dph1965

Dear FLSmitty! Thank you for your help. I AM ADDRESSING THE NON LAWYER PERSON WHO IS IN NO WAY GIVING ME LEGAL ADVICE, ahem. (in case anyone's listening!) I thing that's the way I'm leaning. I gave up SO many years ago, trying to do things the IPN/12 step way, but since I wasn't buying any of the "let go and let god" and other #$@! (sorry, I don't mean to insult anyone, I just feel there are more ways than THE way to get sober and real - I'm living proof) and that's the ONLY way as far as IPN is concerned. I've gotten a little more mature, wiser, fatter etc. in the last 12 yrs and I know I'm clean, so no matter what IPN or anyone else wants me to do to prove it is OK. I'm sure I'll end up broke (er) in the short run, but hopefully it will pay off in the long. Either way, I'll know where I stand and can get on with becoming a nurse again or finding a different path. Phone sex and dog walking are other options I'm considering! (kidding, please!) I'm a pretty smart girl (now) and will figure it out, but you are right, I need to know where I stand in all this. Who knows, maybe the law will get the axe or be amended ( I DID write the FL Congress, Gov and Pres. Obama) and I'll be ready if it is! Thank you again for all your wisdom.

I've never had an Oregon license. We moved here in 2000, 2 yrs after arrest in FL, after I completed probation. (actually the state of FL released me from probation 6 mos early, cuz I was such a good girl!) The only crimes against a state or nursing license occurred in FL. When I had been in OR for about 6 mos, an acquaintance, an MOA who knew of my background, recommended me for job as MOA at her Internal Medicine Office where I worked, with great reviews and complete trust for 8 yrs. I was hired as MOA, though they were looking for LPN. Since unlicensed, could only be MOA, but had the experience and skills of LPN, so, I lucked into that. I tried to repay them by never making them regret it and I did. I was told by every "expert" with whom I consulted, that I had to "clear up the mess in Florida" before applying in Oregon for LPN so that's the route I went. However, I just received an application packet in the mail last week from Oregon BON, so...I'm a mess. I don't have funds lying around or the extra time to deal with this if there is no chance of anything panning out. Just drove my kid to Chicago for school (thank whoever for scholarships and Fed. Aid!) and the IM office where I worked was taken over by a huge Med. corporation and let me go after they learned of my history. The doc's and nurses there threw many fits, there was big hoopla, etc. due to my EXCELLENT employer reviews and the immense love and respect I had incurred there, but I left quietly and took a part time position at a "one-doc" office so that I could concentrate on regaining my career. Sorry, did you ask a question? How I do ramble!

I actually live in Oregon, but my license and my subsequent delusional activity was in FL, late 90's. Even with this incredibly #@%*'d up law, I will probably just show up anyway at the BON hearing and see what they want from me. My arrest was in 98 (posession, sp?) so this law would only affect me for another 3 yrs, and I hold out hope that it will be repealed or amended because it is STUPID. I spoke with the Oregon BON a few mos ago regarding how I should go forward with application process. Should it be FL or OR? I was told by Oregon BON it would be best to "clear up the thing in FL first" but they sent me app packet for OR anyway. They actually called me about a month ago to see "how things were going with the FL BON". I'm only going to be in FL a few days so I wonder, if IPN is their answer, can it be done through Oregon's monitoring program? Do they EVER consider things like that? If nothing else, I've lost about 8 lbs in the last couple of weeks over all this- finally a diet that works! And, Smitty, thank you for your help, but I haven't rec'd an email from you- how do I get my email address to you without posting for the world to see? I prefer to do that on "as needed basis".

Then, why would the BON in FL send me a letter just 5 days ago, asking me to appear Oct.8 in Kissimmee for a hearing for re-instatement? I'm not doubting your info, and there WAS an "official" notice posted on the FL doh/MQA website (where you go to check app status, etc.) stating this new law takes place 7/09 etc. However, on this website, it states the doh will refuse to issue or renew a license "... if the applicant, on or after 7/1/09 has been 1)convicted of or plead guilty or nolo contendre..." so the wording is weird, I just assumed it was if the conviction or plea HAPPENED after 7/1/09?!?!? I have another call into the board to clear this up. Maybe I'm just overly hopeful or stupid, but I sure hope you are wrong! I have a plane ticket!!

Actually, I've never worked with anyone who diverted Prozac either, but then who would know, it's not counted! And, easy to get anyway. But, I have worked with many impaired nurses who were not taking scheduled meds. I'm just saying there are many reasons for using narcotic medication that are reasonable, and if done under the care of a responsible physician, AND not taken while on duty, they are just as fit to nurse as any other nurse. Unfortunately, a person could take a vicodin on their Sunday afternoon off for, lets say, lumbar vertebral disc dessication with nerve impingement, and just because it would show in a random urine on Monday, this does not make the nurse impaired during her shift. My earlier text was an example. I think it's automatically assumed that a former narc addict (over 10 yrs ago, had 9 yrs without until accident) can't take controlled meds responsibly and minimally. The dogmas espoused by the hard core 12-steppers have propagated this notion. Why is the responsible user of occasional Vicodin impaired while the brittle, insulin dependant, obese nurse (with whom I work) who bottoms out at least once a week on shift less impaired?

Why, if suboxone or methadone is being used by a nurse, under the supervision of their MD, and they have been on appropriately low "maintenance doses" for years, without any abuse of this or other meds, would any board disapprove. I mean, I know they will, but... One could argue that the med would impair the nurse, but tolerance is achieved rapidly and easily on these drugs and there is documentation proving that they do not have the euphoric, clouded sensorium effects on long term users that other opiates have. Is a diabetic nurse considered impaired? I mean, her insulin dose could cause her to bottom out or her unmonitored, super-high glucose could affect her judgement. Same goes for those of us on Ritalin or antidepressants. Monitored, medically supervised, symptom-appropriate prescription drug use is NOT drug abuse! When does it end? I do consider someone on suboxone, IF they have not used in any other context, clean. Just because they chose to treat the god-awful, relapse inducing withdrawal symptoms, is no reason to consider them as "using".

I was so glad to see this topic! I was an LPN in FL, was reported to IPN for Narc. use. I did well the first 2 yrs, but relapsed in yr 3 and HOW! I was also in my last semester of RN school so there went that along with my job. I dropped IPN and was hired at a Wal Mart pharmacy as a pharmacy tech though they knew of my "difficulties" - can you believe it? It wasn't long before I was arrested for pilfering the Vicodin, and rightfully so. I was a single mom of 2 small kids, jobless, in withdrawal, and now had a criminal record. MAQ became involved and referred me to IPN and I just could not leave my kids and go to 6mos of inpatient tmt. The "approved" facilities did not accept my insurance, I had no family support, noone to keep my kids etc. I decided I had to get better and though my insurance would not accept IPN approved facility, they did accept an intensive OP program which I completed successfully with aftercare as well as the terms of my probation. I married and moved to OR where I've worked as an MOA for 8 yrs with GREAT letters of reference, etc. I filled out app for license re-instatement with all letters and doc. I had. (my addiction tmt records had been purged due to over 7 yrs!) I JUST rec'd letter from BON in FL to appear at hearing in 2.5 wks. I cannot afford atty, I'm not in FL anyway. Before I fly to FL, any advice? Is there truly hope or is this just a formality in response to my application? (sorry for the novel)_