Love this board. OK. My situation: Got arrested in 10/31/13 for DUI 0.13 bac while on-call. Did not see a patient nor perform patient care. No conviction of a DUI ...was 100% dismissed on 10/31/2014 under Oregon's first offender program. My journey is like yours: I got fired immediately, lost my health benefits, had to wait months for the board to meet to get my stips, when I did get them I could not find a job, I subsequently became homeless and lost everything I owned including my car and beloved pets (the low point was spending 2 weeks sleeping in the bushes behind a church). I applied for Medicaid and food stamps for the first time in my life and was grateful for it. I finally got a job at a bad nursing home (I worked overtime, bathed in MickeyD's bathroom sink, then rented a room and bought a $750.00 car I kept together with duct tape and then slept in for a month)...and from there I got a better job and then a better one. I now have a good job, a lovely apartment, a new tiny car completely paid for and my beloved pets back. I have 5 months to go on a 24 month probation period here in OR (YAAAAAAAAHHH!). I have a great job and I am very grateful for it.
Sooooooooo, I practiced successfully in CA for 8 years previously. My CA license had expired and I was busy working and working off my probation here in OR...basically surviving and struggling to gain some stability again. One and a half years (mark 1 1\2 years!!!) after the arrest I received an "accusation" from the BRN in CA. I never felt the need to have an attorney. OR had been very fair with me previously.
Well, I was told that i must answer the accusation even though my CA license was expired and i had no intention of renewing it or relocating there. I was told that i had no choice and that i had to answer the accusation against me. I spent 4 months gathering "mitigating evidence" that CA wanted. Today I got word that CA can not give me any credit for probation successfully served here in OR. I was "awarded" ...lol...what an oxymoron) 3 years of stipulated practice in CA with rougher stips than I have here in my home state. Plus I received a $3900.00 bill from the ststed of CA for "administrative fees" that the state spent researching my case.
I ask you to chime in and honestly respond if you feel that a total of 5 years of probational practice between 2 states and approximately 75K in OSBN, CA BRN, court fees, evaluation fees and lost wages is a just punishment for my crime? NOT TO MENTION THE PAIN AND SUFFERING!!!!
I immediately let them know that I:
1. Want to surrender my CA license immediately,
2. Want the address where I can send my $3900.00 check today.
I signed the email: Sincerely, Xxxxx. Xxxxxxx, RN
My thoughts: They can't humiliate me. I am not a criminal. I am an RN and my probation monitor here said nothing will affect the fact that in 5 months I will have a 100% free&clear license here in OR. So sad too bad CA will have one less excellent nurse working there. Hey, here's $3900.00 to pay you back for the 7 months I collected state disability in CA when I fell in a pool of patient urine at 0400 one morning and tore my miniscus and workman's comp wouldn't cover me.....hey don't spend it all in one place! I immediately changed my vay cay plans for next week down in CA as I choose to work to help cover the unexpected bill...my wonderful manager found some extra shifts for me and immediately put me on the schedule...how fortunate am I?...hey...I will do a little stay cay and play here������.
For those who say I shoulda coulda hired an attorney: One would have cost me $7500+ and she stated, "I can probably get you 1 year probation instead of 3," plus I would have had the (bs) administrative bill described above. No. I am at peace with my decision.
So, my friends, I am soooooooo good. We must remember that we are branded criminals for life. They want us to scuttle away with our tails between our legs humiliated forever (AND ruined financially forever). I have made a mistake. I violated the nurse practice act. I drank 3 glasses of wine while on-call. I paid my dues. But lay down and die.....eff yoo! !!!!!!!!!!!!
Gotta go now friends...my break is over at my wonderful job in PACU where I make $44.00 per hour and I am happy and well respected by my fellow co-workers and managers.
We adjust, accept and move on. We are risilient, grateful and happy to have jobs. We are great employees. WE ARE SURVIVORS! (and when this hell is over we can appropriately and professionally fight for change in this corrupt and toxic system falsly touted to assist nurses recover and to protect the public).
