Job search after revocation or surrender

Nurses Recovery

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Specializes in Emergency.

Hi I am currently in the early stages of a diversion investigation, I admitted to diverting 1 medication during hospital interview but haven’t been officially served with my board complaint letter (it’s been 4 months). I am wrecked with anxiety all day every day waiting for the hammer to drop. I have an health care licensure attorney who has been advising me during the process (only after hospital meeting though). I have scoured the board website for my state to see similar disciplinary actions of other nurses. Most of what I see is voluntary surrender for cases of diversion. Is this because they were basically forced for voluntary surrender in lieu of revocation? Does anyone have any experience trying to find a job in another field  after their license has been surrendered or revoked? Will it always appear on a background check? I entered into a voluntary testing program to show my sobriety for the past four months but that is pretty much all I have going for me. I hate myself so much for letting my addiction affect my practice. Thanks in advance for any advice. 

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Specializes in general.

First of all, congrats on getting sober and staying that way in the last four months!; every addict on here has done things they are ashamed of- keep working your program and try not to let guilt and shame overwhelm you. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. 

Keep your attorney- keep your mouth shut. Talk to nobody outside of your attorney. Keep working if you can and stay sober; keep your head up. 

Wishing you all the best

Lady 

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I agree with Lady, continue to work the program, it will get better, I promise you.  I understand the fear, that alone can be paralyzing.  Keep your head up, the sun will shine.

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If this is your first offense you will most like be given a diversion program. Usually you have stips on your license and won't be able to pass narcotics  for a certain amount of time. Which for some, means finding a different specialty.  I've only had positive responses from employers when discussing  the monitoring program and they did not treat me any differently. It all sounds horrifying to you right now, I was the same way. I have almost completed my 2 years in the program, 7 days in fact! Looking back it wasn't bad, very expensive and inconvenient, but doable. BTW it took a year to receive the first letter from the BON. I responded with my answers the accusations and did not hear from them again for 2 more years. Work as much as you can and do not discuss the pending board action with anyone. You are not required to mention anything until your case has been determined or stips placed against your license. Hang in there, this does not define you!

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Specializes in Medical coding and documentation improvement.

I'm a certified medical coder. If/when that hammer drops, consider training as a medical coder. So many places want coders with clinical experience!

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Specializes in Emergency.

That’s awesome, did you need a nursing license to do that? I have actually considered coding as a second career already but decided to wait until I get a decision to invest in it. Teaching myself basics through some online free coding courses right now though. Is it okay if I message you directly? 

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Specializes in Medical coding and documentation improvement.

No, I actually have zero nursing background. I learned through my local community college. I got credentialed through AAPC (www.aapc.com) and got a job a year or two later. However, your nursing background would put you in an excellent position to get work.

(Why am I on this site, do you ask? I'm gaining more clinical knowledge as I've actually advanced into clinical documentation improvement. I'm visually and hearing impaired, which prevented me from going into nursing.)

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I left bedside by choice and now do telephonic case management remotely. Those types of roles do not deal with handling narcotics so would be an easy transition. 

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Specializes in Justice ⚖️ Nursing.
On 8/18/2022 at 5:18 PM, HP Nelson CPC CPCO CCS said:

I'm a certified medical coder. If/when that hammer drops, consider training as a medical coder. So many places want coders with clinical experience!

As long as you aren't put on the oig exclusions list! Then you cannot work anywhere that works with medicare/medicaid....in any capacity, not just nursing.  ? Be aware of that and how long you must stay on it. You have to go through a process to get your name off the list also. 

#stayinformed

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No I wasn’t and am not currently on the OIG list.  I was never taken off work, I just worked with restrictions from 2005 to 2007 and no problems since.  I’ve applied for travel jobs but recently  had a job rescinded because of the public stain on my license.  HP Nelson I’m very interested in coding, please share how I can get started.  The question was posted because I wanted to work as a traveler for about a year to accomplish some things.  

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Specializes in Justice ⚖️ Nursing.
17 hours ago, nurse1985 said:

No I wasn’t and am not currently on the OIG list.  I was never taken off work, I just worked with restrictions from 2005 to 2007 and no problems since.  I’ve applied for travel jobs but recently  had a job rescinded because of the public stain on my license.  HP Nelson I’m very interested in coding, please share how I can get started.  The question was posted because I wanted to work as a traveler for about a year to accomplish some things.  

Wow! You were lucky! Some of us had our lives completely ruined for one pill (like myself LOL). I'm not hating, it just seems unfair how differently the same offense is treated across the board.

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33 minutes ago, Lust4life said:

Wow! You were lucky! Some of us had our lives completely ruined for one pill (like myself LOL). I'm not hating, it just seems unfair how differently the same offense is treated across the board.

I didn't even divert and got a 2 year monitoring program! During the mediation with the BON attorney, you would have thought I murdered someone. In fact she was going so hard the mediators had to step in and put us in break out rooms. It was the most uncomfortable position I'd ever been in and it wasn't even that serious!! 

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