 drugs. Now you know I was really after that Haldol, dern! This happened in 1992. They decided to suspend my license in 1995, but I was never notified of it. Of course, I never went back to nursing after that Incident, it was like l933 Nazi Germany. One day they knock on your door and take you away on the say so of an LPN and a CNA.

The curious thing is that in the police report, the accounts to the police and the board, no one ever "saw" me do anything. They even admitted to searching my purse and calling the police. I thought that was kind of illegal of them. I thought only law enforcement agencies could only do that for probable cause. I was released, the case was Nolle prosequie, (dropped). No one would sign the arrest report. I went for unemployment insurance and was granted it. No one from the accusing facility showed up to testify against me.

But to this day, it is still SUSPENDED. For something I did not do. So the BON is definitely above the law. Right up their on the internet was my name. The Board would not give me information I asked for, like what addresses did they supposedly send me all of this information. So many discreapncies and facts that were not backed up with facts.

The BON very generously allowed me to reapply for my license as long as I told the employer I was on probation. Don't you know the employers would be beating down my door to hire me?

I don't know about other BONs but this one sure did not have to be accountable for anything.

Maybe I would have been better off if I was an impaired nurse.

mv

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg/Tele/Ortho/Psych.

My license was in jeopardy. I was unable to work as a nurse for over a year d/t my impairment with drugs and alcohol. My disease quickly progressed to demerol, morphine, methamphetamines. Shooting up in my feet, legs, breasts and even in my neck. Did I care that what I was doing was immoral, unethical, illegal in every sense of the word? Very much so. I could not stop on my own. Looking back after I was finally turned into the board for this. I could not even remember how it all started. I was so amazed at how in the world I could have started the drugs. It all started with drinking again.

Chemical Dependency is a disease. It is progressive, fatal. Some of the signs and symptoms are craving, tolerance and withdrawal. I began to do things I said I would never do. It is actually considered a psychiatric disorder by the medical profession. I eventually lost it all. I was shooting drugs with ex-DEA, a psychologist. I was in a fog, but I rember my arms being so bumped up from absesses that someone took me to a doctor's house and he wrote a prescripton for me to clear up the infection. He never turned me in. I started to prostitute for my drugs and prostitute other women so I wouldn't have to do it anymore. I took women to the lieutenant's house. It's like it was all another world. It seemed so glamorous for a while. I even danced for a while. I couldn't believe the life I was living. Then, one day, I was stealing spam from the Dollar Store to eat. I eventually ended up with Hep C. I couldn't believe the people who were involved. I finally ended up in Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses (TPAPN). Most states have this type of program. It is a program for nurses who are either addicted to drugs or alcohol and/or who are mentally ill. Yes, I said mentally ill. The stats on us......1 in 5 of us are impaired. That's a big number. I have been completely sober for 3 1/2 years now and I am grateful for having been turned in. At the time I wasn't, but I know that is the only way I would have straigtened up. Today, I help other people who are in the same place I was. Giving back what I was freely given. If you think a friend or coworker is impaired you are not doing them a favor by not turning them in. You are only prolonging the process. You can turn someone in and be anonymous. Be a true friend. You can also become what is called an advocate for a program. That is someone who helps others who are trying to get their life back together. Thanks and God Bless.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Sounds like most nurses here have felt their licenses in jeopardy due to drug use or allegations of drug use.

My one run in with the BNE didn't involve drugs, it was a smear campaign launched by one vindictive person who instigated a witch hunt in a mean spirited management team. Fortunately my BNE saw through it and threw it out...but it was a harrowing experience all the same and it took its toll on me emotionally and financially.

The narcs are a place where other nurses can 'get' another nurse too unfortunately.All it takes is some irregularity or discrepancy re narcs and someone will be looking for a fall guy. Addicts can be very sneaky and often don't mind setting someone else up, sadly. While I understand the disease of addiction, we must all be aware how addicts operate to protect everyone involved and get the addict the help they need.

