robigayle

The BON never even suggested peer assistance. They seemed to think that 7 years of sobriety, 2 years of probation, maintaining employment elsewhere with no issues and never a failed drug test was enough

then how could the current fsacility I work at have hired me? They saw the same license verification and reinstatement issue that the hospital saw and they hired me, although I am a treatment nurse and do not have anything to do with med passing in my position. The potential employer said it was restricted to passing narcotics, he never mentioned medicare or medicaid billing, that was just what I saw on the BON site when I searched what "exclusionary actions" meant. It seems it would be the responsibility of the BON to inform you of any restrictions when reinstating your license. Medicare and medicaid issues were NEVER mentioned during the long process of my reinstatement nor restrictions. What I received from the BON during this process was empathy, sympathy and much support and encouragement to seek reinstatement, so I am very confused about all this and I am devestated. It was just so hard to even attempt to get my license back due to the feelings of not being worthy, the shame and humiliation, not to mention the cost, that if this isn't a mistake or clerical error and I am doomed to only being able to work low scale non growth positions like I am now, I just don't know what I'll do.

OMG! I just had my license reinstated in tennessee after 7 years. I jumped through all the hoops and paid over 2500.00 dollars in fines and fees and Lord knows what else after 7 years of not nursing because I thought I wasn't worthy after having my license revoked because of a narcotics addiction. I was so happy and thrilled to be a nurse again and as scary as it was to interview for a job and to open my interview with my shameful history, I was hired by the first long term care facility I applied for as a treatment nurse. 5 months later (this week) I was contacted by a hospital that I have always wanted to work at to interview for 2 jobs 1 in cardiac and 1 in post op surgery and even after telling them of my history, which they would have known anyway after running my license, they still wanted to hire me. Then today I get a call from them stating that even though my license has been reinstated, it says I have "exclusionary actions" which amounts to according to them that I have a restriction on my license forbidding me to pass narcotic medications and therefore they can't consider hiring me. I am heart broken because I had no idea I had any restrictions on my license. The board of nursing NEVER told me there would be restrictions and when I click the exclusionary actions tab, all I've read is a bunch of mumbo jumbo about reimbursement of medicare and medicaid, but no word about not being allowed to administer narcotics, no mention about restrictions nor how long and I can't find any information about it on the board of nursing website. Long story even longer...lol...is this normal? will this restriction ever be lifted? Had I known when I was applying for reinstatment that my opportunities would be limited due to these restrictions, I probably would have reconsidered just due to having to drain my savings account to pay for reinstatment and knowing that it would be even more difficult to find a job because of the restrictions. This issue never came up with my current employer and this whole issue is such a surprise. I have kept all my documentation from my reinstatment procedures and there is nothing in there about restrictions. What am I to do? I knew my addiction and illegal obtaining of narcotics would always be on my record with the board and that was hard enough to deal with considering my legal record was expunged, but now I can only practice in a non med passing position? There are not many nursing positions that don't require some kind of med passing so that really limits me. I love nursing and the person I was 7 years ago for a 3 month period is not the person I am today and yet I will always be punished for it? Is this correct? Has anyone else had this experience? Did the board just expect me to know there were restrictions? I have contacted the BON with no reply yet. Shouldn't the board make your restrictions if any known at the time of reinstatment? Am I the only one to find this a little nuts? So sorry for the mini-novel....I am just so upset and shocked. Any help would be appreciated. Robi, LPN (limited Practical Nurse)

Hi guys, I have just been hired as a treatment nurse at a LTF and want to know if there are any places that will certify and further educate an LPN. WOC and WOCN only educate RN's and I am really needing to find one that will work with an LPN. This job is very important to me and the facilty I am working with has just thrown me out there. Any help would be invaluable to me as I want to do a good job and excel in this field and I really want my patients to progress so can you help me please. I have searched everywhere online and can only find accredited schools that only work with RN's. I am making connections with my reps but I really need hands on and online education to become all I want to be. Thanks in advance...I really don't want to fail my patience due to ignorance Robi, LPN

