What am I look at? Costs? Timeline of program?

Persephone Paige, ADN · Apr 7, 2019

Seek an attorney before you 'admit' to anything. And there's nothing stopping you from going back home and working in Michigan till they catch up with you.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for recovery. Just don't throw away your right to a defense. You will eventually have to deal with it, but at least you'll be informed before you sign your life away. And, there's NO predicting how long or how much any of this will cost.

chadprepton, ADN · Apr 7, 2019

11 hours ago, MedicRN1 said:
Hey,
I was recently caught diverting on a travel contract in AZ, I live in Michigan and eventually want to continue working only in MI. I was called by AZ BON and questioned. They have too much evidence and I decided I am going to admit and try to start a Diversion program.
Any one ever get caught in a State they dont want to continue to work in?
I wont have insurance for at least the first part of this process. How much money is it for the beginning part of the program (dx by dr. and IOP)?
Do I have to not have a job at all for the first part of the program?
How long approx before I can work as an RN?
ANY HELP IS APPRECIATED
Thanks for your time.

"I was recently caught diverting"

"They have too much evidence"

3 hours ago, Persephone Paige said:
Seek an attorney before you 'admit' to anything. And there's nothing stopping you from going back home and working in Michigan till they catch up with you.

For my state you can't have a lawyer.

"I was called by AZ BON and questioned."

What does this mean? They just called you and asked what you did? And you assume the have evidence?

Look if they are asking about it, at this point you are facing bigger questions in your life than the cost of the program right now.

My question is do you feel you are an addict? Seriously. This disease will kill you and it doesn't matter if you're a nurse. I'd figure that out if you have a problem first. This will cost your life. You WILL be asked if you're and addict in the diversion program. And to me, with you saying you got caught 'diverting' (aka stealing) drugs from work I'd say you are.

Have you been stealing narcs in MI? You don't have to answer but its pretty likely you didn't just went to AZ to steal drugs. I have a very good friend of mine who was in the diversion program in AZ and was able to move. If you want help DM me and I can ask her.

In the meantime I suggest you go to an NA meeting. And Share. I found a TON of nurses in recovery that made it. You can too.

You are not alone.

Persephone Paige, ADN · Apr 7, 2019

1 hour ago, chadprepton said:
"I was recently caught diverting"
"They have too much evidence"
For my state you can't have a lawyer.
"I was called by AZ BON and questioned."
What does this mean? They just called you and asked what you did? And you assume the have evidence?
Look if they are asking about it, at this point you are facing bigger questions in your life than the cost of the program right now.
My question is do you feel you are an addict? Seriously. This disease will kill you and it doesn't matter if you're a nurse. I'd figure that out if you have a problem first. This will cost your life. You WILL be asked if you're and addict in the diversion program. And to me, with you saying you got caught 'diverting' (aka stealing) drugs from work I'd say you are.
Have you been stealing narcs in MI? You don't have to answer but its pretty likely you didn't just went to AZ to steal drugs. I have a very good friend of mine who was in the diversion program in AZ and was able to move. If you want help DM me and I can ask her.
In the meantime I suggest you go to an NA meeting. And Share. I found a TON of nurses in recovery that made it. You can too.
You are not alone.

It's not necessary to be in a diversion program to get clean. The OP is facing a lot of financial hardship.

I get that you're all gung-ho right now, good for you. I find the majority of your posts to be attention seeking and argumentative. I hope they are teaching you about letting go of your character defects in AA.

My advice still stands. I think the OP would benefit from legal advice. Whomever says that a person cannot have an attorney is operating outside the law. If a person is accused of a crime, they have a right to an attorney.

You and I took the elevator all the way to the bottom, that doesn't mean the OP has and it's for neither one of us to assign the title of addict to anyone else but ourselves ( they tell you that in the rooms too ). And after the run of unethical behavior I have witnessed recently in monitoring land, I would be remiss as a human being not to suggest to the OP to be sure they know what they are getting into.

OP, by all means, get help! Let part of that help be an attorney and how to go about the process of getting help in the least intrusive, but equally effective means possible.

Indiana RN, BSN · Apr 7, 2019

The diversion program did NOT get me clean or save my life. I saved my own life! i was 3 months clean before the BON even contacted me. I'm 18 months clean because of my hard work, determination and the love and support of my family and friends. Also, I'm not a NA fan. I go because I'm required, I have a sponsor but I get much more out of seeing my licensed therapist and working with her and what she suggests.

The point is everybody's path is different and it drives me crazy when people think there is only one way.

MedicRN1 · Apr 8, 2019

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Just to repsond...

Whether I am an addict or not and if I did it or not is not something I want to post about yet. I am in the beginning stages of this process. I appreciate the concerned individuals and am dealing with that side of things privately at this time, but it is being dealt with.

I have sought law help and will be speaking with them today.

My main reason for originally posting is to find out if anyone has gotten in trouble in a state other than their home state.

I want to have my license in MI, I am afraid if I surrender my license in AZ and go through MIs program, it will be on my record forever that I surrendered a license and MI may follow suit or I will not be able to find a nursing job. Any thoughts?

ruby_jane, BSN, RN · Apr 8, 2019

1 hour ago, MedicRN1 said:
I want to have my license in MI, I am afraid if I surrender my license in AZ and go through MIs program, it will be on my record forever that I surrendered a license and MI may follow suit or I will not be able to find a nursing job. Any thoughts?

If your license is sanctioned in AZ the BON in MI will hear about it.

It will be visible that you surrendered your AZ license. Any action on your AZ license may or many not be visible depending on the terms of what the AZ BON decides for you. Get a lawyer. Best of luck.

Jas10, BSN · Apr 10, 2019

In my situation I was to monitor in CO for two years but during the lengthy time it took the BON to decide all of that I had moved back to WA state and there was no way I was going to move back to CO. CO does not do remote monitoring (nor is WA part of the compact states) but was given the opportunity to apply for WA licensure in which I did and temporarily surrender my license in CO. WA had no issues with this and entered their monitoring program with the same parameters as CO set. I went to great lengths to make sure I was able to keep my WA license when I did surrender in CO by speaking to their legal department and finding a lawyer just in case I needed one but it all went very smoothly. I know I will have the red X on my license but I am now working as an RN and happy to be back in my home state with family and friends. So, yes it can be done but I would speak to both BON’s, seek legal advice or have them on back up just in case, be humble and honest with everyone, and document everything! Every state is different so you just need to get all the info you can before making any rash decisions. Hope that helps

AZRN31 · Jan 3, 2020

MedicRN1 did you surrender your license in AZ? We’re you put on the OIG or Medicaid exclusion list? I’m in the same scenario just different states.