Scared2020

Interesting, are you applying online through Indeed for Fresenius/Davita? I was very fortunate that I got the first job I applied for through Fresenius. I told the recruiter I was in monitoring during our initial call. After I secured an interview I told them at the very end after I felt like I nailed it. In my area (Central Minnesota) not all clinics have nurse managers. For example, at my clinic we have a "Facilities Administrator" who is my boss (Not an nurse). So this would pose a problem if my stipulations required supervision (which I was surprised they did not, my license was suspended for diversion). I'm guessing the area you are in isn't very high needs for dialysis nurses. Most areas they are pretty desperate to be honest but there are some that have long time nurses that rarely leave their positions. I doubt it's anything personal! I know it must be very disheartening but just keep trying. I truly believe you will find something.

I like the autonomy. We have 12 chairs so I'm the only nurse on shift (luckily I didn't get a stipulation against this). I find it just as fast-paced as working in a hospital. The only thing I miss is having other nurses and doctors right there for support.

I got the first dialysis job I applied for. lucky for me it turns out I really like dialysis! I'm almost done with monitoring but at 44 I'm thinking I'll just stay here.

That must have been SOME medication error! It's hard to give advice with so little detail as to why you were suspended in the first place. I'm in a different state than any of those but I've never heard of a license being suspended for answering one day late. This medication error caused multi-state disciplinary action, including CA bringing in a District Attorney who convinced you to surrender your license? I've also never heard of a BON demanding you get an attorney. How did the insurance company get involved? I'm not judging you, its just a crazy story.

What does it say when you look up your license?

The attorney general wants to file criminal charges on you? I would worry about that first, and yes definitely use a lawyer. The BON likely wants to see what happens with that first. My license got suspended for 12 months for admitted diversion. Also depends heavily on the state.

I've been where you are at and I'm so sorry. None of us can really say if you will get arrested. Most likely not but it is possible. I was lucky and while I did get fired and reported and ended up getting my license suspended for one year, the hospital did not pursue any criminal charges. It depends on a lot of factors like the severity of the diversion, if there was any patient harm, the hospital policies, state policies, etc. I didn't get a lawyer, it's probably best you to that route first.

Being in monitoring doesn't exclude you from working as a nurse but having your license suspended does. I self reported before my employer did but I still got mine suspended for 12 months (MN). Good luck OP. It's been a long (3 year) road for me and I had to work a different job (my fault it took so long I am squeamish to go back to nursing). I honestly probably would be dead if I hadn't been caught thought so I am grateful

I got a 12 month suspended license for diversion. That was 18 months ago and I’m awaiting for my approval for a board hearing to reinstate (I started my petition after the 12 months). I have worked in a facility with kids with autism for the past 18 months. Not as a nurse obviously. We take Medicaid but I am not on the OIG list , not sure if they even check that here. They just do a criminal background check with fingerprinting.

Hi, I got caught diverting in MN in 2020. Suspended my license for one year and I’m now in the process of getting it reinstated. If they reinstate they will make me enroll in HPSP for probably like 5 damn years. Drug tests, support meetings, quarterly employer reports. im sorry I’m not sure what happens if your diversion was in a different state.

Easiest way around that is to find a lab that is open outside your work hours or close enough to go on your lunch break. I work 8:30-4:30 and my lab is about 10 minutes away. They close at 5. You do not have to disclose ATP to a non healthcare job and I would avoid it if at all possible.

Every state is different but in MN they assign you a color and you call a number each morning. There is a recording with the color of the day and if your color is stated then you have to take a urine test that day. I believe color is based on substance - I.E. pink= alcohol, purple = marijuana, green = opiates, etc. I could be totally wrong on that but I'm not sure what else it would mean?

With monitoring you basically have to get permission to go on vacation or find a lab who will do your testing if your number/color gets called.

Are you talking to me?

