How long does this take ?!?!? Please help!

Published

Hello all,

I am looking for advice please!

I was accused of being impaired at work. I was taken for a drug test and provided two separate urine samples, hours apart. The first sample was falsely positive for oxycodone, very high level with no metabolites. The second was completely clean. The hospital required me to report to HPRP and I refused, was fired. They stated that they would report me to the Michigan BON.

That was 6 months ago and I have heard nothing!!!! My license remains in good standing. Is it normal for it to take this long?? What are you experiences with the time frame from incident to notification from the state?

Thanks in advance!

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, Transplant.

I went in to my state program immediately but I did not hear from BON until 17 months after this all started.

PS...if you are using your real name, change it to something non identifying immediately.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

This is not my real name but thank you for your suggestion and your response.

If you went into the program, why did the BON contact you at all? I thought If you did the program, the board doesn’t find out?

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

HPRP goes two ways, you voluntarily go( if you have an issue and need help) or non- voluntarily (the BON refers you). The voluntarily way keeps it off your professional license, MI has a 3 year monitoring agreement. It’s all out of pocket, costs up to 30k you have to attend AA/NA 3x a week, see an addiction specialist, psychologist and take urine/blood/hair tests all the time. I’d get a lawyer ASAP, research “ R.N. diversion” in a google search, there’s a firm that brought a case action lawsuit against HPRP. We can’t give or say legal advice on here, but this is a great tool to get an ideal of what to except. Get a job ASAP. ( that’s what I’m trying to do as I write it). Admit to nothing and fight it. The BON and their investigators are not your friends. Best of luck

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Women's Health, LTC.
4 hours ago, Jim Rockford said:

This is not my real name but thank you for your suggestion and your response.

Sadly, I am old enough to get the reference!

Sorry this is happening to you. I know in some states, it takes a very long time to get to the nurse after an accusation.

In the meantime, bank as much money as possible, get help (if needed), and find an attorney!

Admit nothing, say nothing. Let the lawyer do your talking.

Good luck!

5
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, Transplant.
On 2/5/2020 at 12:44 PM, Jim Rockford said:

This is not my real name but thank you for your suggestion and your response.

If you went into the program, why did the BON contact you at all? I thought If you did the program, the board doesn’t find out?

I voluntarily entered the program and voluntarily entered rehab but Indiana is not an alternative to discipline state anymore. If you get in trouble, you answer to IPRP, you answer to the criminal courts, and you answer to the BON.

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED RN and Case Manager.
On 2/5/2020 at 5:45 PM, rn1965 said:
On 2/5/2020 at 12:44 PM, Jim Rockford said:

This is not my real name but thank you for your suggestion and your response.

 Sadly, I am old enough to get the reference!


@rn1965 @Jim Rockford I laughed out loud when I saw rn1965’s response. I guess that I wasn’t the ONLY one that saw “Jim Rockford’s” name & started humming along to the old Rockford Files theme song!

And thanks, @Jim Rockford- now I can’t get that twangy 1970s-era harmonica solo out of my head! ???

5
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Home care.
On 2/5/2020 at 12:44 PM, Jim Rockford said:

This is not my real name but thank you for your suggestion and your response.

If you went into the program, why did the BON contact you at all? I thought If you did the program, the board doesn’t find out?

Going into hprp does not hide you from BON . I am in hprp.. they told me when I self reported that if I followed the contract for 3 yrs it would be confidential and my license would be safe. NOT TRUE... especially with opioids. You can still work and wait.. but BON will send you a letter for investigation if your employer reported you... then they will push you into hprp for 3 years. Lawyer up ASAP. I know some in hprp that got a lawyer to contact BON in advance to stop license from being suspended immediately... but they had already gone straight to rehab and started hprp.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Telephonic and Addictions Nursing.
On 2/4/2020 at 9:17 PM, Jim Rockford said:

Hello all,

I am looking for advice please!

I was accused of being impaired at work. I was taken for a drug test and provided two separate urine samples, hours apart. The first sample was falsely positive for oxycodone, very high level with no metabolites. The second was completely clean. The hospital required me to report to HPRP and I refused, was fired. They stated that they would report me to the Michigan BON.

That was 6 months ago and I have heard nothing!! My license remains in good standing. Is it normal for it to take this long?? What are you experiences with the time frame from incident to notification from the state?

Thanks in advance!

Honestly in my state after 6 months they took action. However, yes, it can take this long or even over a year. Have you renewed your license? If you have that might give you an idea as to where you stand. Its possible the BON threw out the case based on the urine test too...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for your response, I was able to renew my license. You didn’t hear anything at all for 6 months? Did you get a letter? Were you already enrolled in a monitoring program?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Telephonic and Addictions Nursing.
3 minutes ago, Jim Rockford said:

Thanks for your response, I was able to renew my license. You didn’t hear anything at all for 6 months? Did you get a letter? Were you already enrolled in a monitoring program?

Thats good! I had talked to an investigator 3 months after everything happened. Took another 3 months for the suspension letter to come in the mail. I was enrolled in a monitoring program. But again, it depends on the state. There are stories of waiting longer. Hang in there.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Question: if you are already enrolled in a monitoring program, do BONs often still suspend your license? I thought the point of being enrolled was that they wouldn't do that?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion