Suspended LVN to MA

[So_Cali_LVN]

Hi and good evening,

I wondered if anyone has come across the following situation as either as a fellow nurse, or a hiring manager, or in any other avenue.

My LVN license was suspended for 3 years (1 year in and 2 to go) in 2017 following a medication error many years prior (didn't harm patient but the mistake was still made). The error was made in 2014 and I worked for another 3 full years licensed and with no issues. After all the legalities,The BVNPT board began the suspension just last year in 2017. However, I feel I need to remain in the medical field to keep up with the profession until I may apply to reinstate my license in 2020. Also, I've been a nurse for over 8 years and there's not much else I've ever done beyond nursing! I'm lost.

I was told I can apply for Medical Assistant positions that 1)don't need to be certified and 2)don't need to complete an MA program as long as I have documented back office experience which I very much do. So, I've actually gotten a few call backs and set up a few upcoming interviews...

My question is, how do I deal with the obvious questions. "Why would a nurse want an MA job" or "Why are you not in nursing anymore"? It's not like I can say "I needed a break" or "it wasn't right for me", especially if it's a similar job description (vitals, meds, injections, specimen collection, med orders, etc.). I have no idea how to explain this without sounding incompetent.

***Anyone ever taken an unlicensed medical position during a suspension or even after losing a nursing license altogether?? How do you explain that?

~S