License Revoke for failure to return for random screen

[Tim R]

On 12-7-19 I was selected for a random drug screen and I fully complied, sample provided at end of shift. The sample was given without incident in physically providing. The specimen was given to lab technician, I was present along with my supervisor. All three of us witnessed the standard protocol of a split sample, placed in sealed bags and initialed by myself, signed the form as I have everytime in the past. It was a complete legit sample provided with standard chain of command followed. I was officially released to go home. This was a Saturday morning as I work the night shift, I had plans to hurry down to church as my daughter was signing in church that day and I had a 80 mile drive and changing into appropriate clothing. However, 20-30 minutes after I left campus I received a phone call requesting I return to provide another sample, they stated the temperature was wrong. The temperature was checked at the time of providing specimen and checked, which I was signed out, clear to leave. On the phone call, I was kind and professional in speaking with supervisor, I declined to return, explaining my plans and how important it was to me to be present at this church service. I loved working at this hospital and never had any problems or disciplinary write ups in my file, in fact in the course of my 9 years I won a few awards. A trusted, valued, a peer looked up to, the go to person to train those that needed extra help as I am a very patient nurse. On the phone they stated I would be terminated, I kindly explained I understood what they were saying. I was ashamed and realize what on the surface it may appeared to have happened, it was not an action of a professional that I have always been. I had just recently returned to work after the death of my father, whom I was very close to, and a year prior I had lost my mother. I had lost my only two close family members, I was tired of the deaths in my family and wanted to see something alive, my precious daughter singing in church. I stated that I had promised my little girl that I would be there, they rudely reminded me that it was Saturday morning, not a Sunday. Saturday is the sabbath for those of the 7th Day Adventist faith. The state never notified me of any problems or complaints until two years later, courtesy of Covid I assume, we all know it was a crazy time in healthcare. I never received any official notification in the mail, it was a friend who looked up my license online which is how I discovered this news. I did not work as a RN from that day of the test at all. During that delay in learning the state was notified, my wife passed away from a cardiac arrest. No piror health issues and her death was very personal and tragic for me. The arrest happened at home, she asked for assistance in standing and passed out, I immediately did CPR and notified EMS. It was the longest 3 minutes of my life. Ironically, I am a cardiac nurse, all the CPR in the world didn't save her.  In an instant at age 46 I became a widow. After this I didn't turn to drugs nor alcohol at all. I turned to my faith in God during this grief process. Returning to nursing during my grief period never crossed my mind, not forever, just until I was fully recovered from wifes passing away. In a span of 3 years, I lost all my immediate family with exception of my daughter. I chose a healthy way to deal with my grief, I returned to horseback riding and adopted a dog. Adopting a dog was the best thing to get me through, she was a rescue, we saved one another to describe in a few words. Recovered and standing on my faith firmly on two feet I want to return to the career that I love the most...being a RN. I'm a little scared and do not know how to proceed in addressing getting my license back. The only thing I feel I did wrong was failure to communicate with the board during this time of my life, again, I am ashamed of not being proactive in contacting them. Isolating myself was essentially the only thing I did wrong, as far as the random test and temperature, I have a clear conscience of which they cleared me to leave when provided. Does anyone have any advice in how to approach, do I need a lawyer? I am a good nurse and still am a good nurse. I hold no grudges against the hospital, I'd love to work there again, but I doubt that can happen. In this period we live in, don't we need good nurses? I fully realize that I did not handle this in a manner of a professional nurse. Everyone of us is greater than our worst mistakes. I could use any advice, suggestions or just moral support. I have never used a message board but I felt who better to ask than my peers in our chose field....nurses. God bless you all. Formerly grieving nurse. 

[JM84]

Hello sir. Sorry to hear about your troubles. As far as the drug test go, you and the two other folks followed the proper chain of command correct? Did they give you a copy of the paperwork? If everything was document correctly, you should not be on the hook for this and certainly should fight it.