Will be on monitoring, have not taken NCLEX (no license)to start monitoring

[everyday]

I am currently in complex situation. I recently graduated college and received a degree in nursing. During my time in college I received 2 DUIs. Not proud of it but it happened. I self reported to my BON and was required to go to rehab. I was diagnosed with abuse not dependency. My BON oredered me 5 years monitoring. I personally think it is excessive but I realize my opionion on the situation does not matter. I am currently looking at the same 5 years as if I had diverted medications or come to work under the influence. Never have thought about it during my clinicals. I was under the impression that my personal life activities in college,outside of work, would not affect my nursing career. I could have never been more wrong. The BON said that my actions fell under the moral character of the profession. The complexity comes up in that I have not taken boards yet and therefore, technically, my monitoring has not started (upon passing license will be issued then immediately disciplined). Currently I am following my BON monitoring guidelines even though I am not technically being monitored (meeting, after-care, etc). No drug/ alcohol test being done at this time (no license to monitor). I was wondering if it would be better to apply in a different state. I am sure I will be under some form of monitoring, and that is okay. I just do not think the 5 years is just. From reading all the post about monitoring I am aware that is very stressful and tiresome. I really want to become a nurse. I have spent too many days and nights studying, getting student loans, and time to throw away. Any advice would be very helpful and appreciated. Thank you.

[Oogie]

In Texas the contract now is "minimum of 3 yr". I've read it varies in each state, but seems inevidable you can not escape being monitored if you desire a nursing license. The BON's role (with respect to this dilemma) is to protect the people of that state from nurse's who abuse/misuse drugs/etoh. This was hard for me also after my 2nd DWI (etoh) that occurred on my (vacay) time, not as a professional. I'd been at my job as a respected RN for 18 years with never a mark against me. What I did in my personal time does reflect on my professional license . I'd didn't fully agree but I love what I do, so I've done everything that has been asked of me to the letter. Never missed a logon, mtg, failed a UA, all paper work in on time. Yes its stressful, tiresome, BUT... You can do this if you really want it. Jan/14. marks the end of my contract, I've been able to stay employed and support my family. Freedom is just around the corner, It seemed so very far away when I started. Never give up, Never surrender

peace

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[10yearnurse]

Depends on the state. Here in Texas we have a declaratory order that you send basically asking the don what they would do if you did apply. If they decide to discipline you then you have 3 options here. I'd check a round. 5 years is a long time.

[kaydensmom01]

Did you hire a lawyer that specializes in defending licenses? What did the lawyer say about the contract; did he/she say that it was fair in their experience? I hope that you had a lawyer, because we should know not to sign anything (especially something that affects our nursing license for 5 years) without a lawyer's opinion. I am not sure what made you think that breaking the law would not affect your ability to be licensed? Not trying to be mean, but you are an adult that graduated college and got 2 DUI's while in college and you did not realize that this would affect you in your career because it happened outside of student setting?

You may think that I am being harsh but I am not, just probably stating what the BON was thinking. Of course they are going to see you as a possible danger to patients that needs to be monitored- you showed not one, but two, situations that showed a serious lack of judgment where death to innocent people could have occurred. It makes it worse that the situations' involved alcohol, you received one DUI and continued to drink and drive. Their job is only to protect the public, and your lack of judgment makes you seem as a risk. (I know that you stated you are okay with the monitoring, but I was just relaying the association between getting a DUI in your personal life and being granted a license.)

I am expecting stipulations, 3 years, and I did not get into trouble while I was in nursing school. I have a Juvenile offense (that does not show up on background checks) and a substance abuse history from my teen years. This history was 5 years ago, I was sober for 2 years before I even started pre-req's. I did my research and anticipated having a problem being issued a license, even though it was issues with my personal life before I even attended school, and hired a lawyer before I started my last semester. I didn't hear anything from the BON until the end of October, and then had to pay $3000 for a psych exam in November. The psychiatrist was utterly impressed with how I turned my life around, I was valedictorian of the nursing class of 60 students, and have excellent reference letters from all of my professors, yet I am still expecting 3 years of stipulations. I did not tell you this to make you feel bad, but told you this to explain why I personally see 5 years of monitoring as being just.

I thought that if you endorsed to another state that the contract will follow you there? I have a friend that was in the same situation as me and he endorsed to another state (we live in Ohio, but on the border so he endorsed to PA) but the contract followed him since he had already signed it and the other state he applied to had to be informed of the agreement. I am not sure if this is the same everywhere, and suggest that you hire a lawyer to see if he/she can help you although I don't know if they can since you already signed the contract. Good luck.