Recently caught, fired and tested positive for the substance. I was diverting medication from waste for two months. It quickly progressed, and just as fast ended. I have been clean for two months now and have just got the letter from the board of nursing wanting me to submit my case.
I have never had an addiction, and am happier now not working as a bedside nurse. My using progressed from depression and stress of travel nursing. I just did not realize I had problem until I hit that rock bottom.
My question is, has anyone just surrendered their license? What would happen? I want to keep my license of course, but I would not be devastated to lose it. My heart just is not in nursing any longer.
Also I have not had criminal charges yet, does that normally follow a board hearing? My defense attorney stated he could get me drug court and keep my record clean but would have a year of hoops to jump through.
Anyone with advice or experience in this, I would greatly appreciate it.
I think a lot of us had the same thoughts shortly after we got pegged. I myself looked into just surrendering my license and moving on, but am glad I waited. I am now very glad I didnt do that as it closes more doors than just nursing. depending on the state you are in, there are "alternative to discipline" programs you can enroll into. typically, if you do it before the board forces you into it, the ramifications are less. Just know that even if you surrender the license, the investigation into will still continue. Also, surrending a nursing license means that you surrender your ability to get any other kind of professional license - engineering, cosmetology, dental hygienist, etc. Through my struggles, I too have realized I dont want to continue my nursing career but I am in my state program so that I can keep my license. To me it is worth it. To some, it may not be. The OIG list , as mentioned, is another issue with surrendering. Surrendered is generally the same as revoked in the eyes on the BON and OIG. It is a very personal decision that shouldn't be made so soon after getting caught. Unfortunately criminal charges are getting more and more common for those of us who divert medications. I got mine nearly a year after my incident. Also, depending on who the procescutor is, a drug court/ diversion agreement isnt often given anymore. The attorney general prosecuted my case and she refused to go any less than a misdemeanor with formal probation. I too was a travel nurse, but was "caught" in the permanent position I took after deciding to stop traveling. So, with that, all of the other state licenses I got when I traveled are also investigating me. Extra stress, but still I choose to keep my license at all costs. I am now on criminal probation and my license is still clean and active, but I cannot find a job for the life of me. Nursing or not. Yet, having my nursing license still gives me the chance to at least try to find jobs in the field.
From what I have been told, the final board hearing will wait for the criminal charges to finish becuase anything you say at the board hearing can be used in the criminal case. So they might give you an emergency temporary suspension until after criminal matters are resolved, if you arent in the states recovery program. If you want to keep your license, the best thing you can do for that is to look on your states BON website and see how to contact the recovery program. If you dont want to deal with that headache, the board will eventually suspend or possibly revoke your license. Every state is different, and every board runs at a different pace, but from what I've seen that's what happens.
Congrats on your 2 months of sobriety. I completely understand the stress that lay with travel nursing.
What state are you in?
Mt attorney is trying to extend my letter I’m having to send in by three weeks so I can get an addictionologist to weight in on my case and say I’m fit to work. I’m having trouble finding one because I have no insurance at new job.
I’m not sure what career I could even do. Honestly. I’m hoping my job keeps me on because I’m doing so well as the DON. But I’m worried about that “60” day suspension. How soon does that happen after the board reviews your letter?
I successfully completed TPAPN. I also thought of surrendering my license. I think it’s a normal thought in this process. I’m glad I didn’t. I make a good living. Not all positions are a fit for me. All jobs have stress. Leaving a profession I worked so hard at wasn’t really ever on the table. I just didn’t want to deal with the paperwork, requirements, or spend my money. But I did, and I walked away a stronger person, and my career is intact. Do people know. Yes some do. But I don’t care. I don’t feel like I’m black balled. Actually I’ve had support when I needed it. More people are recognizing the epidemic of drug addiction and implications on a person. Some, I’m sure may look down their nose at me, but my head is held so high I have no idea who they are. My advice. Don’t give up. This is temporary. Good luck.
I have a new job as DON. I do not mess with medications. I was hoping they would keep me on but if they suspend my license I can’t keep this job.
I don’t think my state has a program of that sort. I just feel like someone would have told me if I had criminal charges by now. I’m not sure how to even find out. I don’t want to be on probation in a state I don’t even want to live in.
When would they suspend my license? I just want to walk away. Thank you for all the advice.