I'm so sorry you are going through this. It's awful, humiliating, and frustrating. First of all- Did you sign a monitoring contract? I'm going to assume you did. In your contract, does it state you are to abstain from all mood-altering substances, including alcohol, for the length of the contract? If so, then you were not "nothing but compliant" if you tested positive for alcohol. It is VERY common to be tested right after major holidays and events (including the Super Bowl). I am not shaming you, I in fact have no issues with alcohol or marijuana, but I am not allowed either under monitoring either. How did you find out about your suspension? I am assuming you got a letter from the board. Did your CM ever warn you? Just curious, I do not think she has to do that. Did the board have you sign a suspension contract? I do not know you but I am sure you are a great nurse and a good person. Unfortunately the board and monitoring programs do not care about the reasons behind failed drug tests, late reports, and dilute urine. They are punitive and see everything in black and white. What are your options? I am not sure because I do not know the details surrounding your suspension- it all depends on if you already signed a suspension contract. You could consult a lawyer about everything and see if there is anything you can do. You have two other options as I see it- wait out the suspension, re-enter monitoring, and comply 100% with everything your contract states. I know there are ways to make sure your urine is more concentrated including eating lots of protein and not drinking too much water. Your other option is to get out of nursing all together and find something new. This is not easy- nothing pays as good as nursing if you only have a specialized RN degree and job history. I myself have been working with kids with autism for the past year making a little over half my RN salary. I decided my license was worth most of the hoops, but then again I knew I had a drug problem. Good luck to you on whatever you decide to do!

Yes I am sure I will go under monitoring and probation. I'm not going to hire a lawyer, which I know many disagree with. Maybe I should have originally, but I am truly an addict and made my bed so now I will lie in it! I truly wish you all the best ❤️

Nope not being monitored. Once my license was officially suspended they sent me a letter kicking me out. I had signed a four year contract, so I am really hoping they also give me credit for a year (but I doubt it).

I am currently working with children with autism in a facility. Blackpear my situation was the opposite- I self-reported (my employer also reported), signed a four year contract for monitoring, only for the BON to suspend my license anyway and I got kicked out of monitoring (they only allow you to enroll if your license is active). It's so *** backwards! So I had NO drug screens for 12 months while my license was suspended, no accountability at all except for my contract with the board which I knew I had to follow in order to get my license back. Luckily I have managed to stay sober so they can hair test me for all I care. Hopefully it won't take another year for them to respond to my petition.

I am currently in the petition process for having my license reinstated. I am submitting all of my paperwork this week. I'm sure it could take months to hear back. I am currently very happy in my current job (except for the pay) so I am just taking life one day at a time.

Thank you Indiana, you said it better than I could have! I am making $17/hr in the only non-nursing job I could find. I got rejected from Costco, gas stations, Target, and many work from home jobs. I was making $34/hr as a nurse. So I figure whatever I have to pay in monitoring I will make up for in salary if I can get another nursing job. More importantly, I am an addict. While monitoring hugely sucks, at least it will hold me accountable.

Plus I’ve already gone through outpatient treatment, counseling, etc. I originally signed a four year contract so I am really hoping it’s a three year contract when I get my license back.

I don’t have to drug test until I re-enter monitoring. I was in it for 5 months before my license was officially suspended. Testing cost $20 and my color was called 4 times in those five months so it wasn’t bad. Yes I’m worried about the years of monitoring, but I have no other choice if I want to keep my license.

I’m not through it yet, only about 6 months in! But I already completed IOP treatment and found a non-nursing job. I go to NA meetings 1x a week and see a therapist 1-2 a month. I have to get a pain management assessment within 60 days of petitioning for reinstatement, letters from 2 non-relatives attesting to my sobriety, letter from my GP stating I notified her of the order and whatever else the board decides. I can petition 12/4.

Absolutely ridiculous...wonder how much of a kickback those Inpatient programs get from the evaluators?. I am an opioid addict who diverted and I didn’t even get recommended to outpatient!

In my situation I diverted and the whole situation is posted on my license for the world to see (even though I self-reported, signed a four year contract with my state’s alternative to discipline program...my license got suspended and I was kicked out of the program). I was also fired and agreed not to find another nursing job until it was approved. I guess you can say it protects the public/my future employers because I cannot lie to them about why my license was suspended. I wish they would have just let me continue in monitoring. I was already in rehab and had submitted multiple clean UAs, gone to almost daily NA meetings, had five months sober when they suspended my license. I should’ve got a lawyer but didn’t have the money. sorry for the tangent. Anyway, I agree it’s totally unfair to publicly post a nurse’s mental health issues, suicide attempts, even drug/alcoholism when it doesn’t pertain to their workplace (if they have no proof of being under the influence at work, did not divert, etc). In cases like mine I can see why they do it.