reinstated license after suspension

yellow finch, BSN, RN · May 29, 2006

I work with a nurse who, although didn't have her license suspended, did have some issues with narcotics in the ER and ended up moving up to our floor. Though she's been with us for over 5 years, she still cannot pull narcotics out of the Pyxis system and has to have a witness every time. It's not been a big deal and nobody seems to mistrust her now though I wonder why she still isn't able to pull her own drugs.

Wishing you the best on your new journey. What are the chances of finding a small community hospital to start off with or community health? The latter will deal mainly with physicals and vaccinations, less with narcotics and the community hospitals are more like a family where you can be open while having a good support system around you.

Ann RN · May 29, 2006

IN 2 weeks I will be getting my nursing license returned after 1 year of suspension and 1 year of probation. I have been unable to get a nursing or nurse aid job during this 2 years. I have completed all of the board's requirements and I am looking for some direction of who, where I may get a chance to "start over". My license was suspended for diversion. That difficult time is behind me, I just don't know where to start ...I would appreciate any help.

First, CONGRATUALTIONS!! :yelclap: Be proud of yourself! You're healthy.

Did you participate in VOLUNTARY recovery program monitored by your State BON? If all requirements were fully met & your license is being reinstated WITHOUT restrictions, that part of the BON will close your file. The licensure & legal part of the BON never is given that info. You NEVER have to share that info with anyone. Future employers never have access to it. Sometimes the BON's recovery programs will prohibit you from returning to high risk areas of nursing - critical care, OR, anesthesia & ER. It's reviewed on an individual basis.

If questioned, be honest. Emphasize the positive things you've done in the past 2 years, and how you have met all requirements of the BON. But I would not volunteer the info. Attend support group/NA meetings for nurses & other med professionals. There are more impaired nurses than you realize.

As for the diagnosis of drug addiction, it is a recognized illness by the CDC.

Have strength & courage. You've already won the big fight.

southern_rn_brat · May 29, 2006

Congratulations first and foremost!!

Just be honest. It may not get you the job you "want" but it WILL get you the job you "need".

It is better for your new job to know of your history, dont you think? Everyone at my facility knows my history because I have been open and honest about it. I didnt want to leave myself any "outs" at all. Having the support of my coworkers helps me to stay clean.

If you have no restrictions on your license, then go for the jobs you want! You deserve it!

southern_rn_brat · May 29, 2006

Funny, after being being on-call and living a nightmare this past weekend, I found myself thinking of becoming a waitress...

I'll say an AMEN to that :chair:

BabyRN2Be · May 30, 2006

Congratulations! I don't know if I have any more advice to add to what you've already received, but it sounds like you've come back via a very hard road.

I wish you the very best in life, and I also wish you the very best of luck.

chase4myheart · May 30, 2006

First of all, congratulations on your recovery. Please don't give up. No one knows what you have gone through until they have walked in your shoes. I just know that there is someone out there who will give you a chance. Just remember to take everything one day at a time.

WriteStuff · May 30, 2006

To bclily:

If you successfully completed a Diversion Program through your Board of Nursing, including a probation period, your records are then "expunged" = destroyed as if nothing had ever happened. When you apply for a job in the future you are not obligated to divulge your past problem to a prospective employer and today most employers in the health care industry enforce a "drug free work environment" and a urine screen is now part of the hiring process. One other comment, or question....were you convicted of any felony at all? Employers are at liberty to ask this question on applications and you must be truthful in your answer.

If your Board of Nursing is satisfied that you are safe to practice once again it doesn't matter what "others" think at that point. You should be proud of the work you have done to address your problem of addiction and the wreckage it has caused in your life. What's important now, if you want to continue practicing your profession, is to go about it realistically, with confidence, and only after taking a thorough inventory of yourself at this stage of recovery.

