Ohio BON help

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Hi everyone! I am currently an LPN in Ohio. I was working at an assisted living facility for about 6 months. All was good, things were great. I got my 90 day eval in Jan which should have been done in Nov. My boss had no complaints, told me I was doing an amazing job, please stay with us, we need you here, yatta yatta. All was great! So then a week later I get called into a conference room and asked if I was stealing po Haldol and then told that I was the only nurse giving Ultram (as prescribed) but not charting it. She then informed me that I was being accused of reasonable susspicion and that someone was there to do a drug screen. I walked in to do my drug screen and asked what would happen if I didnt take it. Employer said that I would ve resigning. And that is what I did. All I could think was that I wanted an attorney if this was turning into a real issue before I did anything. My foot was already out the door as I had been going on interviews. So I quit and within a day was on an interview and then another one. Both offered me a job and I chose the one with dayturn hours. I drug tested, was given a schedule, a PPD and a date to start orientation. I had no trouble passing a drug screen what so ever and have nothing to hide. I was contacted by Ohio BON and they are coming local to have a meeting with me. Does anyone have any advice about this? I have 2 friends who have dealt with the board and both are confused that they are coming locally to meet with me. They did not tell me over the phone what my former employer has said about me. She just said they want to sit down and go over what was said and want me to bring my resume of all the places Ive worked as a nurse. I am very worried and have never been in trouble. Anyone else deal with something like this? Any advice or experience would be great to share. Thanks in advance!

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Specializes in Clinical Leadership, Staff Development, Education.

For a nurse, unfortunately, refusing to take drug test will result in nurse being reported to the state's BON. If you have your employee handbook, you can review the facilities policy. I would be prepared to answer the board's question of why you refused to take drug test. It may be routine to meet nurses locally in your state. Do you know if the facility was accusing you of diverting large quantities? Have you had any problems with substance abuse in the past?

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I work in a small town, the same town I was born and raised in. I am an addict in recovery and have been sober almost 2 years now. I took time away from nursing when I was going through it so I would never be in this kind of trouble. Everywhere I have read said that the Haldol will be thrown out since it is in a bottle and other nurses can get to it. The Ultram was ordered 50 mg po twice a day prn. I deal with elderly dementia/alz. Every morning and evening I asked and medicated all of my residents within their orders if they said yes, Im in pain. He just happened to have Ultram. I was tge only one who gave it to him so they said it looked suspicious. She also accused me of not charting it when I gave it which is crazy!!! We just switch to point click care and I was a veteran at using that system. But at this facility we had so many problems with the point click. Orders would show up, they would disappear, they would be the wrong time, show up twice, not show up at all. It was a nightmare but nothing compared to this nightmare. I do believe people in my facility who know me and of my past have told upper management. Just my thoughts. I feel like something horrible is being pinned on me. Thus, I was not agreeing to a drug screen unless I had a lawyer and this was being made legal.

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sorry this has happened to you. you shoukd have taken the drug test the employer offered you. I have been licensed as a nurse in Ohio since 2005. and i learned in nursing school, if someone refuses to take a random drug screen or a drug screen given to them under "suspicion" it COULD POSSIBLY be looked at as an automatic positive and reported to the board of nursing.

Now that you have discussed you backgroud (addict in recovery; almost 2 years) it makes me wonder why didnt you take the drug screen? it does look very suspicious....to me anyway. im not here to judge, just giving you an outsiders perspective on how i looks for someone who has a past of drug abuse and claims to be sober for 2 yrs, to skip ou and refuse to take a drug screeening test.

Most nurses who i have worked with in the oast who were recovering/past addicts....would proudly and gladly take the random drug test, just to prove to others, themselves and doubters that they were in fact, drug free.

You should have done the same.

As far as the board of nursing is concerned, they wil fo any and all to investigate whatever it is you emoloyer told them or explained to them..its your employers job to report drug screen refusals esoecially when medication diversion is possibly an issue or the cause. TELL THE BON EVERYTHING THEY WANT TO KNOW. be honest and transparent with them. do not offer any negative information about the facility (menaing slamming them in the mud) unless the BON ask. Slamming the facility couod make you appear guilty and make it look as if you are trying to retaliats against them. Please be upfront with the board and try to keep you spirit up when talking to them. This is a stat agencyb that is only doing their job.

