Nurse in drug rehab

Published

I know an RN that holds a license in OH that is currently in review without board action, and a license in WV that is unencumbered. Here's my issue. I know she is currently in a drug rehabilitation facility and clearly has not reported it to the WV BON. I'm not certain if that is why her OH RN license is in review? I know she has failed UA's and refused them in the past. She just quits and runs. Do I report her whereabouts to the BON for investigation?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

No. She is in enough trouble on her own. Is there a particular reason why you would want to report her?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

She has taken patient medications and has been fired from numerous positions. She needs stopped. Those actions deserve consequences.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It's a privilege to be a nurse. I have spoken with other RN's that cared for her patients after she quit and it was terrible. It's disheartening to watch her abuse her position over and over only to skate out. If it were my loved one I know I wouldn't want this nurse anywhere near them or their meds.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

By your own description she's presently in drug rehab. Rather than try to ruin her life why dont you support her in recovery and hope she actually can become a functional nurse?

If she wasn't in rehab your actions/desire to stop her from working in nursing would make sense but it sounds like she knows she has a problem and is taking appropriate steps to be rehabilitated. Who is to judge and sentence her from ever working again , when she's actually attempting to rehabilitate herself?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

It sounds like you're getting your information from hearsay. Have you actually witnessed her taking patients' medication or treating her patients poorly? If you have, it's one thing, but if not you may be judging this nurse unjustly. After all, she has checked into rehab, which usually means a person has realized they need help. I know I'm playing devil's advocate here, but it's above your pay grade to reveal her "whereabouts" to the BON. That should be up to her supervisors, and of course they can't discriminate against her on the basis of her stint in rehab. They are the ones who need to investigate, and naturally they should term her if the truth can be proved against her. But for now, unless you've seen her in action, you are going on the basis of what other nurses have said, and that's not a good reason to report her to the BON. Just sayin'...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What I posted in those small paragraphs is the tip of the iceberg. I can certainly see why you would have a "shame on you" response towards me and take up for her. I just wasn't sure if that information was supposed to be reported or not. Especially if she doesn't stay in a position long enough. The entire story is too much to post, but thank you for your feedback.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
What I posted in those small paragraphs is the tip of the iceberg. I can certainly see why you would have a "shame on you" response towards me and take up for her. I just wasn't sure if that information was supposed to be reported or not. Especially if she doesn't stay in a position long enough. The entire story is too much to post, but thank you for your feedback.

Just because nothing is posted on the BON website does not mean that she has not been reported. I personally was reported to the BON for my substance abuse issues and had to enter the state's monitoring program for five years. The Board issued a stay of discipline 9 months after I entered my monitoring contract, basically meaning if I meet the very strict criteria of my monitoring for my five year obligation, nothing will ever appear on my license. If you were to look up my license today, you would see that it is pristine and unencumbered. That does not mean that I wasn't in a heap of trouble.

I have a slew of restrictions and requirements that the public is absolutely not privy to. Only my state BON monitoring program and my management has to be aware per my disciplinary contract. Even if she does not qualify for a stay of discipline, it can easily take over a year for something public to appear on her license. Her rehab very well be a requirement of the BON; there is just no way for you to know. Positive drug screens are mandatory reporting incidents to the BON, so I highly doubt that she has not already been reported.

Long story short, the Board could easily already be aware and since you are not part of her discipline process, you would not be privy to any of that information. Some nurses have reported that it took over two three years for public info to be available. But rest assured, consequences were already in play and monitoring contracts can happen years before the Board ever publically filed formal discipline...or a stay of discipline if it applies.

Hope that helps you understand the process.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Our Bon won't post names for these issues, just the number of the contract entered by the paticipnt

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I know an RN that holds a license in OH that is currently in review without board action, and a license in WV that is unencumbered. Here's my issue. I know she is currently in a drug rehabilitation facility and clearly has not reported it to the WV BON. I'm not certain if that is why her OH RN license is in review? I know she has failed UA's and refused them in the past. She just quits and runs. Do I report her whereabouts to the BON for investigation?

What's your end goal here?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you for helping me to understand the process a bit more clearly.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I appreciate any health care worker making efforts to fix their personal problems.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion