medsurv

Nothing more to say . . . Congratulations, tell your instructor. We had a couple of girls with child in class and it was great! Good Luck

Hi CA ER RN, My heart goes out to you. I am in a good Nursing Support Group and the nurses and facilitator network to help one another find jobs. I don't know where you are located by that is key to finding work. Sometimes other nurses who have graduated probation have supervisory positions, believe it or not, and take us in. The best place to find work is nursing homes, educator positions, and call centers/insurance companies. I'm not looking yet as I am still out on workers comp, but when it is time to return, I hope my new acquaintances will be helpful. I'll write more later . . . it's dinner time, but if anyone wants to email me, my email is [email protected]. TTYL

I almost forgot! DON'T MAKE A CHARTING ERROR! :redpinkhe

Hi 80/20 I too am on probation. I just met with my monitor on Thursday. I made 3 charting omissions. Specifically, I passed 3 narcotics (they didn't look for any other types of meds) at the hospital I worked at to 3 different patients (over a period of 6 months). On our floor, you documented in the MARS, the nursing notes, and the pain management note. On all 3 occasions, I missed charting in one of the three places. In other words, the medication administered was charted in two of the three. The first interview with investigation took place 11 months later. Naively, I went by myself (without legal representation) ready to explain to the officer the error. Surely he would understand! LOL I pointed the above out to him but he just kept looking at me, for 3 hours, telling me I diverted medications! 10 months later I received the Accusation from the nursing board. I sent my response, asked for a hearing, and hired an attorney. 5 months and $7,000.00 later, my attorney, who SEEMED awesome (I would give his name but he threatened to sue me for libel) showed up for my hearing and requested a 3 month continuance. During this waiting time, my attorney informed me he would need another $3,000.00 to appear. I also received a letter from the state's Assistant Attorney General informing me that my "fine" would be increased by $8,000.00 if we attended that hearing! To top things off, I hurt my back while waiting through all of this, had a 3-level lumbar fusion and stabilization with instrumentation, and now I was on a narcotic, muscle relaxer, anti-inflammatory and off work. So . . . needless to say, I was out of money and taking one of the narcotics they accused me of diverting! Still believing that this could not get this bad, I agreed to sign the BRN's stipulation and decision. There was a rule-out substance abuse exam that was to be done, and seeing as I only drink adult beverages on occasion (one maybe every month or two with dinner), I am not a "recreational drug" user, and I am fully compliant with my prescribed medications, I was sure I would pass. Well, long story short, I received a $7,000.00 fine and 3 years license probation. I probably won't be able to return to my job (I was a visiting infusion therapy nurse which was a great job for a nurse with a bad back and I'll probably never be able to work the floor again) because I require "maximum supervision". I have to have my medications monitored by a physician other than my own, I have to see a psychotherapist, I have to be in a out-patient drug rehab program for 6 months (BTW I'm still on the back medications), I am subject to random drug testing 7 days a week, I have to attend Narcotics Anonymous 2 times a week, and a Nursing Support Group 1 time a week. And, while I am recovering from this major surgery and trying to do this probation program, I have to find a job that meets the boards approval working 24 hours a week for 6 months. I am looking forward to the Nursing Support Group as I will probably really need this. I think I am actually looking forward to the psychotherapist as I think I'm going to need it to survive this! All I can say, from my experiences, is make sure you have good malpractice insurance and plan for an attorney in advance. I can not believe this has happened to me but it did, and does in California ALL THE TIME!!!!! You can read the disciplinary actions on the California Board of Registered Nurses website. Good luck to all.

I ended up on this site today looking for information regarding RN's using narcotics. This morning, I had a follow up appointment with my physician. I have been seen at the same military clinic for almost six years now, just two different doctors. I'm also seen annualy by my neurosurgeon. I take Oxycontin, with Norco for break thru pain. This morning, my MD was on leave, and another doctor saw me. He has decided that since I am an RN, he feels he must report me to the BRN, California. I am so angry I can't see straight. I am the sole provider in my home for my children. I too, as some of you, have 8 herniated disks, but cannot afford to not work. I have been cleared by my neurosurgeon and FP to work, but now I see the new doctor ONE TIME, and my whole life may be about to fall apart. I have never worked as a nurse NOT TAKING narcotics. I graduated from nursing school while taking them, I took my boards while taking them, and I started work on a VERY busy floor while taking them (no drug test). Knock on wood, I have not had any medication errors so far, and have made good decisions in the care of my patients. If you question the medication error thing, I focus only on meds when I give them, don't chat with others, and check my work twice, maybe 3 times, everytime. I hope neither you or I ever make medication errors. It breaks my heart to see other RNs who have so little knowledge regarding pain. I really am NOT affected negatively by my meds anymore. But I am willing to admit that there may be people out there that would be no matter how much they take, no matter what their occupation. And, lets keep in mind, Benadryl, Sudafed, antidepressants . . . they all have side effects too! The other thing I want to convey is that I have been able to work because of my meds, not unable because of them. And until today, there should never have been a concern at my work about taking narcs, (and I wouldn't do that anyway, no matter how desparate, I know my character) because I had my own medications to manage my unbearable pain. I wish the best to all you nurses out there suffering from injuries and trying to work, and for those of you who haven't been there yet, I hope you don't ever have to go there.