Why is the general feel to this board that the Board of Nursing is 'out to get' us

Real talk: Have you ever tried to honestly take responsibility for what you did and tired something different? I would be such a miserable person if I didn't deal with my own demons.

4 minutes ago, chadprepton said:

Real talk: Have you ever tried to honestly take responsibility for what you did and tired something different? I would be such a miserable person if I didn't deal with my own demons.

I have, thank you very much. The is nothing different to do. I take my meds, I see my therapist and the closer I get to the end of this, the happier I am. I am not miserable and have no ‘demons’ regarding this.

Never said you did...I spoke about myself r/t being miserable and demons.

In my experience, the "Board" was very supportive. The people I went before were pleasant and very helpful. Once I left the "Board" meeting, the people I dealt with at the building on Bald Cypress Road/Way in Tallahassee were less than helpful. Many times they seemed almost spiteful in withholding information that could make some of the tasks just the slightest bit easier.

The monitoring program in Fl., is not the FBON. It's IPN. If an employer makes a false complaint against you, you will be punished despite all negative test results and a favorable evaluation supporting your continued sobriety or mental health. If you have a positive screen for alcohol, you will be treated as if you drank regardless of timely pEths, hair, nails, and a supportive evaluation.

If you are lucky, you'll never have to deal with any of these issues. But, if you aren't so lucky, just give it a while and you'll be a little angry too. I have no problem doing my time, I earned it. I do have a problem with holding 1 test finding and 1 tester's finding above 5 others in the absence of any other using behaviors. The law doesn't even allow probation officers to do that to criminals.

I'm in this program because I was an addict and needed it, I'm grateful they didn't take my license, BUT there are people in this program because they got a DUI SEVERAL years before even sitting for the NCLEX, there are several people on these boards that are being punished for things that were done in college! Is the public really in danger because a stupid 21 year old kid drove after drinking??

1 minute ago, RecoveryNurse2015 said:

I also, am an addict/alcoholic and PNAP saved my life. I just can't imagine any program being as crooked as what some are letting on. Are there no internal controls set in place to prevent abuse of their rights?

The apparent lack of internal controls in my program is exactly what is appalling. As I’ve said before, mine is a ‘for profit’ entity and is accountable to no one. A grievance or objection goes no further than themselves.

I realize that for some, this stuff is a life/career saver, but I also believe that thier reach has extended too far. The job is to monitor the ability to practice safely. Not control what a person does outside of the job. In my personal experience (even though the things I’ve seen done to others, in my opinion strikes me as abusive) I have come to the conclusion that conflict of interest, bending the truth and ignoring evidence based research rules the day.

This is a tricky topic. For one, yes, the nurses who need the accountability and strict rules can/do (in most cases) benefit. For others, it may be an unwarranted ticket to stress, loss of money, and frustration beyond our imaginations.

I am an alcoholic, in recovery now for 14 years. I earned my seat on this ride, and I will do my time with a smile on my face and gratefulness in my heart. I am allowed to be a nurse again.

However, as Perse mentioned, there are nurses in monitoring, who are here because of a DUI many moons before being a nurse, and in some cases, before ever going to college. Even if the cases were sealed, etc, those nurses, wanting to be truthful, mark yes on their initial app, and wham, slapped with 3-5 years of monitoring, the expense of evaluations, pee tests, etc. I hope there are nurses out there who get the eval and are able to move on, but, most of us do not know of any. They probably (likely) do not scour these forums for support.

We have heard stories of nurses falsely accused by a disgruntled ex, or former co-worker. Not being a party to that persons private life, we can only take what we hear here on face value. But, those nurses have stated, even without ANY evidence (clean tests, negative evals), they are hit with a monitoring program, because, for lack of a better way to put it, better safe than sorry, in the eyes of BON (or monitoring programs).

There are those, too, who may have a mental health issue, but are forced into the one size fits all program. Drug screens, evals, IOP, etc.

What most people here are saying, I think, is that the programs are useful and DO protect the public --- WHEN WARRANTED. But, for those stuck for something that happened waaaayyyy before they donned the white cap, they feel persecuted and punished unfairly.

