princess papooli

At my last DEC meeting they mandated me to attend Pills Anonymous meetings; a control thing I imagine. My recovery is / was going great with the NA / AA meetings that I was attending, had a committment, etc. I understand that the 12 steps are the 12 steps, but honestly, this board does not care how difficult it is to find a PA meeting. Clean for over a year through NA, have an NA sponsor, worked all 12 NA steps, starting over again on Step 1. The focus in NA is the disease of addiction, not the substance. Thanx for the reply.

At my last diversion meeting, I was ordered to go to Pills Anonymous meetings. Can't find any near my home, The closest one is greater than 30 miles away. Anyone out there has any info on where I can find an active meeting. The website is inaccurate regarding what meetings are active. Thanx

Hang in there. You will find employment at just the right time. You have so much to carry on your shoulders; your intentions are pure & honorable; God won't let you down. Focus on today, don't look ahead to tomorrow, a week from now, a month from now. It will only cause you fear. His blessings are new every, so can your outlook & faith. I was out of work for almost a year; now I am working part-time & getting more hours every day, closer to my initial full-time status. This wait will strengthen your faith & give you wisdom. "Tough time don't last, but tough people do." I know this is a cliche, but it is so true. my prayers to your & yours.

Sorry you are experiencing this. Have your symptoms improved. I know your post is a little dated, but the medical center where I work at has has performed this procedure, as a matter of fact, one earlier this week. I work in So. Cal / South Bay area. Maybe you can private EM & I can inform you of this medical center,

Can you get state disability in your state? Here in California, if you have worked and paid into the state disability system, you can qualify for state disability assistance, as depression & anxiety disorder (your situation sounds like something to be depressed or anxious about) & substance abuse are considered as disease process allowing you to collect a portion of what you paid into the system through payroll deductions. It was the only thing keeping my family afloat for a year, which is when it expired. Good luck & praying for you.

I have never witnessed a RN receiving any more respect or recognition because of "BSN" follows thr "RN" on their ID badge. The doctors still walked over them, give them crap over patient care, orders not performed, lab results not reported timely for their intervention, surgery schedule delays, etc...you name it. I have over 30 years of nursing experience, in numerous fields in nursing, ADN, and the respect I receive from MDs is from my years of experience and the knowledge gained by that experience. I do not need a BSN to make me a better, more knowledgeable nurse. I have a career loaded with teacher ;the patients, the MD's, my own incentive to keep up with changes and continuing education, that did not come with BSN. At this time in my life, and my age, I simply see sense in going forward for a BSN. And to say that if a ADN nurse who does not achieve the BSN has their license suspended is insane...welcome to "nazi-nursing." I had the opportunity to live and work in Hawaii. A great number of the nurses that I have worked with got their BSN after their ADN-RN. In Hawaii, you do not need the continuing education requirements to renew your license, and many of these nurses have not, on their own, chose to update their education or knowledge; content to on their "laurels" of the BSN degree.

Upon discussion with past probation nurse peers, you may be able to continue to work while on probation. In diversion, you are removed from practice / unable to work. Best of luck & praying for you.

You need to do this immediately. You sound like you want to keep this a secret until your license expires. Wrong choice. Like I posted before, your fingerprints are already on file at the BRN when you first either tested for your license or when you were accepted into nursing school. The law enforcement agency which arrested you has them in the state data base. It is a matter of time when they will match up with what is on file with the BRN. This is information which was discussed by other nurses who have experienced the same situation you are facing now. When this match-up happens, you have lost your opportunity to go through the diversion program. You are reported to the State Attorney General who now has the power to revoke your license. Then you are placed on probation status. Now you have to hire an attorney, NOT to save your license (an attorney cannot help you do this, again public safety trumps your privilige to be a Registered Nurse), but now to defend you violating the law by driving under the influence. You will be fined, paying the judgement against you, which can cost you thousands of dollars, plus court fees, DMV penalties, plus your attorney fees. This will mean: Your DUI is now public record. Someone, anyone, (with a computer & the InterNet); prospective employers, nosy family members, co-workers, etc. can look up your license and read all about your DUI and you judgement. This info stays attached to your license forever; it does not disappear once you are done with probation. This can make retaining employment difficult, to say the least. Participate in an intensive out-patient substance abuse program (usually covered by insurance) You will not be able to work for as long as the judge deems is sufficient. There are nurses out there who have not worked in the nursing field in years due to their probationary status. The average time seems to be 1 year at least. You are mandated to attend AA / NA meetings until done with probation. You will have to call in to see if you need to provide a UA (observed specimen, very humbling) that day, pay for the lab fees and collection fees; about $ 200.00 / month Attend a nurse support group weekly. The diversion route is much the same, but the cost isn't as prohibiting, as you don't need an attorney (again, an attorney CANNOT GET YOU OUT OF THIS MESS, unless there was a violation [by an employer] of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and drunk driving does not apply here). Diversion: keeps your business out of public view. participate in an intensive out-patient substance abuse program (usually covered by insurance) You will have to call in to see if you need to provide a UA (observed specimen, very humbling), pay for the lab fees and collection fees; about $ 200.00 / month you do have to do lots of paperwork, submitting TIMELY monthly reports You will not beable to work for up to a year, initially returning at a non-patient care status mandated to attend AA / NA meetings, starting at 7 meetings a week (one a day & getting your signature card signed to prove that you do attend), once you return to work, the meeting attendance can be reduced, be evaluated every 3 to 6 months by the Diversion Evaluation Committee (the DEC), if you are diligent in your recovery and complete diversion successfully, there is no "red flags" on your license, your DUI and participation in the diversion program remains confidential, and you won't have to pay thousands of dollars in court fees, attorney fees, DMV penalties, etc. I am speaking from experience, diversion was the better choice for me. Keep your chin up & may God Bless YOU

