Reported to NPDB

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Specializes in Bottom wiping.

Hi,

I was in PNAP/VRP for almost 5 years and after relapsing, receiving extension to my contract etc. I just could no longer afford to stay in the program despite remaining clean and sober (to this day). I sat in my car one day when I had been picked to random test and I had $20 and no gas money. Do I get gas, or do I get a test that I can't get to? (Rural area, no buses) It was that day I knew I couldn't do it any more. So I voluntarily agreed to suspension, no fight, no contest, what could I do? The BON has no sympathy for financial hardship apparently.

Anyway, I received a nice friendly letter from the NPDB, National Provider Database with a lovely report of how I violated terms and conditions and and that I am "not fit to practice nursing due to alcohol or other substance abuse". So my attorney told me that he could dispute it with the board and I never heard from him for months. I spoke to him the other day and he denies ever telling me such a thing and that he can't do anything further for me (besides spend my big fat retainer that he got and really did nothing for).

In reviewing other suspended nurses orders on the BON website I don't see many other nurses that are reported to the NPDB, even though they have violated terms and been ultimately suspended. I personally know 2 nurses who while in the program relapsed, committed crimes and got suspended and they did not get reported to the NPDB...! I'm wondering what makes me so different? I was not in DMU and entered the program voluntarily. I quit due to financial hardship and I'm trying to change careers. However, people are telling me that this will show up on any background checks forever.

Can anyone help a girl out here? Any explanation would be helpful.

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Specializes in Telephonic and Addictions Nursing.

I’m confused about your story. When did the suspension take place? How long is this suspension for? Do you have any intention of being a nurse again? I got my NPDB letter pretty fast so that’s why I was checking.

The NPDB is not the nursing board. I’m pretty sure if you are in a compact state they report to them so you cant work as a nurse in another state with your license. Should you follow the terms of the suspension and have your license reinstated, the board will update the NPDB and you’ll be fine. I know people who had their license revoked and got back to working as a nurse. Your lawyer is correct at least with the NPDB. You can’t really ‘fight’ that part but you can fight for your license.

As for the background check: it’s public record so it’s not going to be hard to find. However I had to work in a different career and it was never a problem.

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Specializes in Bottom wiping.

Hi Chad,

Thanks for the response. My suspension is for 3 years and I don't have any desire to go back to nursing. I was a really good nurse and I loved my job. I just got sucked into a dark cloud and addiction followed.

I really don't have any resentment for other nurses getting second chances, I actually got 3 chances then just couldn't afford to stay in the program so I had to quit. I'm just wondering what impact this listing will have on my future endeavors. I've heard scary things like "you will never get hired again by any company that receives any kind of state or federal funding"? I'm like WOW!?

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Specializes in Telephonic and Addictions Nursing.

Ah. That would be a different list. The OIG exclusion list. If you are on that list you can’t work anywhere that receives Medicare/medicade funding. I’m not sure which state has to report what and why...but I’m not on the OIG list. So, it’s possible you’re not either. Google OIG exclusion and look yourself up.

Now, let’s say your on that list. Can you get off that one? Yes. But you will need to get your license back. And then request to be removed from it.

I’m glad you don’t have a resentment. You know, I really didn’t want to a nurse anymore either. And I was paying out of pocket for weekly group rehab and drug screenings. I was about to just walk away until I heared a friend of mine working on getting her license back. I realized the only thing in the world that I could see myself doing was being a nurse. As long as I kept my recovery first.

If you loved being a nurse, you do it again. You don’t need to decide that now either. How much more do you have on your suspension?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Women's Health, LTC.
3 minutes ago, chadprepton said:

Ah. That would be a different list. The OIG exclusion list. If you are on that list you can’t work anywhere that receives Medicare/medicade funding. I’m not sure which state has to report what and why...but I’m not on the OIG list. So, it’s possible you’re not either. Google OIG exclusion and look yourself up.

Now, let’s say your on that list. Can you get off that one? Yes. But you will need to get your license back. And then request to be removed from it.

The OIG list is not difficult to be removed from. YOU DO NOT NEED YOUR LICENSE to be re-instated for that. All you have to do is meet the minimum requirement to be on that list (that is how long the BON in your state said you must remain suspended or revoked). Once that time frame is up, you send a letter, ask for an application, and return it completed. Took me 4 weeks from start to finish and I did not have my license back yet.

As a matter of fact, I am still in the process of getting my license and have been off the OIG exclusion list for over two years now.

Go to their website and follow the directions. Good luck to you!

https://exclusions.oig.hhs.gov/

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Specializes in Telephonic and Addictions Nursing.

Thanks rn1965! I didn’t know that.

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I got the letter from the NPDB, but I'm not on the OIG. I think it comes to people who may have had suspensions and now have conditional licenses. It's just nurses who could go full retard, but haven't.

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Specializes in Bottom wiping.

Persephone that made me laugh. Thanks!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

The NPDB includes all providers that have been found at fault for medical malpractice also.

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I have a question about this npdb list. Once you finish your monitoring contract does your name come off of it or is it on there forever?

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2 minutes ago, Babyj88 said:

I have a question about this npdb list. Once you finish your monitoring contract does your name come off of it or is it on there forever?

I hope so. That's what I'm counting on. My license is conditional, I hope that gets taken off too. It would really suck if it doesn't.

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3 minutes ago, Persephone Paige said:

I hope so. That's what I'm counting on. My license is conditional, I hope that gets taken off too. It would really suck if it doesn't.

It really would suck. I loss my letter they sent me over a year ago. Probably got pissed off and threw it away. I have a permanent mark on my license so not sure what to expect after all this is over.

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