Hi guys, I have just been hired as a treatment nurse at a LTF and want to know if there are any places that will certify and further educate an LPN. WOC and WOCN only educate RN's and I am really needing to find one that will work with an LPN. This job is very important to me and the facilty I am working with has just thrown me out there. Any help would be invaluable to me as I want to do a good job and excel in this field and I really want my patients to progress so can you help me please. I have searched everywhere online and can only find accredited schools that only work with RN's. I am making connections with my reps but I really need hands on and online education to become all I want to be. Thanks in advance...I really don't want to fail my patience due to ignorance Robi, LPN

Hello Everyone, WARNING...THIS IS A LITTLE LONG Getting my license reinstated has been a journey for me and the allnurses community has been wonderful and supportive the whole way and so I come to you again with another hurdle in my path. How should I address the disciplinary action on my license with a potential employer? I am so torn. I was so afraid when I started this journey to getting my license reinstated but now that I have, I still have to face my past every time I apply for a job because of the disciplinary action even though my record was expunged and the Board has reinstated my license, I still don't know how to address the issue in an interview. There is the part of me that wants to lay everything out on the table first before I even get started and then there is the other side of me that would like for the potential employer to get to know ME first and then address the issue. How do I handle this? I feel like I am walking into every facility with a scarlett "A" (addict) on my forehead and that my opportunities are very limited because of the disciplinary action so I don't want to blow it when I get a chance, but I think I have. I was called by a facility in my area to bring a resume by and I was not prepared when they wanted to interview me right on the spot. I was interviewed by the education director and the director of nursing and both were very kind and easy to speak with and said they felt very excited about meeting me. I thought the question of why I had been out of nursing would come up and that would be my opening, but it never did. I was thankful that they got to know me first before my past but there was a part of me that wanted to just stop everything and address the action before they ran my license but there was a celebration of nursing week going on and the mood was festive and I blew it. I never addressed it before I left and now I feel I have ruined an opportunity that I may never get again because I wasn't prepared. Can anyone give me any suggestions about how to handle this in the correct way in the future? I want to do the right thing and I know it will always have to be addressed at some point, but what should I do? If I lay it out first, I run the risk of them only seeing that first and not bothering to get to know me, or if I wait, I run the risk of looking like I am hiding something. Thanks so much in advance Robi:redpinkhe

Hello Everyone, MY LICENSE WAS REINSTATED!!!! I just went to the BON for my review last week and was approved for reinstatement. I am SO THRILLED! I have to thank everyone here for all your support and encouragement. You REALLY made a difference and helped me overcome my insecurities and doubts and gave me so much hope...I just can't thank you enough. Allnurses.com was the best site I could have found at a time when I needed it most and it also reminded me of why I got into nursing in the first place....thank you thank you thank you! Now I have to take a refresher course and was wondering if I should do this online or try to find a facility that will offer to train me as a refresher? The BON in Tennessee gave me a list of places that offer these courses, but my only problem is, I live in Manchester TN an none of the listings are close to where I live and finances are a problem since I am being laid off next week, so I just need some advice on my best option. Once again THANK YOU AND BLESS YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING!!:heartbeat Robi

Thank you, but I live in Tennessee. I was thinking about working as a CNA just to get back into the swing of things while I'm waiting for my review. They told me my license had to be in inactive stage to take the refresher course, which is the first thing they would do once I paid my fees and appeared before the review board, but I might not be able to go before the review board until march or even april she said and so I thought maybe in the meantime I might could work part time as a CNA just to get back into patient care and when they ok'd me for an inactive license, I could go ahead and take the refresher course and then move on to getting my license activated again. You have really given me faith, with the story of your brothers friend and I hope that the same compassion I have received here from the nursing community, will be the same that I will find in my own community when and if I am blessed with my license again. I plan on going forth honestly with any employer in the future because there is so much freedom in honesty instead of walking around with so much quilt and shame and worry over what others will think. I'm getting stronger every day and feeling more positive about things and your help and everyone elses on this site has really made such a big difference for me. I hope that when this is all over, that maybe I can contribute to others in my situation as well on this site and be a beacon of hope and information as everyone here has been for me. If I come out of this with anything to offer someone else, I really want to be able to do that. I really owe this site and it's members alot and hope I'll be qualified to contribute to it when the time comes. Have a lovely day! Robi

Just an update, I wrote my formal letter today requesting reinstatement and mailed in priority. Hopefully I will get my packet from the board with my list and a date to go before the review board. I am feeling so much more positive since I found this site and since I took the first step. Thank you all!

