Help Needed......

[LC0929]

I'm looking for some insight, if anyone has any ? Here's the "Reader's Digest" version....

In 1/2013, I was licensed in both NH and MA and I had a pre-employment urine screen, for a position in MA, that came back positive for amphetamines. I had, and continue to be prescribed Vyvanse/Adderall for ADD, and had never had ANY previous issues. Because of this, the contract was rescinded, and I was reported to the board, although I was unaware of this for several months. In the meantime, I applied for the same position, with another travel agency, provided another urine, which was negative, and was hired, but didn't complete the assignment because I had an accident in a snow storm. I then took another assignment with the same company, in Arkansas, practicing under the compact of my NH license. At this point I was broke and needed ANY work as I am a single Mom. The assignment was a nightmare from day one, beginning with my recruiter being fired and no one notifying me, and continuing with ongoing issues with my pay (to this day, they still owe me money). I was 10 weeks into a 13 week assignment, and had had multiple, less than pleasant, conversations with multiple members of the company, about my pay, without any resolution, when I was accused of "being on drugs" because a patient complained that I "was too happy and had too much energy, to be a night nurse". I was asked to provide a urine, but because I was 1500 miles away from my child, without a car, still waiting for reimbursement of the money owed to me and my recent experience with the positive urine, I declined. I was terminated from my position and had 24 hours to get out the housing I was in, which I did, and headed home to NH. I returned from AK in May 2014 and in June I received a letter from the MABORN as well as the NHBON, r/t the positive urine from 1/2013. I sought legal assistance, drafted and sent a letter to both BON's, answering all of the questions asked. A short time later, the NHBON responded, dismissing everything, but I never heard from the MABORN until May of the following year(2015). At that time, I received a letter stating that they would be moving forward with an investigation if I didn't provide them with a list of specific information. I, for the second time, sought legal advice, drafted and sent another letter, addressing and answering their requests. I never heard back from the MABORN, so I assumed I was all set, however, in June of 2016 (another year later), I received notification for a "show cause" hearing. I contacted the same lawyer, and was told it was going to cost me close to 4K dollars for her to represent me. I didn't have that kind of money, so I decided that I would just not renew my MA license when it expired in 9/2016. I continued to practice, as I had been, without issue since 2013. In 9/2018, I tried to renew my NH license, online. I received an email stating that I would not be able to renew because my license in MA had been revoked, in 8/2017. I was not aware that this had even happened, as the MABORN sent the paperwork to an address that I had not lived at since 2009. I was completely floored at the fact that not only had my license been revoked without my knowledge, but it had been revoked eleven months AFTER it had expired !! At this point, the NH BON advised me that I would need to go before them for a "show cause" hearing. I was still unable to afford an attorney, so I got all of my paperwork together (275 pages in my discovery), spoke at length to my Dad, who has been a cop for my whole life and represented myself, answering to, EACH AND EVERY, identical accusation made by the MABORN. I was terrified, but I was not, and never will, admit to being an impaired nurse, or to being addict, when I am not and never have been. And, for the record.....I WAS CLEARED, BY THE NHBON, OF ANY ACCUSATIONS AND MY CASE WAS DISMISSED !!!!

So, fast forward to today....my license in NH is active and unencumbered, without ANY issues.....my MA license reads, "revoked/expired". I have contacted the MABORN and was told, that even though I addressed and answered to each allegation they had made, before the NHBON, if I want my license reinstated, I will still need to either:

1. Admit that I am an addict and get into a program

or

2. Complete their required evaluations, provide medical information, etc, ALL at MY OWN expense !!

To add to this pile of complete garbage, I had been enrolled in the BSN program at Curry College, and am TWENTY CREDITS shy of graduating, but because my license is not in good standing, I was removed from the nursing program. I then tried to enter the BSN program at SNHU, as my NH license is unencumbered, but was denied there as well. So now I have entered the Psych BA program, until I can figure this out.

So here are my questions:

1. if discipline is reciprocal, why isn't dismissal, especially if all of the allegations were answered ???

2. Why did the MABORN allow me to practice as what they considered to be an "impaired nurse" for SEVERAL YEARS ?? I was told the reason for the delay in the case was that the MABORN is "way behind in paperwork" ???

3. Why is it easier and cheaper to just admit to having a problem and get into treatment, than it is to NOT be an addict and have to prove that ???

I apologize for the length of this, but I appreciate anyone who has any information that could be helpful. As of right now, I am out of work, due to a second rotator cuff surgery from a work injury in 2009, so I want to use this time to my advantage. I would like to at least have the revoked status removed, if that's an option. At this point, I'm not even sure I want to continue being a nurse, and I will definitely not be giving the state of MA another red penny for anything.

Thanks so much, in advance.

[rileybitera, ADN, RN]

I’m sorry if this was already mentioned but the first thing that came to mind was if you have a legit prescription then what’s the issue? All you have to do is provide proof and they send the test back as a negative.

[catsmeow1972, BSN, RN]

It sounds like, at this point it’s way beyond the results of a drug test. The way I’m reading it, MA finally got around to their paperwork and somebody isn’t happy with the way eyes ? are crossed and T’s are dotted. Between this and what they are considering insufficient response by the OP, there is. Ow a pissing contest going on. 5 years on, I would wager that you could call the MA BON and no one even knows what the original complaint was.

In short, it’s now all about the paperwork. OP could be the next reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, the Pope, Mahatma Gandhi, and Mother Teresa all rolled into one and MA wouldn’t care. They want their ***** papers.

[rileybitera, ADN, RN]

Yikes

[LC0929, ASN, RN, EMT-B]

Yep !! EXACTLY Cat !!

The NH BON was, from their response in my hearing, confused as to WHY this had not been dismissed by MA, when THEY dismissed it after my first response in 2013...Obviously I have their discovery as well, including emails, etc and the tone of the verbiage is clearly outrage at being ignored....

As far as having a prescription, I did and still do, and the normal MO for a positive was a request by the medical officer for me to take a picture of the script and email it to them...I had done this many times without issue....this time the MO called, told me it was positive, and that I could have it tested further for $300. When I said I didn’t have $300, he said, okay then I can’t discuss this any further. Period, the end. One of the NH BON members asked if I had been offered a second test, and seemed astonished when I said no.

I believe what this all comes down to is that MA is so backed up that, as Cat says, they wouldn’t even know who I am at this point, unless they have me flagged under the “red-headed step-child” section for insubordination r/t non-compliance, AEB refusing to genuflect upon receipt of their accusations....yes, I’m being a smart***, but you get the idea....unfortunately I’m full blooded Irish....so here we are....the other issue is that I never received ANYTHING about the final hearing, because, and again I have no idea why, they sent the paperwork to an address that is 10 years old...where they got it from I’m not even sure, but NH BON has and had my current address......basically they don’t feel like they have a right to be challenged....unfortunately, as I have said, not everyone is an addict, I’m a stubborn Mick and trust me, having worked in a treatment facility, there’s no need to drum up anymore business....we’ve got plenty....but I’ll keep you posted....I’m not going down easy, believe me...

[catsmeow1972, BSN, RN]

I must say I am impressed with your nursing diagnosis of the situation. I also agree with political powers that be not being happy about being challenged. Them submitting to a challenge is equivalent to admitting that someone, somewhere screwed up. Nobody is about to do that now, are they?