Hi everyone,

This message board has provided me with valuable information with navigating issues with BONs. One thing I've come to realize is every state BON has somewhat different rules. After dealing with a alternative to discipline program, investigation, suspension, and reinstatement I have tips and contacts regarding my particular state that I think would be useful to the next nurse who's scared out of their mind. With that said...

What does everyone think about starting new threads for tips about each state BON? Are we allowed to post names and office numbers? (provided they are publicly listed) For example, when I was getting reinstated my BON lists on their website to mail a request for reinstatement. But that actually slowed down the process as I should have contacted someone else first! You wouldn't know this unless someone told you.

Anyways, just an idea. Let me know what you think. All of the stories on here really supported me!

I f you want to stay anonymous, posting your home state might not help?

3 minutes ago, Kitiger said:

I f you want to stay anonymous, posting your home state might not help?

True. But would posting helpful information about a certain state risk anyones anonymity?

It is my understanding that monitors from the BON read these forums, as well. I for one would not want to divulge too much info.

Private messages are probably best, IMO.

I for one would like any info about Indiana BON because im doing everything im supposed to be doing in my program and so idk why it would matter and im not sure they could idenitfy me just by knowing what state Im from. It would be really nice to have any information about the process. Its very scary going through all this and its basically like a big game of hurry up and wait in torture.

Yeah, I'm petrified of the fact that the BON and case managers patrol these boards...I remember last year a case manager actually made a post and outed themselves...they were looking for ways to be more helpful, or something like that, but confirmed all our suspicions that they do come here for whatever reason. My board investigator even let it slip that she had attempted to investigate my social media. I closed all non-anonymous social media down after that. I won't even divulge my state here or why exactly why I am in the program because the anonymity just isn't there. If I weren't generic with my posts, and posted my state, I think it would be pretty easy for someone in the know to dox me. You are welcome to try, but a bunch of us live in fear, realistic or not, and we aim not to rock the boat, no matter how legal it is. So, if there aren't many takers, please don't take it personally, because it's not. I can only speak for myself, but I just aim to fly under the radar and be as nondescript as possible. That includes me not listing my state. Best wishes.

1 hour ago, Eris Discordia BSN, RN said:

Yeah, I'm petrified of the fact that the BON and case managers patrol these boards...I remember last year a case manager actually made a post and outed themselves...they were looking for ways to be more helpful, or something like that, but confirmed all our suspicions that they do come here for whatever reason. My board investigator even let it slip that she had attempted to investigate my social media. I closed all non-anonymous social media down after that. I won't even divulge my state here or why exactly why I am in the program because the anonymity just isn't there. If I weren't generic with my posts, and posted my state, I think it would be pretty easy for someone in the know to dox me. You are welcome to try, but a bunch of us live in fear, realistic or not, and we aim not to rock the boat, no matter how legal it is. So, if there aren't many takers, please don't take it personally, because it's not. I can only speak for myself, but I just aim to fly under the radar and be as nondescript as possible. That includes me not listing my state. Best wishes.

I def won't take it personally. I appreciate the feedback everyone!

I can see where this information might be beneficial, but I think it would be best taken on a case by case basis. Unfortunately BON and case managers don't always have the best motives in mind and don't care about privacy or fairness at all times. They should, but they don't and I don't put it past any of them to use their considerable advantage over licensees as a cudgel.

Discretion, and use private messaging.

Everyone is wired differently. All of my sins are known, I try and use where I've been to help others. All of somebody else's sins might not be known and they may not feel safe disclosing certain things.

I might have been a 'little' more circumspect when I was trying to get my license back, but knowing me, probably only "just." Some of the people at FBON were very helpful an they deserve recognition. Some, and specifically one were the meanest, most obstructive individuals I have ever come across. Plain cruel, in my opinion. It's that absolute power.

I would be willing to share any of my tips with the FBON ( Florida ), if it would help my fellow recovering nurse. Honestly, there were certain days on this journey that I probably emailed the grounds keeper, the house keeper, or whomever, just in an attempt to get around this one person in the education department who made it her mission to block any attempts I made to complete my RN refresher course. In the same breath, she had a coworker who was very helpful and on the sly, directed me to a program that ultimately accepted me ( warts and all ) and resulted in my getting my license back.

It's a YES from me.

My thougt is that how “fairly and appropriately” one might be treated by thier respective board and/or thier program depends on so many different moving parts, that any list of information or tips might get lost in the ‘well, this worked for me....”

Throughout the last 5+ years, At the beginning I trusted these people and in the middle I was scared of them. Now? I stand my ground against them.

At least in my state, the BON has very little to do with the majority of this stuff. It’s more a “oh you have issues (of some random, and increasingly wider variation thereof?) We’ll just shove you over here into this program...which then has an extremely WIDE berth of what they can do to you, and which all cost money. A. Lot. Of. Money.

When I attempted to contact the BON, I could rarely get a human voice on the line. If I did, I was directed to email addresses that bounced back or to the VM of people not even in the BON. It seemed to be a ‘direct her somewhere/anywhere just to get off the phone.’

There is a reason that some lawyers have built thier practice around ‘license defense.’ Not so much for the defense of a license specifically, but it can be money well spent to avoid the headache of trying to get someone to listen yourself. The best comparison I could make is asking if you’d try to do your own bankruptcy? The lawyer’s ability to contact and be listened to is huge. As in many things, boards and programs tend to pay more attention to so-and-so, Esq. then us little people.

the biggest tip I can give (and this goes for other programs/states besides mine) is to get that lawyer (see TAANA, google it....) BEFORE you speak of even blink at any board investigator, program or what have you. I will regret it to my dying day that I did not pay attention to this. My line of thinking was that ‘I was not a criminal, I was doing the right thing and these people were there to help, right? Wrong, very very wrong.

I think it, as in many things, it ultimately comes down to who you know, not what. No matter how right you are trying to do things, if you don’t know the right people.....

8 hours ago, catsmeow1972 said:

I think it, as in many things, it ultimately comes down to who you know, not what. No matter how right you are trying to do things, if you don’t know the right people.....

I could not agree more. Once I have my license free and clear I might just drop a few tips about who to talk to and when. I appreciate everyone's feedback.