Please Help...should I self report?

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Long story short...I am an addict and denial has continued me to the path i am on right now. I was recently called into my supervisors office for suspected diversion. What did I do? DENIED it! Ugh....now I find out its being investigated. I guess i denied everything because every example of suscpious activity that was brought up was not what I diverted. I dont know what I should do. well i know what I SHOULD do...but its not what I want to do. I was terminated from that job. I do have a second job that I work at that doesnt know and i am on good standing with them and never diverted from them. So now I am sitting down trying to decide if I should Call the Health Practioner's Monitoring Program...can i still work when in a recovering program? Will I even be able to get in even if i denied the diverting? Please Help!!!!!

Specializes in LTC, MDS, plasmapheresis.

Funny thing- professional organizations usually protect/nurture those who are in their folds- medicine, law, etc. Nursing boards alone seem to be in existence to throw THEIR own under the bus at every opportunity. Not to mention the underlying mood among nurses that they are probably all guilty of something, and just have yet to be 'caught by the board'. It's sad that the vast majority of everyday nurses can't rise to the holiness of those on the boards, eh?

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Specializes in CRNA, Law, Peer Assistance, EMS.

You have not mentioned what state you live in, but since you mentioned "Health Practioner's Monitoring Program" I am going out on a limb and guessing Virginia. You have heard some horror stories about self reporting to the board....and depending on the state this CAN be a bad idea. However, in states with programs similar to Virginia's Health Practioner's Monitoring Program, self reporting to such an alternative to discipline program is NOT the same as self reporting to the board, preserves your license, gets you the help you need, and allows you to return to work successfully.

You have little choice here. The employer who terminated you will almost certainly report you to the board of nursing. You are a self admitted addict. You know by now that you cannot stop using on your own and that you will NEVER get better on your own. Don't give it a second thought that you denied your use when confronted...in that regard you are the same as 99.9% of health professionals who are confronted with their addiction. It does NOT affect whether you are accepted in the program whatsoever. You can call them anonymously remember, and obtain the information on how things work. If you do nothing at this point, the $hit WILL hit the fan eventually and the consequences may be MUCH worse. You are ready....clearly...so now it is time to stop being sick and tied of being sick and tired. Call them, arrange treatment, and go on medical leave from your current employer.

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Specializes in Impaired Nurse Advocate, CRNA, ER,.

Long time no see foraneman...welcome back!

Jack

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Specializes in CRNA, Law, Peer Assistance, EMS.
jackstem said:
Long time no see foraneman...welcome back!

Jack

Hello Jackie my boy....still fighting the good fight I see!

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Specializes in Impaired Nurse Advocate, CRNA, ER,.
foraneman said:
Hello Jackie my boy....still fighting the good fight I see!

Doing my best, but can never have too much help!!

Jack

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Specializes in air & ground ambulance.
RNism said:
Long story short...I am an addict and denial has continued me to the path I am on right now. I was recently called into my supervisors office for suspected diversion. What did I do? DENIED it! Ugh....now I find out its being investigated. I guess I denied everything because every example of suscpious activity that was brought up was not what I diverted. I don't know what I should do. well I know what I SHOULD do...but its not what I want to do. I was terminated from that job. I do have a second job that I work at that doesnt know and I am on good standing with them and never diverted from them. So now I am sitting down trying to decide if I should Call the Health Practioner's Monitoring Program...can I still work when in a recovering program? Will I even be able to get in even if I denied the diverting? Please Help!!!

If your supervisor is investigating, she may well report the incident to the board. My personal opinion is this. I self reported and the board couldn't jerk my license fast enough. If this gets turned over to the state board they will also contact your new job.

None of this changes the reality to this question. Did or did you not divert drugs? If you answer this question yes, then I would contact your state nurses association for information on what if any programs are available for treatment. I would not be calling the board to ask any questions. With this approach here are the advantages I see. One, you will receive treatment and in doing so this would put you one step ahead of the board. Rather your supervisor didn't catch the "specific" drug you were diverting, isn't the point. It may be painful to hear and to except as you admitted earlier, you have diverted drugs. If you read my earlier post, I don't encourage anyone to talk to the board over the phone, if they call just to ask you a few questions all very innocent, keep in mind you are know giving information to an investigator working on behalf of the state board. Let the board find their information on their own. You are not alone, and if you have any other questions let me know.

My hope is that you seek treatment so you can continue nursing. Linda

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Specializes in med/surg, AIDS, trauma.

i'll bet you feel so alone right now. well believe me you aren't by a longshot there are thousands out there like you and i am one. my hospital caught me diverting and put me in the impaired nurses program. 5 years long with at least one year with direct supervision. i was only able to finish 3 and then went on disability. what should you do? ADMIT YOU HAVE A PROBLEM AND THAT IT HAS TAKEN OVER YOUR LIFE. now with that done start going to narcotics anonymous meetings. if you have not actually been caught doing anything yet STOP diverting and anything else you are doing to get drugs. check into a detox and continue to go to meetings. if you are put into a program by your employer there is nothing you can do but go along with it. NO they will not take you if you don't admit to a problem, why should they? to waste their time and money on someone who doesn't want help? won't happen! i wish you all the best and hope you can fix this on your own, if not go along with what the professionals decide.

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Specializes in LTC, MDS, plasmapheresis.

It's refreshing to see some compassion in here, rather that that other offensive poster that gets off by casting stones. Nursing is awful and hard enough without some others playing the 'pious perfect and pretty as a pea' nonsense. Even though I am atheist- you CANNOT argue with: "Let he among you who is without sin cast the first stone". I don't envy your position. Good luck.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Please consider calling your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) who will provide you information on resources in your community. They should have info on BON monitoring program

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Specializes in air & ground ambulance.

Dear easlel,

I would like to discourage you from contacting the state board of nursing for any reason once your in their sites Lord help you. Your State Nurses Association can give you the same information without having to disclose any personal information. As far as the EAP I just want you to keep one thing in mind...they work for the hospital.........

Linda

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Specializes in LTC, MDS, plasmapheresis.

Do not ever contact a nursing BON unless you have zero options remaining. They exist solely to seperate you from your license.

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Specializes in air & ground ambulance.
Karl Farmer said:
Do not ever contact a nursing BON unless you have zero options remaining. They exist solely to seperate you from your license.

I couldn't agree with you more Karl...Linda

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