Looking for advice dealing with BON and NPDB

[Sbhope]

I’m trying to see if anyone has went through the same situation. I was reported to the BON for diverting narcotics. I heard from the investigator from the BON and he told me the best thing to do was surrender my LPN license. I didn’t do it and recently I received a letter from NPDB stating I can no longer work in LTC Due to misappropriation of a residents property. I still haven’t heard from the BON regarding my license. With this being reported to the NPDB will I be able to get a nursing job anywhere? I’m not working in nursing at the moment and won’t be until all this is over. In this situation, should I expect my license to be revoked, suspended, or a chance of just probation? I’ve only been a nurse for 2 years.

[JadedCPN, BSN, RN]

I would just like to add that even if you’re not innocent, you still want an attorney to fight for your license so that it is there when you get your life back on track. We all make mistakes.

[Sbhope]

On 5/14/2020 at 1:45 PM, Indiana RN said:

I went through this 2 1/2 years ago. Everyone told me to get a lawyer also. I didn't have a job, an only child of blue collar parents and my grandparents have all passed. I contacted a lawyer here in Indiana. $4,600. I LITERALLY did not have the money and nobody will give an unemployed person a loan. So I understand when you say you don't have the money for a lawyer that means you don't have the money!

Yes, my state pressed charges, I ended up with a misdemeanor and was put on probation for a year. I had a court appointed lawyer. Due to above circumstances I went in front on the BON without a lawyer. I ended up in my states monitoring program for 3 years. Honestly I don't see how a lawyer could of helped me. I was guilty. I was addicted to pain pills and was diverting pills for 6 months. I'm grateful to still have my license and continue to do what I love. I deserved what I got and found a great therapist in the process.

Thank y’all so much for sharing your experiences with me. Is there a way to contact someone on here in a personal message? When you say you had criminal charges, did that involve jail time? I know that every case is different with each individual outcome but I’m just trying to get ideas of what to possibly expect. I also know each state BON is different, but you said you ended up in the monitoring program, is this typically what the BON decides as a first time punishments? I do still have an active nursing license and it doesn’t have any restrictions as of right now other than the flag by the OLTC. I’ve never heard anything from the BON other than the investigator calling me to try and get me to surrender my license. I’m working in a factory at the moment and I’ve been clean now for almost 4 months. I would love to go back to nursing but I’m afraid to find a job and then take the chance of the BON suspending my license and then having to quit that job and burn bridges somewhere of not being able to be rehired. I’m just trying to have a stable job for as long as I can until I figure out everything that is going to happen. How long did it take before you had to go in front of the BON and find out what was happening with your license? Again, thank you so much for sharing!

[Indiana RN, BSN]

I was called into work on my day off, I was confronted about the diversion. Honestly I was so embarrassed and ashamed I just admitted to everything. The police came and took a report, then I went home. A week later a detective called me and I went in to interview with him. He called me about 2 weeks later stating I had a warrant for my arrest with 2 felony charges. I turned myself in, spent a craptastic night in jail, bonded out at $500 and went home. Then began all the court dates. I went to court 3 times and my lawyer was able to get 1 felony dropped and 1 felony decreased to a misdemeanor. I was given 1 year probation.

I was contacted by the attorney general around 30 days after I was fired. Was given a date to appear in front of the BON. WORST day of my life, even more than jail! They suspended my license for 90 days and of course I started monitoring. Went back to the BON 90 days later suspended another 90 days "because I haven't had enough sober time and drug testing". Went back AGAIN 90 days later and my license was unsuspended and placed on probation. Where it will stay until I'm done with monitoring......8 more months!

Those were some dark days! A lot of time on my couch, depressed and weepy. It will get better and my life is pretty amazing right now. Good luck with everything!!