I have been an LPN for about 6 or 7 years. On my very first job, a co-worker accused me me stealing medications (I had just gotten the position she wanted, and she had also smoked marijuana with me the previous weekend). I did not take a drug test, immediately resigned. They did an internal investigation, found nothing, and dropped it.
I found another job, no problems and continued my nursing career. A few years later I did develope an opiate addiction. I didn't ever divert pain medications, never was accused of being high, but maintained my addiction.
Fast forward to last Easter Sunday. I had worked a 12 hours shift on my normal unit, and floated to another hall to do a medpass. The nurse taking over for me made me do the charting on 4 patients. I was tired and wanted to go home. Against my better judgment, I wrote down vital signs that I did not take. That nurse found out, told my DON and administrator. I admitted to it, got fired, and reported to the board of nursing. I never contacted the board, in my nativity I thought it would just blow over.
I entered suboxone treatment on my own free will in December of 2016. In January of this year I got a call from the Ohio BON regarding the vital signs. I met with the investigator, he asked if I was in treatment, I denied it. We went through with the meeting, and at the very end when I thought I was going to get away with a smack on the hand, he told me he had run an ORSA report on me, and knew about the suboxone treatment. I was shocked. I told him the truth about it, and he said I could revoke my license willingly, and enter an alternative program to get my license back with few repercussions. So I de-activated my license.
Now I am sitting here jobless, wondering if I made the right decision. I feel black balled. Besides my 1st job, where they found nothing amiss, I have never been accused of taking medications or being high on the job. The complaint had nothing to do with narcotics.
What should I have done? Did I do the right thing? I will admit it right now, I am terrible about sigoing narcotics out on the MAR. I always sign them out in the narc book of course, but I overlook the importance of the MAR, just like every other nurse. I am scared to death and I just would like some insight. I had no yet been accepted by the board into an alternative program, and truly cannot afford a lawyer.
It seems there might be a few details left out, as another already mentioned.
The board is not your friend, no matter what they say and how big their smile when you agree with them. I do not know what an ORSA report is. Is it similar to the National Practicioners DataBase? (basically a Black ball list, for licensed professionals). Did the investigator give you another option? I guess it couldn't hurt to speak with him again, even email & ask if you have other options available to you. Not sure how that would go, but the worst he can do is say No...
Is de-activating your license the same as you surrendering it? Or is/did the board revoke it? Or is it on probation/ pending successful completion of the alternative program?
I understand not having the money for an attorney, but trying to get your license back & completing an alternative to discipline program should be your 2nd priority right now. First obviously is recovery.
It seems getting your license back to full active status will be difficult, if you even can, at this point. It does not hurt to ask. I would think right now is a good time for lots of soul-searching/personal reflection...
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
as well as being prescribed opioids.[/QUOTE]
You seem to be misinformed - I don't know of any Nurse Practice Act that explicitly prohibits the use of legally prescribed opioid medication for the treatment of acute or chronic pain. Most do prohibit working under the influence of those medications or "Working while impaired" . In the alternative program I was in one of my peers was actually placed on suboxone as part of her recovery plan.
The fact that you don't know how suboxone works is concerning when you are commenting on a recovery page. Suboxone blocks opioid receptors without making a person "high". Many Opioid addicts especially those who were addicted to heroine take suboxone for the rest of their lives.
One would do well to have a better understanding of addiction, recovery and how these BON programs work before commenting. Many people come here terrified that their lives and careers are over. They need accurate information, not myths and falsehoods.
While I agree that the BON is not a nurse's friend in these situations - I also know that I would be dead today without their intervention in my life.
The big issue is not your treatment for opiate addiction, the issue is you lied to the BON. This is not being blackballed. Big brother knows everything, now you know.
You took the offer, I see no other choice. Now go through the required hoops.
You could see an attorney pro bono for a consultation. However, even the best attorney will not change the BON's decision. You must take responsibility for your actions.
Best of luck with your treatment and getting accepted to the alternative program.
