jadedRN04

They most likely got your info from the state's BON. They just send out blast emails. I get them too and have never applied to one of their facilities.

Agreed. I can only speak to my experience with Fresenius. The clinic in my small hometown (literally 3 minutes from my house) was an absolute nightmare. It was probably the most unwelcoming environment I have ever worked in. This was long after I finished my state's program so that wasn't an issue. The staff there was just toxic, belittling, and passive/aggressive. The Fresenius clinic 30 minutes from my home was completely different...like night and day.

Yes, these programs are corrupt. If you asked the average person about the fairness of these programs, they would probably state that they sound fair. In fact, many would probably state the nurse should lose their license for good. No one wants a drunk/impaired nurse taking care of them or their loved ones. Therein lies the problem. These programs know this and, I'm sure over many years, have morphed into what they are-money grabs under the guise of "protecting the public". Our legislators know this and that's probably why they won't even entertain the idea of acting upon the complaints. I hate to be a fly in the ointment, but I don't see things changing anytime soon.

I literally applied to every remote nurse position on Indeed. I started working from home back in 2020 and COVID did work in my favor because there was a huge need for triage nurses...and there still is. Once you land a WFH position, it's usually easier to get other remote positions. Just be careful and research any company that responds to you because, unfortunately, there are some scammers posting some enticing looking "jobs" knowing that so many nurses are wanting work from home.

I'm not sure how other states do it, but when Indiana became a compact state I had to apply for the compact license which required answering a few questions and getting fingerprinted. The compact license is a separate license here. The fee was $25 and I pay $25 for my compact license at renewal.

30 years of nursing. I have been punched in the jaw by a confused elderly man, bitten by a woman who wasn't confused, shoved by a guy who wasn't confused when I was helping him untangle his IV tubing. I was grazed on the head by a flying telemetry box (those things are solid and left a dent in the wall) from a lady having a thyroid storm. Groped and pinched by multiple male patients. Had my hair pulled multiple times. The ones who are truly sick and confused didn't really bother me. It's the ones who knew better and were just being jerks.

I don't believe MA is part of the compact just yet..it's still awaiting implementation. Either way, one must reside in a compact state to obtain a compact license. Unfortunately, you can't live in a non-compact state and then gain licensure in a compact state and use that state to gain a compact license.

I agree. I love working from home! I have worked off and on from home since 2020 but full time for the last 18 months. I do remote patient monitoring and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!! After 25 years of bedside and other patient/family facing positions I can't imagine ever leaving this job! I have a compact license and they do require several of the non-compact licenses, but my company pays for them. I did take a rather large pay cut from bedside but I have no stress with this position and I get health insurance and PTO. I found all of my remote positions on INDEED. Just keep applying!

I assume you have NSO as your liability insurance provider? I carry insurance through them as well. Knock on wood I've never had to use it. I'm not sure what the process is but I would start with contacting NSO and explaining the situation. I'm not sure if they have lawyers that they work directly with in your state that they recommend or if you just retain your own that they cover the cost of. I would start with contacting NSO first. Either way, you are going to need a lawyer familiar with nurse licensure issues to help you protect your license.

I would definitely seek out an attorney who is well versed in criminal AND administrative law to help navigate both the legal and nurse licensure systems.

My issue was alcohol. I ate whatever I wanted, used alcohol based hand sanitizer, hair spray, hair dye, I used whatever cleaning products I wanted to use. I did not use mouth wash with alcohol but then I never did before monitoring. Honestly, the only thing that I changed for monitoring was I didn't drink alcohol. It's a pain but it's really not that complex. Make sure you read your monitoring agreement thoroughly and follow it to a T.

Unfortunately, this sounds typical of many LTC facilities. They lure you in with what sounds like a supervisor's position when what they really need are floor nurses. This sounds like a poorly staffed facility doing anything they can to get staff in the door. I would find the DON/Administrator or the hiring manager and get a better picture of what the expectations are. I'm sure you probably signed a job description for the Nurse Supervisor's position and probably somewhere in there it states you would fill in on the floor as needed...well here ya go...welcome to the floor! It could be that they are training you on the different units "just in case" you need to serve in that role but I get the feeling you will be pushing a med cart far more often than being a supervisor.

I would move along. You can be assured that was a preview of their communication style and lack of professionalism. That's unacceptable.

Yes. I have had similar dreams. My most recent dream was of myself caring for an entire 30 room hallway of med/surg patients and I hadn't even started the assessments or meds when I opened another door and found there was another 30 rooms I was responsible for. Very stressful. I also have drinking dreams where I wake up feeling awful.

