determined_nurse

With the help of my support network and with the help of a good lawyer I have been removed from the OIG list. I just received notificaton today. The best part is that I stayed sober through this whole mess. As a nurse I was the one always helping others but when times became tough, reaching out and asking for help was the best thing that I could do for myself. Everyone kept telling me that "it gets better" and it was so hard to believe when I was in the mess of it all. Today I believe this is true.

Question for SWS RN. Apparently I cannot PM until I've had 14 posts...hmm. Anyway, did you apply to be removed from the OIG exclusion list prior to your exclusion end date? It is my understanding that there are mandatory and permissive exclusions based on what the extent of the issue was. And the times range anywhere from 2-10 years, or until you are reinstated with your license. I have a permissive exclusion for 2 years, I was placed on it based on erroneous information. I never lost my nursing license. The exlusion paperwork will not be sent to me since it is too early (per the website) to come off the list. I appreciate you sharing your experience in previous posts relating to OIG and how you were able to be removed from the list. Any more info would be great!! Thanks.

Have you considered trying outpatient nursing? I have worked in nursing homes, hospitals, and more recenlty in a family practice setting. There are so many nursing jobs out there outside of LTC and hospital settings and many of them don't require medication administration. If this whole healthcare reform legislation continues there will be more need for nurses in outpatient settings that also provide loan repayment programs. It would be great as a new nurse to try while you are under the monitoring program. Unfortunately you would not be using a lot of your nursing skills such as assessing, etc. and the pay isn't as good as the hospital. It would be a safe job for a nurse early in recovery who is able to work and provide care and still have that patient contact. Just a suggestion. Good luck!!

I just wanted to share an experience I had recently with applying for a nursing job. I have a consent agreement with the BON for 5 years also called nursing probation. I was interviewed for a RN job a local hospital and the interview went great. I did not share that I was on nursing probation and wanted to let them know at the 2nd interview. I was called back for my 2nd interview and it went very well then I told them about my consent agreement and what was required of it. I got a call back about 1 week later stating that my interview, references, and experience were amazing and they wanted to hire me! BUT, the nurse manager had experience with my type of situation in the past and it did not go well and I believe the nurse relapsed. So, she stated point blank that the reason I was not being hired was because of my history of substance abuse! I'm over half way through my nursing probation and have been clean and sober for 4 years....I explained. The nurse manager said that was great and to give her a call when it had been 5 years and my probation was over! What the heck! What is her mindset? Does she feel that I'll be magically "cured" when I hit the 5 year mark? I cannot believe the ignorance some people have when it comes to addiction. Somehow I feel that she just didn't want to deal with the paperwork.....sigh.

Thanks for the responses. I am in the process of applying to grad school for my MSN and hope the OIG exclusion doesn't affect my application process. Does anybody know if I'm able to get student federal loans while on the OIG list? Can a student do clinicals at a hospital if they are on the OIG list? All these questions I have are overwhelming! I was on a great path and doing awesome and was back to working as a nurse, now I'm on this list and cannot work. It's awful. I just sent letters to my representatives about this, I don't believe this is fair to have an addict or alcoholic not work due to their disease.

I am new to this site and was wondering if any of you had info on the OIG exclusion list. I have been in recovery since March 2007 and half way through my 5 year nursing probation. I have been working as an RN since 2008 and just found out that I'm on the OIG exclusion list as of last month, I never received a letter for my right to repeal or fight it. It is a minimum of a 2 year exclusion and I cannot work as an RN until I'm off that list. Just asking for other experiences with this and the time frame off getting your name off the list. I have a lawyer who is working on getting me off the list but he isn't positive he can. Any help or info is appreciated. Thanks.