License Renewal

Nurses Recovery

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Soooo. I'm in a monitoring program in a compact state and the BON here is fully aware and I'm not worried about that renewal.

But I also hold two other licenses in two non-compact states and they're both up for renewal. When I get to the dreaded question about 'have you abused drugs or alcohol or been in treatment?' I freeze and don't know what to do.

Do I take a chance and say yes and then be subject to even more punitive measures?

Or do I just let them lapse and apply for reinstatement after my diversion program is complete?

Im at a loss.

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Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.

Do you have an open case with the BON? That would be how the other states would know about your treatment...

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No, but I did have to notify them that I was participating in the diversion program. I will never have any discipline or marks on my license when this is said & done.

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Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.

I'd be worried that if you marked "no" at this point, they may find out somehow via the BON somehow. I had the same thing re my program -- no formal hearing or reprimand but I did get have case number that stayed open until I completed monitoring. After that, everything was closed and sealed. Marking "yes" will definitely open a huge can of worms that you don't wamt.

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I know someone who said "yes" and ended up with a mark on their license in the renewal state, even though her original state had her in an alternative to discipline program. She had no mark on her original state's nursing license. This is because all the states are different so be careful! I wouldn't want to go through being investigated in the other states if it were me. If it were me, knowing what I know, I would let the others lapse.

Saying "no" would be a lie so I can't really recommend it... but I don't know if they would find out or how they would find out.

So anyway, yeah I would let them lapse.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Women's Health, LTC.

Can you make them inactive until all of this is over? Not surrender, just inactive or expired?

If it were me, I think I would do that, if possible.

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I have a friend who has a compact license. She transferred seamlessly between Florida and Montana, I believe. In fact she was living in Florida and the Montana DOC was flying her back and forth between the two States because they were so desperate for corrections nurses in Montana. IPN knew about it. I don't know what it involves, but I do know that some of the the states work together with regard to monitoring. It might not turn out as badly as you think. I wouldn't hold back information though, the truth always outs. Good luck!

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

This might be worth a call to a lawyer specializing in license defense in each state. Good luck.

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