Probation

Nurse1980, ADN · Jun 7, 2021

My situation with the cops was the opposite. I did not get a DUI. My husband helped them search the car! He was cooperative and I was already on my way to the hospital. I didn’t damage any property. Only my own car. They didn’t want to do the paperwork and do an arrest, plus the only alcohol that was found was in my thermos which was more than half full which cooborates my story of only having 4 shots. I started a new medication a week prior that and this topiramate, and I had not drank a drop of alcohol since September when I self reported for drinking during covid. I was impulsive, not myself, an emotional mess, and these 4 shots made me a complete nightmare. I haven’t drank since. But since I drove drunk on my lunch hour, and called my supervisor, that’s how I got reported to the board. I resigned the next day. I wasn’t reported from my job until 2 months later after I started a new job. My license was summarily suspended. So luckily, my job will probably take me back, but my lawyer says we have a fight on our hands
I accept responsibility, and I know probation is coming, but I don’t know what all to expect. Every state is different

I’m in a step study, AA, take natrexone injections, celebrate recovery, counseling etc and have been doing so on my own without the board. I’ve been doing that since September. Added the naltrexone injections and increased frequencies of meetings and my step study after the February incident. I have done drug screens when my lawyer requests randomly to help my case, including ETOH. So I am doing everything that I possibly can to fix this. Did I mess up? Absolutely. Do I deserve to be punished for my actions? Yes. Should nurses be in a one size fits all program or probation agreement? NO! Should nurses be stressed out and go bankrupt trying to recover from addiction or substance abuse, or whatever mistake or problem they have? No! Things need to change and I understand that a 5 year program is fitting for some, but not all. It should be tailored to the nurse. I know so many nurses that I have met who have relapsed and lost everything they own because of these programs. The nursing board should be there to protect the public, yes, but they need to protect their nurses too! There has to be a better way.

I still don’t have a decision from the board yet, and it will be a couple months at least because my lawyer has to get with their attorney and present evidence. Which their is a lot more to the story than what I’m posting on here that will help my case. I am almost done with nurse practitioner school and I am sitting out this semester because of my suspension but can return once I am on monitoring.

in probation, am I looking at going bankrupt?
also, I hear that discipline is visible for life.

allnurses Guide · Jun 8, 2021

8 hours ago, LMRN2003 said:

@Nurse1980 The 2 options you just named sound very similar to what we have in CA. "Diversion" is an alternative to discipline program and if you successfully complete it, your license is clean. Many lawyers recommend against it but I was offered it and wish I would have accepted because it would have resulted in the same exact thing I'm doing now on probation. It can be up to 5 years (just like probation), but is typically 3 (just like probation). Not everyone is offered Diversion. Seems like ppl that are convicted of DUIs and other stuff don't seem to be offered it. Nurses that divert meds are often offered it.

As far as the National Practitioner Data Bank goes, you are able to write a statement, which is meant to be your side of the story. I did this for mine. You can also dispute it in attempt to try and have it removed. I plan on doing this once my arrest is sealed. I was never convicted of anything. The arrest did not even get sent to the District Attorney (because it was so stupid). My arrest was ridiculous (my husband was accidentally scratched when I was trying to grab his phone while he was calling my mom in attempt to make me mad) and I was arrested for DV. Stupidest thing I've ever heard of. I should not have been arrested. I truly believe this is all about money and quotas. The cops should have made a judgment call and not have arrested me. I think that with DV CA policies, though, they may not have had a choice, which is insane. This entire situation cost my family thousands and was not helpful for anyone. Even in the worst case scenario, if my husband and I separated/divorced, this result was not helpful. It has made it more difficult for me to find a job, placed a financial burden on me, which, in turn, affects my kids. My husband was very angry that day but still did but want to press any charges. At all. Cops have way too much power.

To answer your question about getting a job, yes, it is more difficult. Once you are no longer on probation, though, it is definitely easier. You may have to explain your situation but may not have to as much as you think. It is mostly an issue while you are being disciplined.

So who called the police?

LMRN2003, MSN, RN · Jun 8, 2021

@hppygr8ful My husband called my parents. They were out of town and we were at their home (where we had previously lived a few months before. Also was my childhood home). My parents assumed I was drunk (I wasn't; I had drank the night before) and thought it would "teach me a lesson" if he called the police. They assumed the police would just take me to the "drunk tank" (doesn't exist anymore and hasn't for years). He was just listening to them. He is not from CA and is from TX, where police are different. If this would have occurred in TX, I probably wouldn't have been arrested. He didn't know this would happen. He would have never called. He thought they would just tell me to leave. He just wanted the situation diffused. He didn't realize his hand was scratched (because it was SO MINOR). One of the cops happened to notice the cut on his hand while getting his report. He was also pissed at me so vented to them a bit which he completely regrets now. He said they were literally laughing when they went up the front porch stairs to arrest me. Stupidest thing ever. I could see if we were in public fighting, you know? Disturbing the peace, etc., but we were literally at a private home. No one was there or around except for him, I, and my youngest child. She was not around us when we were fighting. She was in the back room playing/watching TV. Again, police have WAY too much power. He spent $2800 bailing me out. I spent about 16 hours in police custody. And, for what? Money and bulls$$$. It was terrible. I don't recommend it. LOL. I am accountable for my actions, but this was insane and the punishment most definitely DOES NOT fit the crime. Like I said, no charges were even filed. Didn't even make it to the D.A.'s desk b/c they had NO case. This shouldn't have been reported to the BRN and the BRN should not have power to act upon arrests that do not result in convictions. Period.

amanda hoeft · Jun 20, 2021

On 2/12/2021 at 6:09 PM, LMRN2003 said:

Yes! Laurapearce19@gmail.com. We also have a facebook group. I'm sure Elis will invite you. ?

I would like to join the FB group, as well ?

Nurse1980, ADN · Jul 9, 2021

I would still like to join the facebook group.

How do I get approved?

justgeorge89, BSN, LVN · Oct 8, 2021

Heyyyyyyyy =]

Newbie to probation checking out how this all works (shitting myself everyday), testing starts next week and cant find a provider to do the physical/mental health eval.... getting a bit anxious, if anyone has any pro tips on what to do and how the program is so far , or if they know a provider in the SoCal region

❤️

LMRN2003, MSN, RN · Oct 9, 2021

21 minutes ago, justgeorge89 said:

Heyyyyyyyy =]

Newbie to probation checking out how this all works (shitting myself everyday), testing starts next week and cant find a provider to do the physical/mental health eval.... getting a bit anxious, if anyone has any pro tips on what to do and how the program is so far , or if they know a provider in the SoCal region

❤️

Welcome to the club! The first couple of months are the toughest; mostly because you do have to get that eval done and it takes a bit of time to become acclimated. I promise it does get better and easier.

What part of SoCal are you in? I know of a few fellow Probationary RNs is in that area that have used a practitioner named Dr. Daniel Hendricks. I also have a guy in my Nurse Support Group (NSG) that recently moved down to that area and had to find a new practitioner, so I can ask him who he's using. I've been in the program since 12/31/20, and it has gone by pretty quickly. It is certainly not easy, but becomes manageable.

justgeorge89, BSN, LVN · Oct 9, 2021

Thank you so much for the info. Im in the Inland Empire, halfway between LA and SD.