Returning to California from another state?

[Quickstepper, MSN, RN]

Hoping someone can give me an idea if what "moving back home" might look like for me. I already have a California license, in good standing for over 25 years. However I now live in a compact state and am in an alternative to discipline program for a positive THC screen at work.  My contract has a bit of time left in it: 3.5 years. I am curious about what I would have to do if I wanted to move back to California to practice again.  When I started the progran in my state, I contacted to California Board and was told that, unless my license was being disciplined, I did not have to report it to the CA board, so I never have. My original plan was to finish my contract in my current state, then move back to CA.  I'm having second thoughts now.  If I leave my current state, my program requires me to transfer to another states program, or I get reported to the Office of Attorney General and risk being put on the exclusion list.  

It's a confusing process, as CA isn't a compact state. Also there is the whole legalization issue in CA, which I wonder if I would have needed to be in monitoring if it happened there. I don't have any issues with diversion or DUI's and I have always been able to keep my key privileges in the state I am in. 

Anyone have any experience or ideas about my particular situation?

Thanks so much!!

[K. Everly, BSN, RN]

I don't personally have experience with this but have heard of others who have. It's not impossible and I know people have done it, it just requires swapping from one alternative to discipline program to another. It's not without work and it very well may require signing different paperwork which could put you at risk of different stipulations, so I would talk to a health care licensing attorney in California. 

 

[Quickstepper, MSN, RN]

Thank you for that comment. I will look into it further. My offense was a positive THC screen, which was ironic because I was in California when I used it, and it was legal. What is the general sentiment around this with the CA BON?

[K. Everly, BSN, RN]

23 hours ago, Quickstepper said:

Thank you for that comment. I will look into it further. My offense was a positive THC screen, which was ironic because I was in California when I used it, and it was legal. What is the general sentiment around this with the CA BON?

I’m not a CA nurse so I can’t say, and I don’t know anybody else who knows. 

[Sanfranjflo]

Nurses can not use marijuana in California even though it is legal. It’s a violation of the Nurse Practice Act.

[Quickstepper, MSN, RN]

Thanks very much. Does anyone know what the typical amount of time the California BON requires in monitoring for this type of offense?

[Sanfranjflo]

The time is about 3-3.5 years. It’s not a set date. It starts at your first clean urine test. At your two year sobriety date you can ask to start your transition paperwork.  Once granted transition you have one year left. Hope that helps. Good luck! 

[Quickstepper, MSN, RN]

Yes, that helps a lot. I'm currently have 3-4 years left in Florida. I still have my California license and would like to return there in a year. I'm hoping that they will honor my time in monitoring here. I was told by the California BON that because I'm in an alternative program and have no disciplinary actions on my license that I do not have to report it to California, however to leave Florida's program I have to transfer to another monitoring program or I will be considered noncompliance and my license here would be suspended.  So, I'm hoping that I can smoothly transfer my monitoring to California. I've never had a key restriction in Florida. What policies are in place in California in regards to key restrictions? 

Also, can anyone tell me how difficult it might be to find employment in California while in a monitoring program?