What probation did for me...for the better...

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Hi All:

Wherever your are in your journey, move forward a little each day. You can do it. The great news is that I officially finished a 2 year probation in Oregon and now hold an unencumbered license here. At the time of arrest for DUI (100% dismissed without conviction for almost 2 years now) in Oct. 2013 I was also licensed in WI and CA. I surrendered both. CA was a bear! They gave me 3 years of probation on top of what I served in OR. It took CA almost 2.5 years to offer me probation and for me to decide to surrender.

Now I am moving on. I am moving to Hawaii! I just sent my HI application with all required paperwork last week (certified mail of course). Notarized letters from the 3 state boards of the above disciplinary actions, notarized letters from the court from the DUI and a notarized letter from the court for a .... get this, a 1982 conviction for disturbing the peace. Never again a quick application, a money order, a NURSYS report and the VOILA! your license 2 weeks later!

Mini rant ahead (even though I have so much to be grateful for): The voluminous amounts of paperwork gets me down. I hope never to have to go through this again. IT HURTS, BUT IS VERY TRUE THAT BEING GRANTED AN UNENCUMBERED LICENSE VIA ENDORSEMENT ONCE YOU HAVE EARNED YOUR UNENCUMBERED LICENSE IN YOUR HOME STATE IS NOT ALWAYS A GIVEN. This is a difficult fact of life that many of us learn after serving our probation faithfully and earning our unencumbered status back with hard work, mutual trust and sacrifice.

How I am coping and planning for future success (aka: getting into the solution): I am committed to following through with applying for my Hawaii licensure. I followed the packet instructions to the letter. I will provide the HI BON with ANY information they need. If I am given further probation, I will allow myself tears for 24 hours, then I have decided to appeal and appear in front of the board with an attorney. I have the $150.00 round trip ticket put away to fly to Honolulu from the Big Island if I need to.

...but, I need to share with you all dear sisters and brothers who may be 2 years into a 5 year probation and working in a low-quality nursing job just to get through this AND work hark hard on your recovery at the same time....WARNING!!!!! THIS JOURNEY WILL FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE YOU!!!!!

FOR THE BETTER...

For the first time in my life I am dreaming outside the nursing box. I have a huge desire to drop my identity (facade perhaps?) as a "nurse." I am a good nurse, but it no longer serves me. I asked myself, "what's out there in this huge world?"

I have finally decided to go to massage therapy school in HI. I will be living cheaply in intentional community. My probational nursing job in Oregon has made all this possible financially, so even as I pull away I am grateful for my license, job and of course the patients we have the privilege of serving.

I am leaving my job in good faith so that I can return if I need to to make $$ next summer. GRATITUDE! I will be travelling to India and then New Zealand for the winter of 2017. This is my time.

Sooooo, last week when I mailed my application for licensure off at the post office, I was physically, spiritually and mentally so exhausted all I could do was buy a big dark chocolate bar, take a hot bubble bath with candles and chill with NETFLIX for 24 hours! Later i took a long walk by the ocean. QUESTION: How do YOU handle the ongoing stress of all this for the long haul? How has this experience changed you deeply?

So my darlings, I have been changed for the better...but it all still deeply hurts. Again, how do you deeply handle and process all of this over time? Remember: T I M E stands for This I Must Earn......

Love and (((((hugs))))) to all of you...

2
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Specializes in ER, ICU/CCU, Open Heart OR Recovery, Etc.

Mine is still ongoing. Sometimes, when dealing with the BON, I get alternatively exhausted, frustrated and angry; other times I am resolute and determined to not let them get me down. I remind myself that I have come a lot farther than I could have ever imagined, and that with persistence, it is quite possible I will get farther.

One thing that also keeps me going is that so many people in this situation, don't question the BON. I understand that, as I was so overwhelmed and demoralized that I figured it would be better to just walk away (it wasn't). By the same token, though, now I also see that it was not only a mistake for my career, it is a mistake for nurses to not question the BON. Yes, its a pain, yes, the process, paperwork, and jumping through all the hoops are very difficult. But if we just assume the BON is out for us, we are soo wrong; and if we just accept what they dish out without questioning and at least trying, we will never get anywhere.

So, I guess to sum up, I have spiritual beliefs, a good support system, and my eye on the goal. I'm also steely eyed determined to not let this get away from me again, BON or no BON, monitoring contract headaches, and other issues. I'm keeping on in the pursuit of my licensure until I either get it on terms I can actually achieve, or if I find out I cannot do that.

Paid, it makes me smile to see what you have achieved and where you are going ******HUG******Keep one foot in front of the other! Keep us posted, too, you have no idea how your experience and seeing that you have survived, really means so much to all of us.

The best thing? Seeing you start to THRIVE!

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Thank you for sharing with us your experiences of learning and growth. May we never take anything for granted and always be aware of our actions and its consequences. Good luck to you and happy adventures!!

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Awesome, I've been through a similar situation & no one can imagine what it's like. Especially if you're a teacher, banker, hair dresser etc. As a nurse you are under a microscope at all times & constantly being judged. It's a rough rode at times & hard to travel. I so envy you for taking off & doi g this for your self. I wish you the best. Remember ur beautifu, don't let people bring u down.

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On 7/3/2016 at 4:58 PM, SororAKS said:

Mine is still ongoing. Sometimes, when dealing with the BON, I get alternatively exhausted, frustrated and angry; other times I am resolute and determined to not let them get me down. I remind myself that I have come a lot farther than I could have ever imagined, and that with persistence, it is quite possible I will get farther.

One thing that also keeps me going is that so many people in this situation, don't question the BON. I understand that, as I was so overwhelmed and demoralized that I figured it would be better to just walk away (it wasn't). By the same token, though, now I also see that it was not only a mistake for my career, it is a mistake for nurses to not question the BON. Yes, its a pain, yes, the process, paperwork, and jumping through all the hoops are very difficult. But if we just assume the BON is out for us, we are soo wrong; and if we just accept what they dish out without questioning and at least trying, we will never get anywhere.

So, I guess to sum up, I have spiritual beliefs, a good support system, and my eye on the goal. I'm also steely eyed determined to not let this get away from me again, BON or no BON, monitoring contract headaches, and other issues. I'm keeping on in the pursuit of my licensure until I either get it on terms I can actually achieve, or if I find out I cannot do that.

Paid, it makes me smile to see what you have achieved and where you are going ******HUG******Keep one foot in front of the other! Keep us posted, too, you have no idea how your experience and seeing that you have survived, really means so much to all of us.

The best thing? Seeing you start to THRIVE!

 

Hi 

I am following up to see what happened? Where you able to get your Hawaii license? 
I am trying to get mine by endorsement. My probation was over in 2017. Worried they make me go through another 3 years of probation…..

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Hello, Does anyone knows how hard is to get the Hawaii license by endorsement if I am already done with my probation with the original state 5 years ago? 

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