Over 2 years now , do I need a lawyer?

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Hi all. As most of you know, Feb marked 2 years since I spoke with a BON investigator. I still haven't heard anything. I'm thinking when I do , I will probably need a lawyer. I would see where a lawyer might get me out of a monitoring program. Hell I've been sober over 2 years now, have a RN dialysis job and completed a rehab program. I have a AA/NA sponsor and attend meetings/sheet signed. I diverted and admitted to it. Wish I had hired a lawyer 2 years ago!

Any thoughts? I've been practicing 2 years with no issues .

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If nothing else, it would not hurt to find the lawyer you would want to use when the time comes. You now have the time to tend to this without the distraction of deadlines. Also, the lawyer might be able to advise you on any additional steps you might want to consider.

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Specializes in OR.

It might not be a bad idea. You've done everything they supposedly want you to do (except puke up a metric ton of money to shove into the pockets of some useless program. I would think that the BON would listen to an attorney much more than they'd listen to you. Lawyers know how to say things the right way. That's why they make the big bucks. In my personal experience, they earn it too.

There's also something to be said for being able to turn all communications over to the lawyer and not getting any surprise! Telephone calls or anything.

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Yeah Tiff I'd lawyer up. Your lawyer would have some defense to some of the idiotic requirements they expect out of new members of the you are stuck in monitoring hades club.

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Definitely get an attorney, or at least decide on one in case you hear from the BON. If I hadn't retained an attorney, even though I tested negative twice after baseless accusations, I am certain I would have ended up in RAMP, which is NJ's monitoring program.

The BON is not your friend. The desire for nurses to hurt other nurses goes all the way to the top.

Incidentally, my lawyer explained that it is easier to defend a doctor accused of diversion or something along those lines than it is an RN. The state medical boards usually stand behind their own, unlike BON's.

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Specializes in ER, ICU/CCU, Open Heart OR Recovery, Etc.

Get the lawyer now, while you still have the time to deal with it.

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