cinbar

Hello everyone, I found all of your comments very enlightening. I also have a story to add. I have been a nurse for 22 years. Years ago while working as a nurse where I had for 18 years, I utilized a company credit card for personal expenses. At the time, I had cancer, was taking care of my terminally ill father, was caring for a developmentally handicapped son and my husband walked out. When the credit card bill arrived at the office I paid it in full. The place was not happy I did it but did not press charges or fire me. They knew what I was going though and knew this was completely out of character. After that event and I recovered, I became a nurse practitioner. My first job was with a very abusive physician who was billing fraudulantly and was unethical with his practices. I resigned after only 5 months. Next, I began working with an oncologist and loved it! The physician I had previously worked for found out I was with a new employer, became furious and essentially went after me. First he sued me for breech of contract and sent a complaint to the board of nursing. They threw it out. He continued to harass me and pursue me. 6 months after I resigned from his practice, he somehow found out about my using the credit card in my past, and reported that to the BON. When they called I told the truth and did not think I would get into trouble because when it happened I didnt get in trouble. The board placed me on probation for 3 years and put a permanent restriction on my license to not be able to do any financial activities or my own billing. I stayed with the oncologist for almost 2 years, but it got to be too much for him knowing I had a license issue, and I resigned. I now work part time and make 1/3 of what I did. I do not make enough to survive right now. I have sent over 55 resumes in the past month. Only 3 interviews-all refusing me, 10 rejections and the rest unheard from. I know this seems like a John Grisham novel, but all is true. No criminal convictions, never fired, no drug/alcohol history, never a speeding ticket. It is hard to imagine that someone would want to destroy someones life. A permanent restriction is really bad for a nurse practitioner. I cannot certify in anything, further any nursing education, teach or supervise nurses, work in most hospitals, some insurance companies will not credential me, cannot work for any governmental agency, etc. This leaves very little left. I am working on a doctorate in health education to do something different because my future is dim. I have to give up my dreams. Sorry to ramble and thanks for listening. Just wanted to share my plight!