LisaB19

I'm no expert, but I do think that the general thought is that any sort of opiods taken while you are working, are mind altering. I just wanted to say that I feel for you, you are in a tough situation.

Sj81, my heart is with you. I too have had many of the same issues as you, especially the insomnia, along with other illnesses that i needed to take meds for. To make a long story short, I opted not to attempt to get my license back after suspension (we moved to another state for a couple of years and then came back) and the main reason is that there is no tolerance for those of us that don't fit the mold of not needing to take medication, especially if that medication needs to change often. I am now finishing up my Masters is Professional Counseling, and yes I will have to answer for what happened as I will be getting another license from the state. I pray that things will go smoothly. I will tell you this, I will always be a nurse and while it was very hard for a while to think I would never work as one again, it does get easier. PM me if you need to talk.

Depending on your state, the Board of Nursing may be run by the Department of Health Services.

Usually it is because you have no direct supervision when providing care in someone's home.

Now granted this was 5 years ago, but I moved from CA to FL. My license was suspended in CA (they don't have any control over you when you move) and the so called "investigation" began by CA. Records became public and my investigation, should I try to get my license back here in CA would be over $5000 even though I admitted to what I did. The BRN told me that no matter how much I did in FL in terms of time in IPN, it would not count to CA and I would start over again. Once in FL, I did join IPN, which lasted about a year as we moved back to CA. It was a much more tolerable situation than the Diversion program in CA, especially the whole ETG thing. No one in FL was afraid of a positive as their cut off rate was higher. DH got laid off and we returned to CA. So now my license is suspended in both states. In order for me to get my license back here I would have to jump through all the hoops and frankly it's not worth it. Here in So Cal the job market is overflowing with nurses and I can't imagine anyone that would hire a L&D nurse who hasn't been at the bedside for 7 years with a nard restriction. Probation here is pretty tight as far as when and where you can work. My advise is, if you want to keep your license, stay in FL and complete the program. I don't know of anyone who has been able to beat the 5 years and in fact I heard the head honcho of the FL program speak once and he said that he doesn't believe that you can prove sobriety with less than 5 years. Now granted my experience was 2-5 years ago, but IPN is far more friendly program than CA. Good luck

Don't tell them, it's none of their business now. They don't ask about other diseases like diabetes. How many of us have seen a hypoglycemic nurse who is unable to function because she didn't eat? Isn't that a threat to patient safety? Bottom line is, tell them nothing.

Zachjessmom, where do you live? I choose not to get my license back as here in CA there is such a nursing glut (50% or new grads can't get jobs) that it wasn't worth getting my license back. No one would have hired me, as like you, I have been away from the bedside for 7 years. I hope you are in a better job area!!!

I can only share my experience and decisions. I was a Labor and Delivery Nurse for over 20 years and was caught diverting. Lived in CA at the time, entered Diversion, but hadn't gone back to work when we moved to FL. Entered their IPN program. Because all my experience was in L&D, no one would touch me, not psych facilities, not LTC and of course not L&D. I ended up with a life threatening illness that put me on high dose steriods for a long time (60 mg a day) and developed steriod induced psychosis. While that is gone it have left me on psych meds that change frequently. We have since moved back to CA. I would have to enter the probation end and my lovely transgressions are up for the world to see. The restrictions of the probation, plus the nursing glut, would leave me without a job anyway and i couldn't risk them controlling my meds. Long story short, I am school for my counseling degree. It is the one place, especially if I go into addictions, where I won't be judged for my transgressions. I will always be a nurse at heart, but times have changed for me. For my own sanity I decided going through the hoops to get a license I wouldn't probably be able to use wasn't worth it. Oh, BTW, i've been sober 7 years and it took the move back to CA to make me realize this. There are NO jobs here for me.

It depends on where you are moving from and to. Florida and CA have no reciprocity so you start over in both states.

I'm so sorry Anne for all that you are going through. Please take care.

Actually I have left nursing for addiction counseling. IMHO, the humiliation, control over my health and the demands by the BON were just not worth it to me.

Good luck to you! I never got hired because I was an L&D nurse. No one would touch me because I would "get bored".

Hi Catmom, I've known of your struggles for a long time and appreciate them. While I did not look for work as long as you, it was a very painful process to keep getting denied because of what I had done. In fact I think it increased my shame and guilt. Because of the situation with suspended licenses in 2 states and not wanting to have to go into probation here in CA, I have opted not to fight for my license. I too have decided to become a Drug counselor and let me tell you what a weight off it has been. I am not going to be entering a profession where my past isn't a hindrance it's a benefit. I realize that for many, letting go of what they worked so hard for (I was halfway to my pHd), but sometimes it's the best choice. Catmom there is a place for you, and you will find it someday. Maybe it isn't as a nurse though, and that's OK.

Imintrouble, Yes you are like us. Obviously you know little about addiction, but who would ever choose that path? Yeah sure, I sat down one day and said "Gee I'd love to be an alcoholic/addict, wouldn' that be fun?" I'd be careful if I were you, you have the genes in you family and who knows what the future holds. You are awfully opinionated for someone is is lacking knowledge about the subject.

Does anyone know if there seems to be a general length of time before you appear on the list? It's been 7 years since I was reported to the BRN and 2 years since my license was suspended. No longer going to work in nursing, but in the Addictions field ( CA does not require licensure ). Anything I can do proactively or anyway I can be prepared if I suddenly appear on it?? also for those who have gotten off the list is there anything that I can do proactively now in case I eventually appear on it? Any data I should be gathering just in case??