In a very bad spot

Nurses Career Support

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Where do I start? I lost my job as a visiting nurse in the community on Christmas eve of last year. To make a long story short a patient of mine that was addicted to pain meds filed a complaint about me stealing her medication. Nothing could have been further from the truth. I had a meeting and was suspended and later lost my job. I filed a grievance and recieved some compensation for lost wages and worktime during this crazy time. I was told by my previous employer that they submitted a complaint to the college of nurses. I was fortunate to find another job as a supervisor at that and felt that I was getting my life back on track. Until recently I recieved a letter from the college of nurses that stated they felt that I was incapacitated and need to right a response to this acqusation. It took me 3 days to write out a detailed package about the situation, the client that called in the theft of meds is on heavy doses of pain meds and has mental problems. On top of it all my supervisor at the time had been disciplined for making it publicly known that she did not like me (I have lots of friends and do not know why as I have done nothing to her.) After I sent the package in the mail the college of nurses called my NEW current employeer with concerns about me. I was pulled into the office and was asked what was going on. I broke down crying and explained everything to my NEW manager and she was very understanding and could not believe these acquasations as I was doing very well with my new job and had not missed one day in 6months there. Pretty good for someone who is apparently incapaciated. A few weeks later recieved a letter in the mail that the panel believes that I am indeed incapitatiated. I have been working for half a year incapicated? I have an apointment with an addiction specialist and I am very worried about this. I have never taken any medication or anything from any of my patients. My husband and my 11 year old daughter have been my only reason not to pack it all in. I have been trying to concieve for the last 10 years so my daughter could have a sibling and I am not incapacitaed. OMG. I suffer from Migraines and do have some powerful medications in my cabinet at home but do not use them unless I cannot move from the pain. That worries me as the addicition specialist might look at that the wrong way. I am being as brief as possible here without babbling too much. I have an apointment in a few months and I am worried that I will indeed loss a second job and my license all because of a patient whom I cared dearily about stabbed me in the back with numerous lies. I have had no complaints prior and have not missed a day. I am actually made fun of in a good way that I don't miss any time and now I am being investigated. What do I do? Do I have faith in the system or get a lawyer? I am thinking a lawyer is a must at this point. I didn't think I would need one as I thought it was cut and dry but I guess it is not. Bless you all and thank you for all your advice. I hope I can practise nursing at my new job because if I lose this one and my license we will have to collect food stamps. :crying2: I am an honest and loveable person, life has been very cruel the last year. I love nursing and my job but I am on the verge of a breakdown.

Sincerely,

Woundcare72 xo

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Specializes in 10.

I am so sorry to hear about your issue. I think getting a lawyer is the best bet. Sometimes when we care about our patients and others we get kicked in the butt. Keep your head up, and try to stay positive. You and your family are in my thoughts.

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I am sorry to hear about this awful situation. Yes, I think a lawyer would be a very good idea. Yes, unfortunately in today's world you never know when someone is going to turn against you and make up terrible lies. I sure don't like paying for but I am so glad I have it now after reading this thread.

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Specializes in Cardiovascular/Thoracic Surgery Recovery.

Definitely get a lawyer. Definitely definitely. The lawyer will halp you get to the medical records of the patient. Hopefully good nurses notes were taken. What if this patient has made this claim about other nurses? A lawyer could help you find out. What if the patient said the SAME thing about the nurse that worked before you, but your mean supervisor only included you? That could be a serious civil suit. So far all you know is what you THINK you know. You need the means to get to the facts. It may be costly, but peice of mind is priceless.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Based on the OP's terminology, it doesn't appear that she is in the US. I am not familiar with non-US processes, so I wouldn't have any advice to offer -- just an enormous amount of sympathy for the ordeal she is experiencing. It's shocking that the nursing authority could take such actions without a shred of objective evidence. I do agree that legal assistance seems to be warranted.

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Yes I am looking into getting a lawyer. Going to the addiction doctor to prove a point that their isn't any issues. All this is being stipulated and they have never seen me or talked with me, my supervisor or the patient that filed the compaint for that matter. I feel like my family and I are in a bad dream. I will keep the board posted. Never a complaint in my entire life and I get one that is possibly going to ruin my career. Not fair at all. xo

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Specializes in Emergency Department, House Supervisor.

Dear Woundcare,

As a completer of a Diversion program in California, I have a lot of things that I would do differently if I had it to do again. Get a lawyer. Understand this...the BRN is not your FRIEND. I am posting a page from my blog about what it is like to enter a diversion program.

Life in the Circus:jester:

During the first year or two, the newly sober, newly grateful RN in the Diversion program is shuffled from point A to point B, directed to jump through hoop C while providing a random urine drug sample in mid air and instructed to land precisely on a red rubber ball at point D. It is required that these feats be accomplished without any visible sign of RESENTMENT (resentment is the “f” word of Recovery and is a dead giveaway that you are "using" and therefore must go back to point A on the game board and start your life term over) while reciting the creed of the Repentant…” I am grateful.” “I deserve every sting of the whip.” “ I am here because of my own actions and I AM grateful.”

Any more hoops? More hoops please. Bring on the hoops!

You go to 90 meetings in 90 days. If you are discovered to have missed any meetings, Here you go... another 90 meetings, complements of the BRN.

Two meetings on one day does not earn you a free day.

Pay close attention to this part because we tried to make it simple for you. It’s called “90.…in... 90” …Clever…No?. Are you feeling grateful yet? We will know if you miss missed any meetings because you will keep track of your meetings on a little card by having it signed each time by the meeting chairperson…because you are a drug addict after all and certainly cannot be trusted to fill the card out yourself.

It makes some sort of sense to the BRN to have another drug addict verify your attendance at a meeting of drug addicts.

So, just like the newly paroled and the repeat DUIs , you turn in a card at the beginning of each meeting and you do not get it back until the end… But unlike the other two types of “card” attendees, who will do this for 30 to 60 meetings, you will be getting your card signed for at least three of your four to five years. You can look forward to the experience of walking into an AA meeting with three years clean and sober and getting a card signed. “this little piece of shame was brought to you today by the Board of Registered Nursing, the preferred sponsor of the Stigma Program for Drug Addicted and Mentally deranged nurses.”

If you want to go somewhere overnight, be sure to ask, “Mother May I? “ at least two weeks in advance. In the Diversion Program, autonomy has an alternate spelling…P-E-E I-N T-H-I-S C-U-P…It’s true. You actually do sign your personal freedom away in exchange for a chance to play the game; the final showcase being that your circus act will have a finale, a disappearing act. No disciplinary file on record. You are done. You are redeemed. If you are not actually transformed back to normal, you are at least allowed to wear the mask again. And you may do so without the A…without the Scarlet A. … “Hmmm,” says the Ring leader, “since your offenses were less severe than some others, you might suffer from the delusion that Normality is within your ultimate grasp.”

“What else might you lay on the sacrificial table in exchange for the Golden N stamp?” “Will you give us your dignity? your self-respect?…will you give us what remains of your self esteem?…in exchange for the golden N?”…”Hmmm?”…”If we take away the A?”…

And you want the answer to be “no,” but in the final accounting…you will…oh yes…you will. The BRN is the “dope man” of normality. “Get your cotton candy here! And a free ‘My mommy is a drug addict in the BRN Diversion Program’ bumper Sticker…

While supplies last.”:nurse:

I have more of my story on my blog. Message me if you are interested in knowing the url.

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