Wizard 1

It depends on what action was taken by the NPDB. If you have been barred from practicing a given length of time by them/OIG, you will not be able to practice until that time has been completed in any facilities who receive Medicare or Medicaid (Federal and State) funding. Once that time is over, you can write back to them and find out the process to get yourself back in good standing. This will usually involve filling out a form, answering questions, and making it clear what has changed during the time you were barred from practice. They will notify you when the bar has been lifted (I suggest keeping a copy of this and the original typed letter).

Best of luck to you!

Reinstate her license after requiring some re-education, and a period of supervised probation/practice. I have no way of knowing this for sure, but I bet getting charged and convicted for her mistake has resulted in re-assessing behavior and learning from her mistakes. She's already been pilloried and punished more than enough. What about the system for dispensing medications? Has anyone looked into that? Can we stop being so punitive and scapegoating, and really design a system/systems that can reduce the incidence of these by looking at root causes and fixing them, versus punishing the nurse? Can we start staffing properly and supporting nurses so they aren't in such a hurry all the time? This sets a dangerous precedent for nurses that is ridiculous and uncalled for.

This. I'm an RN that runs a business from home. I know full well that while the sentiments were certainly appreciated for those doing difficult work, the real "rubber meets the road" test is making working conditions safe, staffing properly, getting PPE and not making hospital staff re use it, paying well, and giving a damn about them enough to actually talk to them and make sure they have what they need. Nurses leave for a reason. It doesn't appear that corporate healthcare has learned their lesson, merely bemoaning the lack of nurses. They do the same thing for Nurses Day/Month. Enough with the trinkets. Supply the basics as noted above. Stop trying to fatten the balance sheet on the backs of nurses and to the detriment of patients.

I concur with the suggestion to hire an attorney who specializes in licensure defense ASAP.

Do get a lawyer that specializes in Board of Nursing matters. Do NOT talk to anyone, Board of Nursing, etc without your lawyer present. Get the hair and urine testing done, that may hold you in good stead if the employer did decide to report you, especially since they elected to not get a drug test. This is not a done deal. Find a lawyer. Easier to fight it now than to not fight it and decide later to.

I believe the National Council of State Boards of Nursing has such a course. The url is https://NCSBN.org.

It is a hard thing, but where we are. Kudos to you for looking out for yourself.

I left nursing, eventually started my own business, got my license out of suspension and on probation. Now the state board where I was originally licensed wants to keep me on probation for reasons that I'll not go into here, that have everything to do with my moving to another state and having hoops to jump through that I shouldn't have to. Suffice it to say that I'll likely just stay on permanent probation because of the red tape and money involved to completely resolve it, because I'm just done with that. It isn't worth it to me and there are other options.

Of interest to Indiana nurses and others ... Read in its entirety: Indiana Nursing Board Discriminates Against Nurses Seeking Opioid Help: DOJ

Great article! It masterfully illustrates how important taking a good history is, even with a "young and healthy" G1P1. If the suspicious symptoms such as the persistent headache, "not feeling right" and visual deficits in an otherwise healthy woman are there, don't wait until the BP is off the charts. The neurological symptoms and postpartum status are concerning enough to not wait on getting them seen by a doctor.

Most excellent! Congratulations!

Congratulations! Good on you! *hug* You did it!

I'm pretty sure that even if the licensure status is unencumbered, it stays on NPDB. It also stays on Nursys.com and more than likely can be found on the state's licensure site. Nursys and state licensure sites are searchable by the public.

Definitely change your screen name to a pseudonym. Listen to your lawyer, don't bring details here, and don't talk to anyone that tries to get information. Welcome to AN. You definitely have support here.

Most excellent! Congratulations!

I wouldn't think they'd Spring that on you the last minute. Usually if something's wrong you'd have been notice. This close to your contract end date, I'd say that you're probably OK if you've followed instructions and handed in everything you've been told to. Keep walking. You're getting closer every day. You got this.

I'd be very assertive about finding out what is going on here. Do you have it in writing that you're supposed to be tested X amount of times? Did they give you a number? I'd be very surprised if they attempt to extend your contract. They can't just do that for no reason? I say that because I went one month past my contract, because my caseworker did not know how to read a test and told me it was positive! I ended up contacting the program director, who promptly told me that test in question was NEGATIVE and I had my completion letter in my email within the hour. Don't be paranoid, just do not assume they are looking out for you. Follow up and keep up.

I had to be pushier than I felt I needed to be, and eventually contact the program director, who confirmed I was eligible for completion and I got the completion letter within the hour. This was not in the last year or so, it was before they changed program provider. My suggestion is to keep checking in, don't imbibe in anything that might show up on testing. Wait until you get that completion letter and follow that up with "So, I have completed this and no longer have to check in or be available for testing with Affinity?". Also, if your license was suspended/put on probation, make sure you contact the Board to make sure they receive your completion letter and if you have an attorney, make sure they contact the Board to see about getting the suspension/probation lifted. Good luck. You've got this.

Funny that states are now calling doctors and nurses who have retired to come and help care for Covid-19 patients. Age has nothing to do with this. Remember that if one lives long enough, one will become an older nurse. Be mindful of that when questioning whether mandatory retirements should be put into play.

It depends on what the application for licensure specifically asks. If it asks only for convictions and does not specify expungements then most likely you aren't required to disclose. Double check with state law to make sure and read everything carefully. Best to seek the advice of an attorney on this.

Get a license defense attorney and discuss this with them. I used to attend online meetings at home. Back then affinity was not requiring check out, only a sign in. I believe it does say somewhere in the Big Book of AA that, "when one or more alcoholics gather to discuss recovery, it is a meeting".

Seconded. It is harder than you think to just walk away. I learned that the hard way. You can't.

Congratulations on being this close to completion! I'd say that unless there is a reason to extend your contract, or you haven't completed it successfully, the end date on your contract is the time when the madness should stop. Have you been told you need letters from someone or an update from your psych professional? (The relevant people should've been updating your caseworker during the contract, I'm thinking). If not, then just continue to be compliant with your contract. Until you have a written letter of successful completion, either in hand or electronic, continue to comply to the letter with the terms of your contract.

I second the above. If no one knows, all the better. Where you might run into issues is when you renew your license, if you are asked if you've been treated for alcohol or drug dependency since your last renewal. If your state doesn't include that question, good. It's best to keep the issue between you and your doctor if you possibly can. Lastly, if your state includes as part of the Nurse Practice Act that you have to report any issues with alcohol or drugs, that is another potential issue. Find a lawyer who specializes in Nurse licensure laws, has represented nurses before the Board of Nursing in your state, and is willing to give you the specific answers you need for your practice. Until then, if no one from work knows, keep your silence.