Lawyer, monitoring program

Nursinggirl17 · Oct 11

I would not keep a lawyer honestly if you have signed your consent order already

LMRN2003, MSN, RN · Oct 11

The lawyer is typically only used for the beginning to assist with communication with the board. After that, they are not necessary unless you mess up.

Friendlicat · Oct 16

Nursinggirl17 said:

I would not keep a lawyer honestly if you have signed your consent order already

Are you in a monitoring program or have completed one? I am assuming you never had a lawyer during that whole time?

Nursinggirl17 · Oct 16

Friendlicat said:

Are you in a monitoring program or have completed one? I am assuming you never had a lawyer during that whole time?

I am about to complete a monitoring program and no I did not. Monitoring programs will not change their standard protocol even if you have a lawyer advocating that they do. BON is their own seperate entity.

JB C · Oct 16

I finished a 5 year monitoring program 2 years ago. I never had a lawyer at any time from start to finish. Why? Because the evidence was clear that I diverted from work and it was going to be 5 years whether I had the greatest lawyer on earth or not, 5 years period.

I got my consent order quick from the Board and Communication between me and the Board was Lightening fast. Why? I didn't have a lawyer and there wasn't the required go between which can take weeks, sometimes a month, just to get one question answered because it goes through a lawyer. A lawyer is NOT going to get you out of clear evidence of wrongdoing but....

If I were in a situation where it was something stupid such as a nurse making a claim or one or two pixis discrepancies, or a one time positive weed test or a DUI and an investigation was opened up, then yes I would lawyer up. In these situations, a lawyer absolutely can blunt the blow from the Board and turn what would be 5 years into 3 years, etc. This certainly isn't always the case, but your chances are increased of getting a "reduced sentence." Again I would lawyer up if I did not have a Substance Use/Abuse Disorder. But in my situation, or in the situation where you know you clearly have a problem and the evidence is overwhelming against me such as diversion from work, a lawyer is wasting 10 grand. They can't help you in this situation and only slow down the Board Consent order and your communication with the Board which further raises anxiety.

Friendlicat · Oct 16

JB C said:

I finished a 5 year monitoring program 2 years ago. I never had a lawyer at any time from start to finish. Why? Because the evidence was clear that I diverted from work and it was going to be 5 years whether I had the greatest lawyer on earth or not, 5 years period.

I got my consent order quick from the Board and Communication between me and the Board was Lightening fast. Why? I didn't have a lawyer and there wasn't the required go between which can take weeks, sometimes a month, just to get one question answered because it goes through a lawyer. A lawyer is NOT going to get you out of clear evidence of wrongdoing but....

If I were in a situation where it was something stupid such as a nurse making a claim or one or two pixis discrepancies, or a one time positive weed test or a DUI and an investigation was opened up, then yes I would lawyer up. In these situations, a lawyer absolutely can blunt the blow from the Board and turn what would be 5 years into 3 years, etc. This certainly isn't always the case, but your chances are increased of getting a "reduced sentence." Again I would lawyer up if I did not have a Substance Use/Abuse Disorder. But in my situation, or in the situation where you know you clearly have a problem and the evidence is overwhelming against me such as diversion from work, a lawyer is wasting 10 grand. They can't help you in this situation and only slow down the Board Consent order and your communication with the Board which further raises anxiety.

Do you know if there had been any instances where people were able to get their board agreements reduced early? Like a few months or so prior to completing the program. Regarding school, were you able to get your license or did you hold off exams until then? Ty for the advice

JB C · Oct 17

Friendlicat said:

Do you know if there had been any instances where people were able to get their board agreements reduced early? Like a few months or so prior to completing the program. Regarding school, were you able to get your license or did you hold off exams until then? Ty for the advice

1. Yes to question 1. I got released 6 months early, but by the time I got the official removal of my consent order it was 3 months early regarding me not having to test anymore. How did I do this? I never missed a check in or had a late report or a positive drug test in 5 years, and I paid 5000 dollars for a full chemical eval with an addictionologist when I was 7 months from completion. This involved several tests including the SASSI eval. I had them send the report to my case manager and the BON and my case manager agreed to let me go early if the BON approved it. I had several letters from Church leaders in the community and shelters where I volunteered and a letter from AA of which I had became an instructor. The BONs official decision came about 3 months before I finished.

2. Some consent orders are written where a nurse can petition the BON one year prior to their agreement being up for early dismissal. That is nurse and BON specific to the individual. I didn't have that clause in my consent order. 90 plus percent of the time the nurse will do the full amount of time but there are exceptions as I wrote about above.

3. I was already licensed as a nurse when I got in trouble but was going through Psych NP school and Idaho allowed me to get my APRN license while in the monitoring program and still under my consent agreement because I was honest and upfront with them.

Friendlicat · Oct 21

JB C said:

1. Yes to question 1. I got released 6 months early, but by the time I got the official removal of my consent order it was 3 months early regarding me not having to test anymore. How did I do this? I never missed a check in or had a late report or a positive drug test in 5 years, and I paid 5000 dollars for a full chemical eval with an addictionologist when I was 7 months from completion. This involved several tests including the SASSI eval. I had them send the report to my case manager and the BON and my case manager agreed to let me go early if the BON approved it. I had several letters from Church leaders in the community and shelters where I volunteered and a letter from AA of which I had became an instructor. The BONs official decision came about 3 months before I finished.

2. Some consent orders are written where a nurse can petition the BON one year prior to their agreement being up for early dismissal. That is nurse and BON specific to the individual. I didn't have that clause in my consent order. 90 plus percent of the time the nurse will do the full amount of time but there are exceptions as I wrote about above.

3. I was already licensed as a nurse when I got in trouble but was going through Psych NP school and Idaho allowed me to get my APRN license while in the monitoring program and still under my consent agreement because I was honest and upfront with them.

I'm confused what you mean regarding getting released 6 months early and then the BON's decision of early removal. I am assuming you mean the monitoring program allowed for release and then you still have to wait for the board's decision. I plan to submit a letter of petition alongside with other letters from loved ones and co-workers of my work ethic and behavior after 1 year of monitoring.