Suspended Licence

Oogie · Jan 28, 2018

A lot depends on WHY you were suspended. A call to your local BON office, or investigator if one is assigned to your case is in order. Often there are stipulations (Called a Board Order) attached to the suspension. Mine was to enroll in a monitoring program, (which I had been in for the previous 3 months,). That may guide you in your next steps. Most important is to take care of yourself. This kind of news comes with a great deal of stress, put your physical, emotional, spiritual health as a high priority. The BON is notoriously slow. Your not alone, a lot of us have walked in your shoes and have info to share. Take care...

ChryssyD · Jan 28, 2018

PRN4U: Relax and try not to panic. Tell us why your license was suspended, so we can help you understand what might happen in future. But, first, just breathe. As stated by Oogie, any Board proceeding is going to be slow. Get as much information as you can. And then, based on the information, decide whether you need an attorney. Most people advocate for an attorney when facing the Board, but lawyers are expensive; whether you should invest in an attorney depends on the charge.

Those of us who have had run-ins with the Board can relate--the Board sucks. Remember, it is NOT your friend, its responsibility is to the public, not nurses. Makes you wonder.

Keep us posted. We are here for you!

catsmeow1972, BSN, RN · Jan 28, 2018

PRN4U: Relax and try not to panic. Tell us why your license was suspended, so we can help you understand what might happen in future. But, first, just breathe. As stated by Oogie, any Board proceeding is going to be slow. Get as much information as you can. And then, based on the information, decide whether you need an attorney. Most people advocate for an attorney when facing the Board, but lawyers are expensive; whether you should invest in an attorney depends on the charge.
Those of us who have had run-ins with the Board can relate--the Board sucks. Remember, it is NOT your friend, its responsibility is to the public, not nurses. Makes you wonder.
Keep us posted. We are here for you!

This ^^^^^^. and if for whatever reason you get directed to any "peer assistance" type program (PNAP, IPN, etc.) for any kind of evaluation....also remember they are not you friend and they do not advocate for you either. Those programs used to be about safe return to practice for nurses with substance use issues. Now they toss people into them for everything from ancient DUIs to documentation errors. They are about the money and little else.

Before you speak to any board investigator or anyone associated with this suspension or for the love of whatever deity you pray to, sign anything.....speak to a license defense attorney. Most of them will chat with you for a few minutes at no cost. The ones you want generally have ads in the nursing newspapers that we all get. There is a reason they say call them BEFORE speaking with BON people. There's not much anyone can do once ink is on paper. Trust me, these are the fingers of experience typing.

Last of all..breathe....that is a very important one....I know it easy for me to say.....

It will be okay....

dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN · Jan 28, 2018

Is it from your positive ETG in Nov? In my state if you violate your consent agreement, they suspend your license, make you redo a drug/etoh eval and any suggested treatment, and then you restart your consent agreement from scratch. Is it the BON or monitoring program that suspended you?

PRN4U · Jan 28, 2018

Yes, it is from a positive etg back in October. I havn't received their certtified letter yet. They called and notified my job before even letting me know. I was so embarrassed I didn't know what to say.

SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN · Jan 28, 2018

You are already in a monitoring program? If so they are gonna give you some level of punishment over and above what you already signed up for. The most recent addition to our support group failed a DAU for booze because she had some wine when her counselor told her she had completed the program. She had almost 4 years in and had to start at square one. She's not allowed to work until she gets permission from the BON and is facing another 4 years. I'm not sure I could do it honestly. I agree with Cats get a lawyer and do what he or she says. Good Luck to You!!!

Meq815 · Jan 28, 2018

OMG what a nightmare.

I swear I am so much more skittish being so close to the end than I was at the beginning.

SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN · Jan 29, 2018

Meq, I agree the anxiety associated with these programs are real and never ending. Hang tough and get through this nonsense.

catsmeow1972, BSN, RN · Jan 29, 2018

Ah. I was unaware that there was already a contract/consent agreement and positive ETG in the mix. I was under the impression that this was something new and out of the blue. In which case I defer to DHGs advice. I think my state works the same. License suspension until re evaluation, etc, etc.

If this result is questionable as in you don't know how it popped positive, then yes, lawyer up and fight it. If not, well you know the drill.

It does seem kinda rude that no case manager or advocate would have been in contact with you before it got to this point. From what I've observed, a + result on whatever test nets a call from your case manager which starts the refrained from work, evaluation, blah blah blah stuff. 2 month radio silence from failed ETG to suspension seems really weird. Plus notifying your employer prior to notifying you? That's sounds like either an emergency suspension (which for one lousy failed ETG is extremely unlikely anywhere on any planet) or an incredibly idiotic incompetent case manager (way more possible.)

I'd be on the phone 8 am Monday morning getting answers.

I hope things work out and soon.

Mavrick, BSN, RN · Jan 29, 2018

You are already in a monitoring program? If so they are gonna give you some level of punishment over and above what you already signed up for. The most recent addition to our support group failed a DAU for booze because she had some wine when her counselor told her she had completed the program. She had almost 4 years in and had to start at square one. She's not allowed to work until she gets permission from the BON and is facing another 4 years. I'm not sure I could do it honestly. I agree with Cats get a lawyer and do what he or she says. Good Luck to You!!!

Do they tell you at the outset that one positive test will send you back to square one?

I would not take ANY chances and completely stay away from any and all known sources of alcohol (cough medication, mouthwash etc.) and fight like hell any positives that I KNOW have to be false.

If the OP drank and got caught, then that is just on her. But seriously, what a bummer.

catsmeow1972, BSN, RN · Jan 29, 2018

Do they tell you at the outset that one positive test will send you back to square one?
I would not take ANY chances and completely stay away from any and all known sources of alcohol (cough medication, mouthwash etc.) and fight like hell any positives that I KNOW have to be false.
If the OP drank and got caught, then that is just on her. But seriously, what a bummer.

I struggle daily against the seemingly endless list of things that frighten me into possibly flunking a P test, probably to the extreme (sampling of apple Chardonnay sausage at Costco?) but then addiction/alcohol issues is not what landed me in this swimming sewer. I've been on psych meds for years that ermmmm....strongly suggest that one not drink while taking plus, like smoking, meh....never impressed me much. So now I have to be rabidly watchful of avoiding something I don't even like.....???? ugh. Is this nightmare over yet....