I am a BSN new grad nurse. I was asked to sign an agreement with stipulations from the BON before I could get my approval to take the NCLEX. I have a criminal history and also am a recovered addict. I haven't touched a drink or drug in over 5 years. My criminal history consists of one very serious violent altercation. The other two were just detainment for drunken disorderly conduct.
I completed all requirements of my probation and I worked to have my charge reduced and eventually dismissed. I have not been in trouble with the law since getting sober.
I was totally honest and upfront with my RN application and disclosed everything, including my active participation in my recovery today which is based around the 12 step program of AA. I.e, I have a sponsor and also sponsor other guys in the program.
I was a little surprised to hear that the BON wants to put me on a monitoring program with stipulations. These include not having the ability to give narcs or work a night shift my first year as a nurse. It also includes minor things like having to get a meeting slip signed and not being able to work more than 90 hours in two weeks. They said these requirements are backed up by research and evidence shows that new nurses in recovery tend to relapse in their first year of being a nurse. So it's not like they're pulling this stuff out of thin air it seems.
The two major ones I'm struggling with are the night shift and the narcotics stipulations. I want to work night shift med-surg or ER and I have an interview at a hospital on Tuesday where nurses can get up to 7 patients. Not being able to give narcs would make things...well..interesting.
What do you guys think? Anyone have experience with being put on monitoring, without actually doing anything wrong? Should I appeal? I think I'm going to. I understand the board is there to protect the public and I told them that I don't want to seem like I'm fighting. We are on the same side and they agree.
Also...any fellow nurses in recovery? I find this unsettling that I would immediately have to blow my anonymity before even stepping foot on the floor on my first day. My coworkers AND probably my patients will ask why I can't give narcotics. I'm not going to lie.
I was looking at ADA laws and there is one that explicitly forbids employers or governing bodies(like the board) from restricting someone from participating in services based on a history of mental illness or disability. I don't know if I'm going to go in there playing lawyer though. This is just seems unfair with 5 years sober and no open cases.
I'm sure that someone has played that card before though. I think that they could probably argue that they are exempt from ADA since they are working with people who work with vulnerable populations and controlled substances.
I also was placed on monitoring as a new grad. My story is a little different as I only have 2 DUIs on my record. I went through all of the state requirements for my DUIs and finished nursing school after. I have nothing else on my record and I am 41 years old. They are requiring 5 years of monitoring which includes drug and alcohol testing once a week, so I pretty much cannot leave town for anything. I am not limited on giving narcotics, but I can only work under supervision and have to assign one nurse as my supervisor. So I can only work their schedule. I did this for a year..l..paying close to $500 a month in lab fees and counseling fees. My hours were cut at work and now I have decided to give up. I cant afford to pay the lab fees when I can barely work d/t the restrictions. Terrible thing is I was a great nurse. State even let me be a mentor for a student nurse...while on the monitoring program...while being supervised. The problem is, in my opinion, BON is God. I feel there is nothing I can do regardless if I feel I am being treated harshly at the least. Thaats how it feels in Wisconsin anyway. So good luck to you....wish you the best
I appealed my narc restriction to a separate professional committee and I won :) I think it helped that I had an interview that week and I was accepted for the job, pending I get the restriction removed.
I just told the truth about my recovery and the work I put in with my meetings. I have my ATT and a job offer. Now I can stop rewatching Game of Thrones and start studying! My test is in 13 days.
I'm sorry your having to go through this it does seem unfair but I guess it doesn't matter what you or I think it's not going to change more than likely. I am going through monitoring myself, but in my case I was diverting from my hospital.
All you can do is be honest in your interview, don't disclose anything until the end. You have years of sobriety to show that change is possible and people do recover. You haven't been using ,you haven't stolen ,you've been doing all the right things. Just keep doing them. If they want you to jump through more hoops, jump them. Do what they want you to do and be done with it.
How long are you being monitored? How long is your narc restriction for? Mines for 6 months. So for me, I'm going to have to work dialysis or home care or nursing home for at least that long but after 6 months I can look elsewhere. It's not what I want but it's what I have to deal with temporarily.
You didn't read my last post..no worries. I appealed and got the narc restriction lifted. I think my entire monitoring will last for 3 years. Looks like you got fortunate with having 6 months. Maybe you will get some worthy experience and apply it if you return to the floor. Good luck.
That is an amazing outcome... almost seems unbelievable! May I ask what BON you are dealing with? I cannot believe they amended their stipulations without a lawyer... and that you got a job from your first interview in med surg? Your experience is like 1/999999.... be proud and feel lucky. Most of us were stuck interviewing for position after position until we were blue in the face and ready to quit nursing altogether. Just amazing to hear there is hope for the future.
applesxoranges, BSN, RN
2,242 Posts
I'm sure that someone has played that card before though. I think that they could probably argue that they are exempt from ADA since they are working with people who work with vulnerable populations and controlled substances.