GuyRN2003

I would speak to a qualified attorney. Say nothing else, contact no one else. Follow the attorney's advice.

Definitely get an attorney, or at least decide on one in case you hear from the BON. If I hadn't retained an attorney, even though I tested negative twice after baseless accusations, I am certain I would have ended up in RAMP, which is NJ's monitoring program. The BON is not your friend. The desire for nurses to hurt other nurses goes all the way to the top. Incidentally, my lawyer explained that it is easier to defend a doctor accused of diversion or something along those lines than it is an RN. The state medical boards usually stand behind their own, unlike BON's.

Something very similar happened to me about two years ago. I too was pressured by higher ups in the hospital to confess, them saying they could help me if I was honest and confessed, but if I didn't and tested positive, they wouldn't be able to help. They offered to get me into the state program, which is horrible! I had done nothing wrong, so I didn't. They drug tested me after the interrogation, took my badge pending the results of the tests. Ultimately I left for a less insane workplace, and almost a year after being accused, I received a letter from the BON. I wasn't going to get an attorney, but at the last moment, I did. Let me tell you that you MUST get an attorney. I would have made so many mistakes in my written responses, the BON would have had me in the state monitoring program in about three seconds. Thanks to my amazing and knowledgeable attorney, I was completely cleared! Bottom line: confess to nothing, and no matter how innocent you are, no matter that you know you've done nothing wrong, get an attorney.

I'll keep this short and sweet. If you are accused of diversion, even if you are 100% innocent, get an attorney. Nearly two years ago, I was falsely accused of diversion (based on a random audit of our terrible, faulty electronic barcode system). I was grilled about discrepancies, told that if I simply confessed, it would be so much easier on me, that if I didn't confess and tested positive my employers wouldn't be able to help me. I wasn't about to confess to something I didn't do. So I was drug tested, and suspended pending the results. They were negative, but I decided to move on anyway. A year later, I was contacted by my BON, to provide written answers to a series of questions, and provide my side of the story. I had everything ready to go and at the last minute, decided to contact an attorney. Thank GOD I did. My attorney is the reason I am not in some program, because he knew how to answer the questions from the BON. (in fact, he retired from the BON, same state)He was able to point out the mistakes I'd made regarding my answers: they were numerous and misguided. Without his guidance, professional skills and contacts, I am 100% positive I would be in the state monitoring program right now. No matter how innocent you are, no matter how sure you are that the truth is on your side, get an attorney who specializes in defending RN licenses.

If you need an attorney in NJ, contact me, I know of one who is affordable and will do everything possible to keep you out of RAMP.