Probation

[mississippiRN71]

 I  have already been through probation with the board and now potentially being reported again is scaring me to death because I was on actual probation not monitoring.  I was  on onprobation  with the BON from 2019 to 2022. and now I am probably going to get reported to the board for diversion of one narcotic.  All of this happened yesterday and I had to go do a random drug screen at LabCorp and I'm afraid my urine was dilute because I take a blood pressure medicine with a diuretic in it and I already had coffee and energy drink because I didn't go for a test Until 2 o'clock. If someone has been reported to the board twice, please give me some input. I don't know whether to go ahead and self-report to Mississippi's monitoring  program. My DON did tell me so far it has  gone  through HR. That's where the order for the drug screen came from.. She told me she was going to do everything she could possibly do for me to keep me from getting fired.  But she doesn't have much experience with how all of that works. I am absolutely scared to death. 

[SheelaDavis]

No offense here, but there are some obvious glaring information that you left out.

Did you divert? Do you have a drug problem? Far more info is needed to know whether or not you need to self report to monitoring.

[beachynurse, ASN, BSN]

I would consult an attorney that specializes in Nursing Boards and see if you can at least get a free consult. 

[mississippiRN71]

I did on Friday. . Thank you 

[beachynurse, ASN, BSN]

mississippiRN71 said:

I did on Friday. . Thank you 

Good luck!!

[Healer555]

How is probation different from a monitoring agreement?

[SheelaDavis]

Probation is an Administrative or Disciplinary action from the BON related to your license such as a warning, a verbal reprimand, a written reprimand, a public written reprimand, probation, suspension, temporary suspension, revocation, etc.

A Monitoring Aggrement is a Requirement from the BON that may or may Not be required to fulfill paragraph A above.  For example, nurse diverts narcs. Nurse gets probation from the BON and a requirement of the probation is a monitoring agreement where the nurse can be monitored for drugs (random testing, etc.) Another example, a Nurse gets in a fistfight at a soccer game or the nurse opens up their own porn website in which they sometimes interact or show themselves in the website and the BON finds out about the fistfight or porn site. The BON puts the nurse license on probation. No drugs or alcohol were involved in any of the events. Does the nurse need a monitoring agreement for drugs or alcohol testing? No, of course not. Now, the nurse may have to meet requirements related to taking a class on anger management due to the fight they had at soccer game and see a counselor for anger management for 6 months, etc, but thats different than a drug monitoring agreement/consent order related to monitoring for drugs.

These are examples above of the difference in Monitoring Agreement and Probation and how they often go hand in hand, but not always.

[RNigothis]

Healer555 said:

How is probation different from a monitoring agreement?

🔵 Probation = Public discipline

This is when the Board has already taken action on your license.

It comes with:

• a consent order

• your discipline posted publicly

• restrictions the Board imposes

• heavy Board involvement

• a permanent public mark

Probation is punitive and meant to discipline.

🟢 Monitoring Agreement = Alternative-to-Discipline

This is NOT probation and is NOT public.

Programs are confidential and supportive.

They usually include:

• therapy

• random testing

• check-ins

• temporary restrictions if needed

But:

• no public record

• no published reason

• no permanent mark

• the goal is recovery + safe practice, not punishment

These programs are rehabilitative, not disciplinary.

🔶 How they interact:

If you enroll and stay compliant in a monitoring program:

👉 the Board usually does NOT issue probation

👉 the complaint is dismissed when you finish

👉 the license stays non-disciplinary

If someone refuses, quits, or gets terminated from monitoring:

👉 THEN the Board may open formal discipline (which can lead to probation)

So monitoring is basically a way to prevent public discipline and keep your career moving forward while getting support. 

BUT...

As part of your probation the board can demand one to go into monitoring. 

 

 

[JohnHood, BSN]

I've had experience with the MS Board of Nursing, but it was on the reporting end and it was probably 30 years ago, The case I was involved in was with a RN on probation on one of my floors. At that time the board's goal was more rehab than punishment. I found them to be fair, but I can tell you that honesty and accountability go a long way. Good luck to you.

[mississippiRN71]

Thank you so much . Any idea on how they may react since it's my second time?