Questions for CA RN on Probation

[gnurse2089]

Hi guys,

I'm an RN in California and my license was recently placed on probation for a DUI. Long story short, 3 years ago I went out with some friends to a show at a local bar. My DD ended up getting to drunk to drive so I stupidly offered to drive him home, I got in my car, didn't even make it a block before a cop who was parked around the corner from the bar pulled me over. 3 years later the BON finally came to a decision on what to do with my license and I entered a 3 year stipulated settlement.

Now before I get any judgement, just know the DUI was my first time getting in trouble for anything, I was 23, and it was a huge learning experience. I cut way back on drinking (and have now stopped completely as a result of the boards decision). At the time of getting my DUI I was a charge nurse at a local SNF and in the three years since then, I have excelled at my job, getting excellent performance evaluations and working my way up from charge nurse to admissions nurse.

I have remained positive throughout this experience, and I'm looking forward to getting this probation over with so that I can continue to advance my career. I know I will face difficulties moving upwards in the future, but I believe my excellent references (my DON adores me), and good work ethic can overcome this discipline. I do, however, have a few questions for others on probation with the BON in CA.

1. As you all know, as a result of the decision I have to call in to First Lab for random drug and alcohol testing. No biggie, but I met with my monitor yesterday for the first time and I asked her about using hand sanitizer when I leave patient's rooms. I've heard about people having false positives for this and I'm a little worried. Being that I work in a SNF, we have heavy med passes, and its quicker for me to use the sanitizing stations outside patient's rooms then to walk back to the nurses station in between patients to wash my hands. (Most of the patient's bathrooms are shared between 4 patients so its sometimes difficult to use their bathroom to was my hands) Does anyone know if I can use this? I asked my monitor and she said she wasn't sure, I should check with First lab, but when I called them they asked me to ask my monitor so I'm stuck in a loop. If its any help, I only get tested with Option 1. Its been almost a month and I have yet to get called in to test, but I would hate to fail for hand sanitizer of all things.

2. Is there anyone that lives near the Central Coast that has done their evaluations and can give me info on doctors in the area that could do them? My monitor gave me a list but all the doctors were in the LA/San Diego area which is a good 3 hour drive from me. I start attending Nurse Support Group this week so I'm also going to be reaching out to nurses there.

Thanks for your responses in advance. As much as this probation sucks, I'm trying to stay positive throughout the whole ordeal. When I first got the DUI I thought my life was over, and instead, great things have happened to me over the last 3 years. I know great things will continue to happen, and we'll all get through this together.

[reneern623]

You can buy alcohol free hand sanitizer and bring it to work. Should be labeled on the bottle. I got mine at Walmart.