I do not know for a fact that the CA BRN does not recommend diversion for nurses with DUI, but in my nurse support group we have approximately 20 nurseswho are there for just that: a DUI. Again, would you like your RN license to have that you were diciplined & your potential employer be able to read your hearing details? Your arrest and it's details will be attached to your license. With diversion, it remains confidential. It isn't pleasant, but it does get easier, especially if you do not have a drinking problem, just this one lapse of judgement. The difficulty lies in the hoops you must jump through. Again, I can only stress that you consider self- reporting rather waiting for this to catch up with you. And don't count on your union rep to assist you: this is about violating the law (drunk driving) and public safety, which is why your union, as well as an attorney can't help you (again, the nurses of my support group's experience). additionally, working in a state / county hospital puts you in another difficult stop; while you are off work, you access to unemployment or disibility benefits are difficult to access. California has one of the toughest programs for nurses, thanks to Arnold S. (take a look at his life now-karma), but it's do-able. Just set your mind to it. Good luck

Here in California, it doesn't matter if this was your only offense, your fingerprints are on there way to the BRN and your are flagged. It is in your best interest to contact the BRN NOW and ask for diversion, before you are forced into Probation, which can cost you thousands of dollars in the process. A lawyer will not help you get out of this matter, I know as I spoke to a nurse attorney who advised me thatthis is not an easy case to fight, but you will need an attorney if you choose to go the probation route, which makes your arrest PUBLIC RECORD and your nursing license will forever have a notation that it was under diciplinary santions. The diversion route is a pain in the back field, but there is no citation on your license. Either way, this is not an easy road to haul. You will be: required to go to AA / NA meetings 7 days a week' rain, shine, kids graduation ceremony, spouses heart attack, parent's death, no excuses, not work for at least 1 year (and good luck finding work after you are allowd to do so), attend nurse support group, which is the only place you will get any answers on what or how to do this "life saving" intervention process, get the oppertunity to call FIRSTLAB daily to see iff you have to provide a UA, enjoy the special pleasure of pee-ing in front of total strangers after they scope you out to be sure you didn't rig something up your a** to provide someone else's "clean" urine, turn in TONS of paperwork & documentation, which the diversion provider loses and then you, you lucky soul, are deemed "non-compliant", and then the FUN begins...you go before a DEC board which is a group of 4 professions in addiction and a community lay-person, and they proceed to rip you a new one, manipulate everything you had answered in your intake interview and you leave wishing you get a "good cancer" which will take you out in 6 months to a year rather than suffer through this heartless, demeaning process for 3 years ( I have heard this last response from a number of nurses awaiting their DEC meeting)! Going through it now, hating every minute of it. If anything, call the BRN, self-report, don't let them "catch you" by them finding out about your DUI by other means, and come join the fun.

Trust God & keep applying for jobs. What is your probation status at this time? What state are you in? What you are going through is a mess (my situation is similar), but push on. I am soooo sorry that you are going through this. I just went back to work about 5 weeks ago, by God's grace. Losing the house, car, etc. Are you able to sue your previous employer for violation of the American with disabilities act? This situation is wrong & there has to be something you can do about it.

Check with an accountant, but I cannot see why some of the expenses could be. Addiction is viewed as a disease, and the treatment aspects should be considered tax deductable. For instance, if you had to participate in intensive out-patient treatment, the mileage could be deductable, just as if you were seeking medical treatment. Participating in a program such as IAP or diversion is necessary to keep your license, to maintain your job, and if no laws were broken (using illegal substances, DUI, theft of narcotics, etc), why could you not write off UA testing fees, diversion program fees, etc. I am having my taxes done soon & will report back.

I don't regret my nursing as a career choice, but what I should not have done is job hop. When I was much younger, both age-wise and career-wise, I wanted to experience a variety of nursing specialities, which is retrospect, now that I am closer to retirement age, was not a good choice. I truly love nursing, but maybe I should have been an auto mechanic or someone like Chip Foose of West Coast Customs and restore cars.

Look at your statement of "I know she hates me." Look at your previous statement where you said that she should of "taken me under her wings..." Look at your statement where you indicated that you were "quite the opposite" of a student that has super nursing skills. Look at your post that you read into the instructor statement that she was uncomfortable in writing a letter of recommendation as that you are "just squeeking by." Look at yourself and change. You do come off as immature and a sense of entitlement. Life is tough and not fair. And nursing is not a career for everyone.

You are going to be great when you can accept what is happening to you as the way is it supposed to be right now, at this very moment, with this very issue. Nursing students who have this grand idea that they want to be "great" crash & burn, either before graduation or shortly after they enter the work force. Too much pressure to be "great" in YOUR own eyes. You are a student, you got your letter of recommendation from another instructor. Now is the time to learn; learn how to perform your clinical skills, CORRECTLY, without error & with confidence- that is or will lead to GREATNESS, learn to open your mind to others comments and criticisms-we all have them because we have "been there & done that"-again, a stepping stone to the GREATNESS you seek, take a look at YOURSELF: when you can do that and find out who you are-you will have achieved your GREATNESS. We all want to be good at what we do. And when I say good, I mean skillful, accurate, confident, correct, without hesitation, knowing what I am doing and why (theory?), with passion. That makes me a good nurse & my practice of the science of nursing GREAT.