Nervous about license renewal

Nurses Recovery

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For those who remember, I got a drug charge last year, or I thought. It turned out that no charges were ever filed, and my criminal lawyer said that during discovery for my case, there wasn't really anything. I'm not sure if there's even a police report. He said he didn't get anything...

So, the case was dropped. I paid a fine for a defective equipment citation and that was it. Basically, it wasn't my marijuana but it was my car. Yeah, everyone hears that but I got a negative drug screen within 48 hours from a reputable lab.

So, there's nothing on my record that I know of. I will get certified copies soon. We have to renew our license in my state yearly, and it's coming up in September. I'm starting to get nervous. I have a bunch of character references. Literally everyone knows about this, even my managers and they all want me to be OK. According to my nurse defense lawyer, I still have to report. And it is better to be honest than them finding out.

Has anyone else been in my situation, where there were no charges even filed with a negative drug screen and you were OK? My lawyer said there was an almost identical case and the nurse ended up with no contract and kept her job. She said it was heavier drugs as well...

I'm just getting nervous. I supposed no record is good because I know I WILL be able to get a job at dialysis if need be. And my lawyer assured me that she negotiations contracts to get the minimum stips if worst comes to worse. And she thinks they won't even do an investigation because it's so busy around that time for them, and she's had experience with this. She mostly defends licenses of nurses and other healthcare professionals and that's what she specializes in. I'd love to keep my nursing job and not be forced out I guess and put on the no hire list, as there is only one major hospital system within 45 minutes of me. ☹️ I guess I'm just looking to calm down. It's not in my control but as it gets closer, I keep thinking well, this isn't over yet. Any reassurance from people who have been in similar situations would be lovely.

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Never been in your situation, but it sounds like you have a good lawyer. I wish you the best. It’s out of your control now so leave your trust in your lawyer. It’s going to be OK. 

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I am just so glad you have a competent attorney.  I did not... and wish I had. You got this however it goes! (((Hugs)))

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What is the exact wording on the renewal? I think no charges even being filed would be different than charges being dropped. I would do whatever you can to find out if there is a police report, do a background check on yourself, have your lawyer try and find the charges etc Definitely better to be honest but...I'm confused on this one and would think it would be better not to say anything. It would depend on the wording on the renewal though. Does your lawyer benefit at all from you saying yes? I feel like she wouldn't if you've already paid a retainer, but if this is just a consult and she's thinking you'll hire her if you put yes and the board investigates, that might be something to think about. 

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3 hours ago, TIMFY said:

What is the exact wording on the renewal? I think no charges even being filed would be different than charges being dropped. I would do whatever you can to find out if there is a police report, do a background check on yourself, have your lawyer try and find the charges etc Definitely better to be honest but...I'm confused on this one and would think it would be better not to say anything. It would depend on the wording on the renewal though. Does your lawyer benefit at all from you saying yes? I feel like she wouldn't if you've already paid a retainer, but if this is just a consult and she's thinking you'll hire her if you put yes and the board investigates, that might be something to think about. 

I already paid for a retainer far before the outcome of my court date. 

 

Basically, in my state, it's worded as: arrested, detained, cited, ticketed, charged, convicted, etc. It's so broad that I can't omit it. 

I forgot the exact wording but it's extremely specific. Other states only ask about arrests, and if I was in those states, I'd be fine. Even if the outcome is no pending charges, I have to tell them if I was even pulled over and cited with any violation of the law except minor traffic tickets. I even went online to take a look at it thinking wow, I don't have to say anything! ☹️

 

I did a background check and I have nothing. I know for a fact I never had charges pressed against me now, but I was cited with possession. I'm definitely going to get a copy of the police report. 

 

She definitely doesn't benefit at all if I say "yes." She wished I didn't have to do it, especially because I never had charges pressed. My state is wildly unfair...

 

I had a case for the charges but there were never pending charges I guess. Like, the prosecutor decided to never press any charges and the case was generated based on the possession ticket. So the case was dropped, and I never had pending charges, and tbh I don't think I have an arrest record either. I was not allowed to go anywhere, and I know you don't have to be handcuffed and taken in for it to be an arrest but yeah, nothing on my background check! So wildly unfair ?

 

 

 

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5 hours ago, ThatLady said:

I am just so glad you have a competent attorney.  I did not... and wish I had. You got this however it goes! (((Hugs)))

I'm so sorry. Do you mind sharing what happened to you?

 

 

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I spilled my guts and ended up with a 5 year contract. Should have had an attorney speak with them as proxy and negotiated something better- not saying I did not deserve a contract- but 5 years has been a LONG time. 

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