Thank you so much. Your message was beautiful and my prayers are with you as well. Nursing school was an exciting time for me and although tough at times, certainly worth it. You hang in there too.:heartbeat:heartbeat Robi

Yes I will definately need a refresher course! Does anyone know, and I'm sure I should have asked the board, while I had them on the phone, but I was nervous to say the least..Do you think I can work as a CNA in the meantime if I can get certified?

Thank you so much for your support! I guess my next question is, if I'm fortunate enough to get my license back, will I be able to get a job? How willing are facilities to give you employment opportunities once they know of your back ground or that your license was revoked?

No it shouldn't be easy. Anything worth having, is worth working for and I waited a lot of years to even get my license until my kids were grown and settled and I allowed depression at a bad time in my life, interfere with a life long dream I had of being nurse. I lost my way and my focus on what was most important and I let doubt and insecurity tell me for the last few years that I wasn't worthy to even think I should have my license back. But I'm older now and hopefully wiser than the person I was 5 years ago and I'm ready to face the consequences of my actions or inactions and do whatever it takes to get my license back and be the person I wanted so much to be. If I am blessed enough to have my license reinstated as a practical nurse, it is my dream to continue my education and become registered. I just made the call that I've been dreading for so long to the nursing board and I talked to a very kind woman who told me how to get the process started. She says I need to write her a formal letter requesting to have my license reinstated and what steps I've taken to overcome my addictions and what I plan to achieve by being reinstated and she said as soon as she receives it she will send me a package with step by step instructions on what I need to have prepared in order to go before the application review commitee. she says they will request 1250.00 in civil fines and once that is paid, I can apply for reinstatement. She says that since I haven't practiced in so many years I would be required to take a refresher course should they approve me for an inactive license and then once that is completed I can officially apply for the actual license reinstatement. The review commitee only meets once per month and she said I was too late for February 5th, but that she would try to get me in, in march or april and that would give me time to have all my documentation in order. So at least now I have somewhere to begin. I don't know why I've been so afraid to take that first step. Maybe it just wasn't enough to be sober for 5 years and free of chemicals. Maybe I needed to be free of all the emotional baggage and insecurities that lead me to rely on controlled substances in the first place. I still have a lot of fear...I guess that's obvious in my postings, but not of controlled substance abuse, but maybe doubt in myself and my worthiness. I feel I'm at a good place in my life now and can better face the challenges that lie ahead responsibly and with more faith in myself and my abilities. I'm ready to face whatever lies ahead and do what it takes to become the person I know I can be and all your postings and words of encouragement were just what I needed. Thank you so much Allnurses community! Robi

You have all given me such a large measure of hope and compassion that I never expected and am completely overwhelmed by. I think I have just been telling myself for so long that I was a "bad" person and that by going to the nursing board, I would be going into it with a scarlett letter A (addict) on my forehead and I have been paralyzed by that fear. I am going to call them this morning and get the ball rolling and I will do whatever it takes and whatever they ask of me in order to get my license reinstated. This site is a blessing for me and just the encouragement and support I needed to hear in order to proceed in this journey. I don't expect it to be easy by any means but your words have given me the courage to at least stop longing for it and actually do something about it. Thank you so much! I will let you know what they say. XOXOXOX Robi

Oh my goodness! I never expected such an overwhelming sweet and quick response. I think I've been filled with so much shame and quilt that I didn't feel like I deserved sympathy or compassion for what I did and you all just reminded me of why I wanted to be a nurse for so long and why I want to be one once again. So much love and compassion in the nursing community! Thank you so much. I can't describe the joy your words have filled me with and also a renewed sense that maybe I can do this after all. I have let fear and shame lead the way for so long that I'd forgotten that there can be forgiveness and redemption as well for me too. Thank you and bless you all and I will keep you informed of my progress. Robi