I personally feel it's a grave mistake for a nurse who was impaired to jump back into the trenches of bedside nursing after only one year, two years, or even three years in a diversion program despite the fact that he/she is clean and sober. I am very much aware that diversion programs offer a transition phase in order to accomplish this, however, recovery is not a simple matter of just not using once again. In recovery we have a saying: "you just have to change one thing, and that is EVERYTHING." We have to learn a new way of living, healthy ways for dealing with the stress of not only every day life, but our work environments as well. My advice is to take stock of the quality of your own recovery program. What supports have you put in place for yourself? Are you grounded in recovery in every conceivable way? Are you attending the meetings that apply to a recovering person? Are you actively involved in a Nurse Support Group? Do you continue to seek professional counseling for the mental, emotional, psychological and spiritual damage that has been done? Have you been diagnosed with any primary mental health illness that needs treatment? Is spirituality today an important addition to your lifestyle? What is the quality of your self-esteem?

That "difficult time" you just went through is not something that will ever "be over." You have the disease of addiction which can only be put in remission by practicing daily abstinence and learning a new way of living -there is no "cure."

My advice is, if you feel you have reached a place of physical, mental, emotional, psychological, and spiritual balance, to look for work within the profession that distances you from handling any and all forms of addictive drugs. There are those who would disagree with me and use the example of falling off the horse and being afraid to ever ride again. There is some truth in that, but we're not talking about having "fallen off a horse." We're talking about a disease that is cunning, baffling, powerful and even while we're clean and sober, is waiting in the "wings" doing pushups...ready to pounce in a vulnerable moment.

Because of the work you've done in recovery you have gifted yourself with the freedom to choose once again, something we lost when our disease was active. Only you can know whether you're ready to jump back into the fray. Be kind to yourself. Go slow, put supports in place that keep you propped up. Hang with the winners. Explore the options you see available...clinics, doctor's office, homehealth, teaching, non-patient care opportunities, management positions, longterm care, private duty, etc. Let yourself down gently and all will go well.

Best of luck to you, keep it simple, and remember...we only have to live life, one day at a time.

And "yes", I'm a recovering nurse who will celebrate eleven years clean and sober, this August the 8th, God-willing.

Take care and keep us posted.

Bonnie C.,RN

snowfreeze, BSN, RN · May 30, 2006

There are facilities that will give you a second chance, apply, be honest and good luck.

Ann RN · May 30, 2006

I also am a recovering nurse, 5-1/2 years clean. Being discovered at work is the best thing that ever happened to me. My manager & co-workers were SO supportive. I did everything the BON asked me to & then some. My manager & case workers went to bat for me; I am one of the lucky few that was allowed to go back to critical care. After my probation, I was again allowed to handle narcotics. It can be done. BUT - ask yourself many questions & examine yourself VERY closely to determine if this is right for you. I do not feel it's a mistake to go back to bedside nursing. Being a nurse again was all I wanted. And I wanted to do it right. But it has to be right for YOU.

Keepstanding, ASN, RN · May 30, 2006

Will your license be "clean" or will it still show a previous suspension?
If so, you might try a field where no narcs are given for awhile; like camp or school nursing.

:confused: School nurses administer controlled drugs...ritalin....

Roller · May 24, 2010

IN 2 weeks I will be getting my nursing license returned after 1 year of suspension and 1 year of probation. I have been unable to get a nursing or nurse aid job during this 2 years. I have completed all of the board's requirements and I am looking for some direction of who, where I may get a chance to "start over". My license was suspended for diversion. That difficult time is behind me, I just don't know where to start ...I would appreciate any help.

Hey bclily, Congradulations on being reinstated. I completed 18 months of probation after a DWI and minor misdemeannor possession of marijuana. That difficult time is behind me as well, but I now have a "prior discipline" attached to my license and my back check will note both of these events.

Good Luck and don't too discouraged about the unemployment situation, I too am going through this situation and haven't given up yet after almost a year with no job as an RN. I worked PRN from Nov to Jan, but was going to being investigated by this corporations home office, but quit in instead because I was 2 weeks away from my hearing to be released.

Anyhow it was BS and I sincerely believe now it might have been an attempt to avoid paying me unemployment.

Stay strong and weather it the best you can. Roller.