I am officially done with monitoring. Some of you have read my story before, I am sorry I have been a cynical and negative participant.
Six years ago I got into trouble, inactived my license (per lawyer advice), and sat and waited three years for the BON. I found work using my degree which turned out to be a real blessing while I waited. I finally received my consent agreement three years ago, took a year to find a job (Ohio is not an easy place to find work.) I added a year to my agreement as time not working as nurse doesn't count, although you better believe I paid for drug tests.
I worked off my two year agreement with a few hiccups. All I can say is that if you agree to this cover your butt, to the point off annoyance. Verify every fax, every test, all the paperwork. The BON doesn't want to hear excuses, they don't care, they are black and white and you better figure out the rules before you break one. This is their job. They will not make things clear for you or go out of the way to tell you anything. I had to sleuth out every single bit of information with the help of a lawyer and this forum. I took screen shots of every login for three years, called testing places before I went on vacation, hovered over lab staff, held off on having another child, and suffered through illnesses rather than get prescriptions for anything.
I have learned more about patience, humility, and organization than I ever thought possible.
For those wondering how completion works in Ohio, here is how mine went down. I asked to be put on the agenda for the September meeting a month early. They met four days after my consent agreement was set to finish. I was certain they would make me wait to ask for release until after the date had passed like they did with my narcotic restriction but no! I was placed on the agenda and told I could email my monitoring agent after they met that day. No way it would be that fast right?! WRONG! She emailed me back "You have been released from the terms of your probation. You will receive an official notice in the mail."
OK.... so do I log in still? Do you need anything? I emailed her about three more times clarifying this. I was told I did not need to login to First source ever again. DONE. That day. It was like a miracle! I deleted everything and went and cried in the corner for a while.
After the humiliation of the last five tests being observed (during a pandemic, expensive, and hard to find places willing to do them.) How could I be just done? My life is my own again.
Ohio has an 'alternative to discipline program' which a nurse can go through this and have a clean license at the end. Ohio has had less than 40 people allowed into it every year for the past three years. They wonder why? People are terrified to reach out for help and rejected for this program when they do.
There will always be a black mark on my license. Six years ago I wanted to walk away. Knowing what I do now and having gone through the 'monitoring process' for the state of Ohio. I would still walk away and am considering it. I could have another career by now outside of healthcare. One that doesn't take people when they are down and absolutely railroad them into worse disease, financial distress, and make a public mockery of them for the rest of their career. I believe these programs help some people when separated from the BON. However I absolutely believe this was set up for people to fail, they don't want nurses like me making it through. Had I been a single parent, not financially able to cope, or unable to find work I would have failed. The board of nursing is there for a very important reason but this punishment I was forced to endure was punitive, expensive, humiliating, overbearing, anxiety riddled, and archaic at best. I really hope to see change soon.
I wish you all the very best and will check back often. Keeping humble at the very least.