In closing, this is a lesson; learn from it. hopefully there is no "next time" but if it is, IF YOU HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE...TAKE THE DRUG SCREEN!!!

and congrads on being 2yrs sober.

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I am in no way trying to get an attitude and I understand what you are saying but unless I had my attorney, I wasnt doing anything. I also included in my original story that I sought and obtained employment very quickly, 2 days after, was drug screened and past and am currently working. Im not hiding anything but I also know a lot of very good attorneys and have since hired one who has told me that I did the right thing. And the fact that I sought, obtained employment and was screened will work in my favor. All I am wondering is why the board of nursing is traveling 3.5 hours to me rather than have me come to them and if anyone has experienced this.

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Specializes in Home Health (PDN), Camp Nursing.

Contact a lawyer who is familiar with dealing with the BON and diversion issues. Even if everything you say is 100% true, your situation is critical. A wrong move will have drastic consequences for your career. Just go poke around the recovery forum and see how this usually goes. Lawyer NOW. No meeting or statement without council. The BON is not out to find the truth, or help you. They are out to protect the public from a potentially dangerous nurse.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

You need a license defense nurse. TAANA Executive Office - Home has a list of nurse attorneys that do this type of administrative law.

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

Now that you have discussed you backgroud (addict in recovery; almost 2 years) it makes me wonder why didnt you take the drug screen? it does look very suspicious....to me anyway. im not here to judge, just giving you an outsiders perspective on how i looks for someone who has a past of drug abuse and claims to be sober for 2 yrs, to skip ou and refuse to take a drug screeening test.

Most nurses who i have worked with in the oast who were recovering/past addicts....would proudly and gladly take the random drug test, just to prove to others, themselves and doubters that they were in fact, drug free.

You should have done the same.

I know for some people, this is hard to comprehend. Why wouldn't Lulu "just take the test". I speak from 13 years experience as a recovering alcoholic/addict.

We get tired of defending ourselves. Yes, I am proud that I have been sober for 13 years now, but, there are still those who constantly question us.

Here is an example. My own sister said to me, after I told her the company I am working for was going on a boat party, "are you sure you should be doing that? I mean, won't there be beer?". UGH

Now I know most people will say, well, she is just concerned for you, etc. But, it really does get old, having people ask you, even if they are well meaning, if you should be doing this or that.

Mind you, not everyone does this to a person in recovery, but, I can say I have felt the same way the OP did, when questioned about my sobriety.

That being said, OP, stick with your attorney and let them handle the board. Ask if they should be with you when you meet.

Good luck and keep your head up. Two years is a HUGE accomplishment. Congratulation!

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Oh boy!!! I think you are walking into a whirl-wind of poop. I'm not trying to be negative but simply honest. You are accused of diverting. You have a history and you refused a drug test. Ouch. I think its likely you are going to wind up in whatever the Ohio version of a monitoring program is. You really need qualified counsel on this issue to prepare for this meeting. Your history should be considered private medical information but I think you sign releases to your medical records when these programs are offered so it may be likely that even if you don't volunteer any information about prior treatment they are going to find out. I hope your lawyer can help you but honestly I think you need to prepare yourself for a bunch of BS that is simply going to suck. I wish you luck and I hope you are not the newest hostage to this nonsense but I don't have high hopes. Brace yourself emotionally and financially for a beating.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

Absolutely get a lawyer if you can, a honest and simple response can be twisted and used against you and this has the potential to ruin your livelihood.

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In Illinois a refusal is an automatic positive. I don't see why Ohio would be any different. I know you passed 2 days later but that doesn't mean you would have been negative the day in question. Some drugs are out of your system within 2 days so this doesn't prove your innocence. I have to recommend you get a lawyer but don't be surprised if the lawyer recommends you comply with the monitoring program. I hope Ohio has an alternative to discipline program.

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Specializes in OR.
..... but I think you sign releases to your medical records when these programs are offered so it may be likely that even if you don't volunteer any information about prior treatment they are going to find out. I hope your lawyer can help you but honestly I think you need to prepare yourself for a bunch of BS that is simply going to suck. I wish you luck and I hope you are not the newest hostage to this nonsense but I don't have high hopes. Brace yourself emotionally and financially for a beating.

I did not sign any releases for my medical info prior to the ‘evaluation'. Of course with that, language was invented to justify the need for rehab and monitoring, as with most of them....

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