This. I have worked with nurses who have been in treatment for opiate/opioid addiction including some who were on Suboxone. As long as they complied with their treatment program, the BON had no problems with these nurses. Granted, that BON may view suboxone more favorably than yours may.
But the point is: lie, especially to a BON, and forget it--it's game over. And unfortunately, that's what you did. You lied via falsifying documentation, then you lied about not being in treatment. You were dishonest left and right. That's why you ended up where you are, not because of the addiction itself. Though I don't doubt that the addiction contributed to your actions--it likely had. But your dishonesty was the rope that hung you.
I don't know where you stand in your recovery, but IMO make sure you have a firm handle on it before attempting to get your license back. Nothing else is going to work right for you in life unless you do that. It may take months or even years, but your recovery needs to come first and foremost.
THEN worry about how to get your nursing license back. To be honest, at this moment the BON has no reason to trust anything you say--and that's because of your record of dishonesty, not because of your addiction. Your actions are going to speak a lot louder than words to them. If they can see you seriously in recovery--and again, I'm talking months to years, not just a few weeks--they might be willing to work with you on getting your license back. Right now, your chances aren't so hot.
I would still make an effort to seek legal counsel. Don't expect them to overturn the BON and return an unblemished license to your hands. But they could improve the odds of you being able to get your license back, period.
And should your BON offer an alternative program to get your license back--and your attorney determines it's possible for you to do (it's not unheard of for BONs to be unrealistic in the stipulations they set)--then smile and do exactly what that program asks of you.
Heynurse29-you've got a lot going on! I hope you're taking everyone's views to heart. Don't feel like people are ganging up on you- we're not! We are all here because we need a safe place to talk about our concerns that most nurses wouldn't understand. I'll admit, there are parts of your testimony that I personally can't relate to. However, the majority of the nursing profession probably couldn't relate to my personal story either-Dilaudid addiction and recovery.
Once you accept your addiction and willingly admit & seek treatment...there IS hope! I've been in recovery for 2 1/2 years. I'm working through my recovery, completed IOP, enrolled in my BON's compliance program, and have a full-time hospital nursing job.
I was not eligible to be enrolled in the BON's alternative program until I had completed a BON approved IOP program. My state does not recognize Suboxone as a treatment option. However, the BON in other states may. You will have to check with your BON.
I told him the truth about it, and he said I could revoke my license willingly, and enter an alternative program to get my license back with few repercussions. So I de-activated my license.
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I don't understand what you mean by "de-activating your license. Does that mean you willingly revoked as the BON offered? Or is deactivation something different?
had no yet been accepted by the board into an alternative program, and truly cannot afford a lawyer.
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I don't understand. Did you agree to the BON's alternative program & you're waiting for a response back? If so, be pro-active and call them & check on this! Or are you waiting on the BON to determine a disciplinary determination? "Not been accepted"? Please clarify! Did you take advantage of his offer or turn it down?
Please give us an update! We are very inclusive group of professionals that are VERY supportive of those with addictions...but first you MUST tackle your denial. We recognize because we've BEEN there. Acknowledge your addiction & take full responsibility for your actions. Don't be ashamed to do so! Admission will earn everyone's respect & bring you great comfort in the support you will receive. You will gain a clearer understanding of this in Recovery. Best wishes!!
crazin01
290 Posts
It seems there might be a few details left out, as another already mentioned.
The board is not your friend, no matter what they say and how big their smile when you agree with them. I do not know what an ORSA report is. Is it similar to the National Practicioners DataBase? (basically a Black ball list, for licensed professionals). Did the investigator give you another option? I guess it couldn't hurt to speak with him again, even email & ask if you have other options available to you. Not sure how that would go, but the worst he can do is say No...
Is de-activating your license the same as you surrendering it? Or is/did the board revoke it? Or is it on probation/ pending successful completion of the alternative program?
I understand not having the money for an attorney, but trying to get your license back & completing an alternative to discipline program should be your 2nd priority right now. First obviously is recovery.
It seems getting your license back to full active status will be difficult, if you even can, at this point. It does not hurt to ask. I would think right now is a good time for lots of soul-searching/personal reflection...