Testing clean on the drug screen is not an automatic save for a nurse. Those who steal drugs may be doing so for a loved one; or they may be selling the drugs and aren't necessarily users themselves.

I used to be quite naive at work but Movingalong's post illustrates how far some vindictive people will go in the workplace. It is easy to set another nurse up for ruin.

Nurses ideally should keep bags and purses carefully locked to prevent tampering. Sad we have come to this. I worked agency in the past where I was setup to 'appear' to be stealing narcs (agency makes easy targets for addicts if the agency nurses aren't very savvy) One of my friends used a locked briefcase on the job to carry his personal stuff... he was very wise.

Be careful out there nurses.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
This months survey question:

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

Absolutely. There was a period when I was with only 1 other RN (who floated from somewhere out in the yard) and we were expecte to take care of 24 patients which included a minimum of 8-11 acute psych, 10 or so long term care, and a few acute medical pts. When this occurred, after about 1 week I started making copies of the schedules and staffing and threatening if I didn't have at least 2 RNs I'd give the supervisor report and take my happy behind home. That seemed to work because the next day I was better staffed.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg/Tele/Ortho/Psych.

One day at a time... Pray and ask your Higher Power for guidance. Take this time to continue to focus on your recovery. I promise you will come across someone who will hire you and time will fly before you know it. I've been clean 3 1/2 yrs now and I was in a program too. Things don't always happen in our time. Good luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg/Tele/Ortho/Psych.

sorry to hear that. That is awful. Continue to be careful. Not all people are like that. I hope everything worked out for you and continues to.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg/Tele/Ortho/Psych.
As it's been said in this thread and countless others: nobody chooses to be an addict, anymore than they would elect to have diabetes, schizophrenia or cystic fibrosis. I've been clean and sober for 6 years; it hasn't always been easy, believe me, and it's certainly not something I looked forward to doing, once I graduated college. Most healthcare workers who are addicts got started on drugs for post-op pain or, in my case, debilitating migraines (this was back in the days when all the migraine meds were ergot-ridden nightmares: no Imitrex or Maxalt). Show a little compassion. But for the grace of God...
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Shame on the two nurses who allowed: 'i wouldn't want to work with a nurse like you' :angryfire I work with nurses as yourself and they are FINE examples of what a nurse should be. Addiction is a diease! The AMA made the ruling..........so I guess you two wouldn't want to work with anyone who has a diease of anykind! ONE more great example of a few nurses thinking they are better than the rest.....I wonder......what skeletons do you have in your closet? Don't say NONE! Everyone does :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I feel as though I was setup by the OBN, when they reported me to the OIG using my old address, knowing I would not receive any formal notice from the OIG, the nurse investigator and I were extremely at odds prior to this, I didn't find out I was on the OIG exclusion list until one year after the OBN reported me, I was fired after 6months of working Open Heart Recovery, thirty-four (34) days of inpatient treatment for my lortab addiction, and one year of being clean and sober, after this my problems snowballed, now I am faced with multiple legal issues and a deluge of financial debt, it is only by the good graces of God I have been able to remain clean and sober and sane, God will help those that help themselves, but it doesn't hurt for us to help those who have fallen. Good Luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I feel as though I was setup by the OBN, when they reported me to the OIG using my old address, knowing I would not receive any formal notice from the OIG, the nurse investigator and I were extremely at odds prior to this, I didn't find out I was on the OIG exclusion list until one year after the OBN reported me, I was fired after 6months of working Open Heart Recovery, thirty-four (34) days of inpatient treatment for my lortab addiction, and one year of being clean and sober, after this my problems snowballed, now I am faced with multiple legal issues and a deluge of financial debt, it is only by the good graces of God I have been able to remain clean and sober and sane, God will help those that help themselves, but it doesn't hurt for us to help those who have fallen. Good Luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion