new with monitoring

Oogie · Feb 25, 2014

This question might best be answered by the BON that issued your license. Or the agency in charge of your monitoring. What I know of is in Texas, we have multistate contract for nursing. I was monitored by TPAPN. I had to have third party contracts (signed) so they could communicate with anyone I worked for. Their rules are very rigid, and there is no tolerance for "slipping under the radar" you might say. You can or will be kicked out of the program and reported to the BON for noncompliance. I would be very careful here, I found it best to know exactly how the rules were stated, then, did exactly what they asked. It is not easy, from their perspective, they are not there for you. Their job is to protect the public from nurses that abuse drugs or etoh. I don't mean to be unkind, I've walked this path .... Never give up, Never surrender ..... Peace

HunnieBadger · Feb 25, 2014

Simple answer is no, you are not allowed to go to the unmonitored state and work. To do so you would end up with more problems than not, you're looking for trouble with that one there. Your board can and will communicate with other state boards, make no mistake about that. Just because you are in an alternative program and your licensure is "clean" does not mean that you can practice in another state. You're being monitored by your current state...if it were as easy as going to a state where there was no discipline yet to get a job don't you think we'd all be employed?

Earthmama · Feb 25, 2014

I agree with the other responses and just have one thing to add. I knew a nurse in early recovery who was in your situation, was about to lose her house to foreclosure and out of desperation went to work in the other state. She didn't tell the other employer she was being monitored and kept it secret from her alternative program. She was fine for about six months and then the alternative program did a routine check on her and discovered she was working in the other state. As a result, she was kicked out of the program, had to do the public disciplinary process with the BON and had her license revoked in the other state. Much, much worse that just waiting out the job hunting process.

renne · Feb 25, 2014

It seems so obvious now...I feel stupid. Yes, it all makes since, if it were that easy to go to another state we would all be employeed! I appreciate all your responses and honosty. I think, even if I were telling myself I was thinking "niavely", deep down I had to know it was too easy, which brings me to the qoute that was on the newsletter at my first monitoring meeting, "You either make yourself the victim of your life or the creator of your life. Most people spend more time and energy going around problems rather than in trying to solve them". Henry Ford....this is exactally what I was trying to do. Shame on me...

Oogie · Feb 25, 2014

Hey Renne, go easy on yourself, plenty of others out there that will be hard on you. Be your own best friend. We were all beginners, we all had lots of questions, we all had a desire to find an easy way out. Keep posting your questions, and addressing your concerns. Sometimes you might find some words of comfort or guidance from your brothers and sisters out here in forum land. I know it helped me then and continues to help me for sharing. Oh like your quote too..... Peace

Twoyearnurse · Feb 25, 2014

Asking questions and seeking guidance keeps us from doing stupid things! You did the perfect thing by asking. Our heads go around and around. There are so many good ideas that come into this mind of mine and then I'll ask my sponsor and as soon as the question comes out and I hear myself saying it do I realize how crazy it really sounds. I actually asked her two weeks ago "maybe I should move to another state before the board even addresses me" and as soon as I said it I said "wait...never mind that's really stupid, then I'll potentially get a revoked lisence and have to move back to Alaska to complete a monitoring program" and then started laughing. We are all brilliant at times :)

Oogie · Feb 25, 2014

Asking dumb questions "Easy" when I disclosed to my clinical manager that I got a DWI, I asked her if I should just bow out before all the "poop" hits the fan..... she laughed... said wait... 2 weeks later she said I need you to move to a leadership role on our unit, said it would be easier to accommodate restrictions this way, (less handling of narcs), easier to delegate. Your right (2yr) go face to face with your dilemma you may be surprised what happens..... Peace

1sttime · Feb 27, 2014

I am a nurse on contract that lives in a border state; I have 2 active licenses. I have a contract with the state where I reside- I do not have a contract with the neighboring state. I was surprised at how easily I was granted a license in my neighboring state- I just told them I had a contract and they verified the information with my state board. It is possible to hold a license in another state while being monitored.