I would not disclose. Not everyone is recovery friendly. Telling them may invite much closer and unnecessary scrutiny. Just go on with your fabulous sober self.

Congratulations on your Recovery! I'm going to share an unpopular opinion. If you have no criminal record and you feel you are solid in your recovery then I would keep that information to myself. Reason being: Once you disclose that information to the BON they will almost certainly make sure you are placed in a monitoring program for nurses. That program will require you to attend AA and peer recovery meetings and have evaluations by addictionologists. You will have to check in daily for random drug screens which can include urine, blood, hair, and nails-all of which you will pay for. And, make no mistake, your employer will have to know about the meetings and drug screens because you will have to have a worksite monitor to complete quarterly paperwork. Being in such a program will make it more difficult to find work. You may also have to start out with a license on probation until you complete the program which can take 1-5 years.

Not quite what you were asking about but the Indiana BON got their bits in a wringer over not allowing nurses on MAT to participate in the state's nurse recovery program.https://archive.ada.gov/indiana_nursing_lof.pdf

Hmmm...I guess that could be a sly way of weeding out those who are in a monitoring program. Not sure. I've not noticed that when looking at local jobs in my state. I do know that a lot of hospitals and other facilities are still using agency/travel nurses and maybe that is why? Also, most work from home jobs require a compact license.

Yes, I finished about 12 yrs ago. I did not understand what the requirements were for therapists, doctors, etc. treating healthcare professionals.

Oh goodness... About 15 years ago I had a big problem with alcohol. I had no legal or work issues whatsoever but I wanted to stop drinking and couldn't do it on my own. I figured if I showed up to a therapist they would report me to the BON. Also, I feared that if I went to AA someone would recognize me and do the same. Well, I reported myself to my state's assistance program for impaired nurses. Mind you, I had a stellar work history and not even a parking ticket in my history. When speaking with the therapist I was referred to she stated that had I come to see her before reporting myself that she would not have reported me since I had no prior negative legal or work history. She thought I would only end up with a 1 year contract. Well, my state's program saw me coming and saw fit to give me a 3 year contract which was the most given at that time. Then it was 3 yrs of reports, drug screens, AA meetings, check ins, etc. I left a job that I absolutely hated and caused horrible stress without having another lined up and had a terrible time finding another job because I was in the program. The shame and embarrassment alone was just about enough to make me leave nursing. I stayed sober for the 3 years and made it out of the program without being reported to the BON. I got absolutely nothing out of the program except a lot of stress and a smaller bank account. I relapsed a few months after the program and fell back into drinking. This continued for a few years. Still, no work or legal issues. I finally found total sobriety on my own. My point is -If you have no work or legal issues that compel you to report to your BON or your state's program. I would recommend getting help elsewhere and do not disclose that you are a nurse. These programs are not set up to help the nurse in any way. They are just a way for the BON to show the general public that they are being protected from "impaired" nurses. There was nothing therapeutic about my program that I could not have done on my own had I known that I had the option.

If you live in a compact state you should start with getting a compact license. I believe most work from home nurse positions require at least some current acute care experience but probably not all. I started out doing telephone triage from home. We were required to have a certain amount of ICU,ER, or Case Management experience. If you are wanting to work regular hours M-F then the jobs you mentioned would probably be more in line with what you want. If you are needing non-weekday hours then telephone triage or remote patient monitoring might be a better fit. I left telephone triage due to the stress of constant back to back calls and ever changing metrics. I now do remote patient monitoring and I LOVE it. The pay is terrible but the stress is minimal. I have found all of my WFH jobs on Indeed. Also, try going directly to the insurance company sites like Cigna, Humana, etc. and apply.

Mind you, my time with my state's program was over 10 years ago and Peth tests were not used but the only behavior I changed in my life is I didn't drink alcohol. I continued to use hair spray, hair dye, alcohol hand sanitizer several times per day, soaps, lotions. I ate foods made with vanilla extract, foods that may have been cooked with wine. I had always used alcohol free mouth wash because I didn't like the burn. I was tested for EtG with every test and I never tested positive.

I believe, depending on the offense, most BONs can see expunged records. In OP case it was for Medicaid fraud so I would imagine they would have access to that record. I could be wrong.

I don't live in PA but I do have to say that the PA BON is by far the worst to deal with when trying to gain licensure by endorsement. They are just 100 times more obstinate than any other BON I had to deal with for licensure so your comment does not surprise me.

Yes, one can get away with murder but try to separate the government from their money (whether intentional or not) and they will have you by the short and curlies and they won't let go. I agree with the other posters...contact an attorney who is experienced in dealing with BON.