We hear of monitored nurses who have vindictive case managers. Who have had one thing told to them, and turn around to find something totally different is done/required.

Again, I , myself, earned my seat and I am grateful to be allowed the chance to be a nurse again. But, I sympathize with those who are thrown in for some past transgression, or who have uncaring case managers, and receive inconsistent communications.

Just my two cents...

I was sentenced by the BON for a positive drug test, except the drug test was a screening assay and they, nor my employer, made sure that there was a confirmation test completed. I had sent a negative hair test in and got 1-year EEP because this was a "one-time offense", no stips, no restrictions, just checking in and randoms for a year. After going through hell and high water I was finally able to prove my innocence and get my case closed, with prejudice. Apparently, this type of thing does not happen often as the investigator for the BON had to find out what to do with my case.

The BON has a job to ensure that those that are taking care of the public are safe and competent. They also receive many complaints, referrals and what have you, taking time and energy sifting through complaint after complaint, determining what is valid or not. I could not even imagine the amount of responsibility that falls onto their shoulders. Better safe than sorry comes to mind when thinking of the board and their enforcement policies. That one person that received a DUI while young and dumb, years before even thinking logically about his or her future and career could be that one that is tempted to divert, even years later, and make a fatal mistake, while under the influence, that costs someone their life. How do you know which one will revert back and which one was really just young and dumb? I am not saying I agree with all the decisions that they make, but I do understand, in a way, why.

There was definitely an unnecessary cruelty to some of the BON and monitoring program employees that went beyond protecting the public. I was reported to the BON for a relapse while under monitoring -- I had just gotten out of treatment round #1 and attempted suicide, spent a few weeks in the hospital before packing back off to rehab. I was called by the BON investigator while in rehab and got a 30 minute, raised voice berating about how "my nursing license is going to stripped from me forever for this little stunt" etc. I was like 2.5 weeks out from a serious suicide attempt at that point. And then the BON ruled that I just needed to complete monitoring without a public hearing or stipulations attached. ? I've talked before about my difficulties with the program manager who ruled the monitoring program for my first few years. I'm certain whatever burnt-out bitter hatred for the world that festered in her soul has completely eaten her alive.

For the most part, everyone else I dealt with was fine. Some were even pleasant/compassionate. I would probably be dead if I hadn't sobered up and I needed the monitoring program to do that. But just because we are addicts doesn't mean we don't deserve to be treated with basic human decency.

17 hours ago, Kallie3006 said:

I was sentenced by the BON for a positive drug test, except the drug test was a screening assay and they, nor my employer, made sure that there was a confirmation test completed. I had sent a negative hair test in and got 1-year EEP because this was a "one-time offense", no stips, no restrictions, just checking in and randoms for a year. After going through hell and high water I was finally able to prove my innocence and get my case closed, with prejudice. Apparently, this type of thing does not happen often as the investigator for the BON had to find out what to do with my case.

The BON has a job to ensure that those that are taking care of the public are safe and competent. They also receive many complaints, referrals and what have you, taking time and energy sifting through complaint after complaint, determining what is valid or not. I could not even imagine the amount of responsibility that falls onto their shoulders. Better safe than sorry comes to mind when thinking of the board and their enforcement policies. That one person that received a DUI while young and dumb, years before even thinking logically about his or her future and career could be that one that is tempted to divert, even years later, and make a fatal mistake, while under the influence, that costs someone their life. How do you know which one will revert back and which one was really just young and dumb? I am not saying I agree with all the decisions that they make, but I do understand, in a way, why.

So someone should pay for their crimes more than once? Statistically children of addicts have a higher chance of becoming an addict themselves. Should everyone who has an alcoholic parent be in a 3-5 year program with random drug testing employee quarterly report requirements because they might be "tempted" to divert. I've noticed a lot of addicts in my NA meetings are victims of sexual assault, should rape/molestation victims also be put in these programs because they might be tempted to divert?

Like I said, I am in fact an addict and getting caught saved my life. I'm so blessed the board gave me a chance and let me keep my license. But there are definitely wrinkles in this system.