I got the letter from the board should I get a lawyer for that?
Have you actually researched your state diversion program. Go to AANA.com and search for the peer assistance program page. You will come up with a list from the programs in each state. In my previous state, if a new nurse appeared to program who had been through treatment and had proof of negative drug screens for ? ..can't remember how long, they could choose to take your surrendered license for the weekend only. You did not have to enter the program either. They figured that if you'd been sober for 6 mos. to a year and had the testing to prove it, you're able to return without monitoring. You don't know what your state does until you start searching.
Mt attorney is trying to extend my letter I’m having to send in by three weeks so I can get an addictionologist to weight in on my case and say I’m fit to work. I’m having trouble finding one because I have no insurance at new job.
I’m not sure what career I could even do. Honestly. I’m hoping my job keeps me on because I’m doing so well as the DON. But I’m worried about that “60” day suspension. How soon does that happen after the board reviews your letter?
I am in Indiana. I never received a board notice to cess practice or anything in the way of a suspension of my license. That being said, I wasnt allowed to practice by my states program (IPRP) until I was cleared by my therapist. I dont know of all states do it this way or not.
Thank you to everyone. I’m getting a lot of helpful knowledge. I know I’m stressing over stuff but I just hope I don’t get suspended. I’m definitely hiring a lawyer because he may can fight for me not to have suspension if it’s on there since I’ve been working , and all the drug screens I have are clear. I don’t have that many urine screens - prob 6 in the last 3 years - but I’m def going to show everything I can.
Maybe an addictionogist stating I’m safe to work will help me not get suspended. I don’t know .
Thank you to everyone. I’m getting a lot of helpful knowledge. I know I’m stressing over stuff but I just hope I don’t get suspended. I’m definitely hiring a lawyer because he may can fight for me not to have suspension if it’s on there since I’ve been working , and all the drug screens I have are clear. I don’t have that many urine screens - prob 6 in the last 3 years - but I’m def going to show everything I can.
Maybe an addictionogist stating I’m safe to work will help me not get suspended. I don’t know .
Honestly, for you... it has been so many years. If they thought you were a problem certainly they would done something before this. Go in there, and show them that you are sober, with everything you have done... I mean everything. Have respect, and tell them you are sorry, and willing to do anything you can to keep your license. You may end up in monitoring land. But I certainly hope after all you have done they won’t suspend. Maybe probation and monitoring, but that is something you can deal with. Be honest, because it goes a long way. I have heard it can go both ways with a lawyer (either they get mad that you have one and want to punish you, or they are more respectful), so I don’t know what to tell you about that. But what I have learned in this so far is that honesty, and being humbled by what you went through will serve you well. Don’t stress too much about it, or you will drive yourself crazy! We are all here for you
No charges yet. I figured it was going to happen though. I thought it would have happened before the board was investigating.
Unfortunately, that’s not the case. In Indiana it seems that everyone is being charged (they are really cracking down). It usually takes about 3-4 months (from what I have read). I wouldn’t speak to an investigator, because everything you say can (and will) be used against you.
thank you so much Indiana. Good to know we can all reach out to each other. I’m definitely ready to get it all started. God and my children are really the only thing holding me together right now. Hugs!
I voluntarily surrendered my license in 2015 and after a felony conviction and drug court graduation, 5 years later I am ready to apply. I am finding that, although not "as bad" as revocation, the steps that I have to take to get my license back are the same. I have also discovered that the public discipline of the voluntary surrender will forever be on my license, even if I jump through all of the hoops and get a new license. Thanks to my own actions, my nursing career is forever stained and the idea of working as a nurse with an unencumbered license is not a possibility. I hired a lawyer when I received the conviction, but research has shown me that the board of nursing has very little empathy for someone in my position, and for me to hire a lawyer again at this point would be a waste of money.
tostayaRN
6 Posts
What state are you in?
Mt attorney is trying to extend my letter I’m having to send in by three weeks so I can get an addictionologist to weight in on my case and say I’m fit to work. I’m having trouble finding one because I have no insurance at new job.
I’m not sure what career I could even do. Honestly. I’m hoping my job keeps me on because I’m doing so well as the DON. But I’m worried about that “60” day suspension. How soon does that happen after the board reviews your letter?