RNigothis

I moved from a five 5 year program to a 3 year program having 4 years left in my original program. The new state credited me "time served.” Before I go anywhere, I was working as a travel nurse at a sister state and that's where everything originally happened. When the time came for me to go back to work my original state said I needed to transfer to my home state because they didn't have jurisdiction in that state to keep monitoring me. So I did. My new home state was sending quarterly reports to my original state. But I was only testing and doing therapy for one state the one which I transferred to. Then, the time came when my license was expiring for the original state of monitoring. They reached out to DPH to allow for my license to confidentially lapse because I had no intentions to work in that state anymore. They accepted it and my file was closed. I owe nothing to my original state and will be finishing monitoring in my new state where I got less time. Mind you my story is one in a million, because most people still need to serve their time for the original state and I was very nervous they wouldn't accept it.

Ask your case worker. It's the safest answer.

I was thinking here. Non narcotics are not reportable to the board, but it is still considered theft. This has nothing related to medications, but I've read on the news of a travel nurse being suspended for clocking in while being called off numerous times. I wouldn't self report to the board and let them do their investigation. I also wouldn't admit anything to my employer, but you can still be reported for that.

Hi I'm in MA SARP. I think if you have medical documentation stating that you can't work, you should request to go in front of the REC and have your case heard. They can't force you to work if you have medical documentation stating you can't. Did you ask your case manager?

It is not unheard of

Did you have any patients on nausea meds and inhalers that day? Also, did you do an override pull?

I can tell you about my personal experience. My case is a bit different than yours, but I was caught diverting dilaudid, Ativan, and oxycodone from work. I never tampered with any of the meds, and there was no patient harm, and my employer did not call the police because of it. I feel like I got lucky in that sense. I am not sure if pharmacy reported it to the DEA, but I know I met with the Department of Consumer Protection, and had to go over every med pull that was under my name. I admitted to everything because it was under my name. The great thing is that the day of my incident I self reported to my state's monitoring program, and they told me that as long as I kept working with them my license would remain clean, and that DCP would back away afterwards because they like seeing that the nurse is working on their recovery. I am not sure what state you are in, but I am assuming the hospital/state has some policy about reporting it to the DEA. I don't know if you've watched the Rise Above interview on YouTube of the nurse who tampered with meds, and after a year working on her recovery she thought everything was fine until the DEA showed up in her doorsteps and arrested her. She did tamper with a lot of meds, and clearly put patients in danger. You should watch the interview. No case is minimal, and I think any amount of narcotics a nurse divert is a big deal, but my case was not as serious because I didn't put any patients in danger. Of course I was working impaired and that is technically endangering patients, but I never posed any direct harm to them. When patient harm is the question, things change. Aside from speaking with the Department of Consumer Protection, I never heard from the board of nursing because as I mentioned on day one I self reported to the monitoring program. Monitoring programs are a lifesaver, I see so many people complaining about them, but it truly saved my life. I'm in such better place in my life mentally and physically. Therapy was the best thing for me, and now I'm back at work with temporary restrictions, like can't administer narcotics for 6 months, but I feel like it all makes sense to me. I wholeheartedly wish you all the best in this chapter of your life. Right now it may seem like it's the end of the world, and it may be to some, but if you comply with the program and follow the steps, you will take reigns back.

Wait a minute here. Do they suspect that you're the one who did it? Why is this audit happening? Firstly, do not admit to anything. I'm not saying what you did was right, but I am not sure if you read some of the stories here where some of us got caught diverting CONTROLLED substances and now are pretty much in court probation but with the board of nursing. What you did was absolutely wrong, but why would you create problems for yourself because of something not as serious as diverting narcotics. I know of many nurses taking Tylenol, Advil, nausea meds, bowel meds, and lidocaine patches from the dispenser like it was no problem even though it is technically considered theft. Nothing happened, because I guess it's common and they are not hawking it. But you're telling me that you took an inhaler and nausea meds and want to self report? Unless there is something you're not telling us, please do not report it. I am not encouraging you to keep doing it, and please don't ever do it again. But, save yourself the trouble. Unless they have solid proof that you did it, like camera footage, but just the fact that it was pulled under your name and it could be some proof does not mean that they can prove it all the way.

Thats a hard question to answer. But I can tell you that it's our sole responsibility to make sure that the sample is being drawn correctly. You need to be on top of them.

It's a hit or miss. I have heard of it going both ways.

Doing clinical's without letting them know will be a violation. I am not sure if they will kick you out, but it would not be viewed positively. Doing clinical's is pretty much like working without approval, as you are providing patient care and the program's main goal if to protect the public. I am not saying this to scare you in any way. Are you almost done with clinical's or the program? How long until you're done?

Yes, you will most likely need to do monitoring again.

I am sure she's a low-key alcoholic behind everyone's back @RN1987

From what I've learned through shared experiences you may need to enter a monitoring contract with the board. I know that some programs like in PA allows nursing students to enter the program, and if not it'll be after you graduate. I would reach out to your state's monitoring program anonymously with questions and explain your situation. On a positive note, it's a better thing that this happened before you became an actual nurse. You MAY end up with a modified contract, like not having to do the full thing. This is hypothetically speaking. It's a positive thing that they let you stay in the program and this will be leverage for for you as monitoring programs rely on circumstances either positive or negative. Wishing you the best of luck!

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