Yesterday, I got pulled from my nursing floor to the Human Resource head, and my manager. They stated that they had suspicion that I was diverting narcotics. I said nothing. They then stated that I could take a drug test and go on suspension pending results and further investigation, or just terminate my position. I chose the drug test. I am on Lortab for arthritis, and I disclosed this to them. I am sitting at home with my husband and 2-year old so worried. I am guilty, and I know that my documentation will show this in a matter of time. My question is, should I get an attorney and fight this, or should I report this to my Board in Nevada, to save my career? Is there anyone out there that has been in this exact position? I have not admitted any guilt so far to my employer. I just don't want to do the wrong steps, and I want to keep my license. What should I do? Admit guilt? Call the Board, cause my employer is going to report this to them. I just want to take the right steps to protect myself and my license. PLEASE SOMEBODY HELP ME!!! I am in total dispair. If I have to do a treatment program, I will,anything to keep my license/career!
Yes, but some of documentation is not up to par, so the Lortab is irrelevent. I just want to know if I should just terminate my job now, and go get another job, or report this to the board? Also, will I have any legal ramifications regarding diverting?
Honesty is the best policy. If you have made a wrong choice, own up to it now for your benefit and the benefit of your family. Just take a few deep breaths and get your head together. Write down the facts.
You need help. Your nsg board can get you into a program, but only you can can cmmit to do the work. Obtaining an attorney is a good idea. You may want one experienced in employment law.
I've never been in the situation you are, but I have a good friend who was. Be gentle with yourself and take control of the wheel while you can. You'll be pleasantly surprised how good you'll feel and how much your life will improve!
Please come clean with your employer. They will conduct an investigation into your medication dispensing and will discover you are not being forthright. Three years ago today I was called to HR. I told them I was diverting and said I would cooperate with their investigation. I then turned myself in to the board of nursing diversion program before the hospital had a chance to do it. The hospital rewarded my honesty by allowing me to quit instead of being fired. In the eyes of the BRN I self reported giving me the freedom to drop out of diversion if I chose to do so later. I am lucky no legal consequences resulted.
The last three years of my life have been difficult but so rewarding. I have discovered a happiness in sobriety I never knew. I am back to patient care (different hospital), have been sober 3 years today and have my license intact.
I pray you find a solution that brings you peace and comfort.
Here's the thing from a nurse in diversion - There is a misunderstanding that if a nurse has a prescription for a mind altering medication it's all right to take it. Most nurse practice acts are very clear that taking opiets, sedative, traquilizers etc is not allowed within 24 hours of starting a shift. I have met many nurses in diversion who were taking legally prescribed medications phentramine, xanax, ativan, vicodin, lortab etc. This is simply a matter of public safety. That's why a nurse who gets a drunk driving can end up in diversion even if they never drank at work. It's all very complicated.
I believe that you should be up front and honest with your employer. If you are taking lortab so be it. When you say there are problems with documentation what does that mean? If you are diverting and I'm not saying you are then you do have a problem with substance use. There are two ways to go - you can confess to everything and go into diversion which in most states is a 3-5 year program of monitored recovery. You can go go the probation route which is a bit shorter - but leaves a mark on your license.
You can say nothing and get a lawyer - but since you've already taken the test they have all the evidence they need. Ultimately you will most likely lose your job no matter what. Just remember it's not the end of the world. In both diversion and probabtion you will be suspended from practice for 6 mos to a year. You will have to go through some type of substance abuse treatment and then will be gradually reintroduced to you work. Plus you have to call in everyday to see if you have to do a UDS that day. It's all a big pain in the arse but I do have to say it's the best thing that ver happened to me because I have been clean and sober for 2.5 years and a slowly becoming free of my demons.
Good luck to you
I will keep you in my daily meditation
Hppy
Thanks for all the advice. I am thinking of just confessing, and moving on. I just want to know if you are allowed to work during a diversion program? And if not, how long is it until you can? I ahve a family to support. I was also thinking of doing a full outpatient treatment, and hope that once the Board finds out about this, they will be accepting to the fact that I already have taken the steps toward recovery. Or should I just tell the Board now? Help me sort through all of this, it is aging me BIG TIME!!
I work with two nurses on my unit that are in the state's assistance program. They are excellent nurses and great people!!
Your posts aren't that clear. Were you diverting? Did you have a prescription for Lortab? I think the other reply is correct. Although having a prescription may keep you out of legal trouble, you can't be under the influence of those meds and care for patients. Think airline pilot.
My experience is with the CA diversion program; however I think they are all basically the same. With the CA program, yes, you are allowed to work while in diversion with restrictions. In my case, I agreed to their restriction of not working in nursing at all, for almost a year. In hindsight, this was a good decision for me. It allowed me to complete a IOP treatment program, get established with AA (being involved in service committments, etc.). During this time I was on disability which is not alot of money but it did keep a roof over my head and allow me to focus on recovery.
If disability is a option for you explore it NOW; this is a lot easier when you are not worried about money.
After 10 months I was allowed to return to non patient care nursing. I chose blood bank nursing, which I did for 15 months. Then I was allowed to return to patient care with no access to meds. This I did for 3 months when I allowed full access again. I have now been back to patient care with full access for one year and have 10 months left in diversion.
I hope this info helps; please do not feel like you have to do this alone. Take care of yourself (get rest, exercise) and contact a support group of recovering nurses asap.
First and foremost, I want to personally thank CABAYRN and hppygr8ful for giving me much needed advice to help me make the biggest decision of my life. I really appreciate the time you both took to help me sort this issue out.
I just want to be clearer, because I know I was stammering nervously on my previous posts. I have a flawless 15 years in critical care nursing.About 6 months ago, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis, and was put on various meds, one being Lortab for pain. To fess up, I was diverting on various occasions additional Percocet and Lortabs for at home use. Now looking back, I feel that I am wrong for my actions,obviously! And I am trying to figure out what would drive me to drug seeking behavior like this. I think that these drugs have clouded my judgement more than I was aware of.
Update as of today. I first confessed to my employer, which seemed like the right thing to do, and staff agreed, and I am still on suspension, not terminated at this point. And was told by senior staff to self report to the Board, which I did also today. The Board had me write a letter explaining what I did,and they faxed it to the State, and thats that!
Just a couple questions??? Is it a mandatory automatic submittal into the Diversion program with no evaluation or counseling to verify my actual personal needs for an intensive outpatient program? Or will I be offered any other options that you know of, or know someone who has been.Is the program outpatient, since I have a family to care for? When will I have a chance to work as a nurse, the soonest you've seen? Thanks for all replies, I feel some hope, I think.
dtgaup wrote:First and foremost, I want to personally thank CABAYRN and hppygr8ful for giving me much needed advice to help me make the biggest decision of my life. I really appreciate the time you both took to help me sort this issue out.
I just want to be clearer, because I know I was stammering nervously on my previous posts. I have a flawless 15 years in critical care nursing.About 6 months ago, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis, and was put on various meds, one being Lortab for pain. To fess up, I was diverting on various occasions additional Percocet and Lortabs for at home use. Now looking back, I feel that I am wrong for my actions,obviously! And I am trying to figure out what would drive me to drug seeking behavior like this. I think that these drugs have clouded my judgement more than I was aware of.
Update as of today. I first confessed to my employer, which seemed like the right thing to do, and staff agreed, and I am still on suspension, not terminated at this point. And was told by senior staff to self report to the Board, which I did also today. The Board had me write a letter explaining what I did,and they faxed it to the State, and thats that!
Just a couple questions??? Is it a mandatory automatic submittal into the Diversion program with no evaluation or counseling to verify my actual personal needs for an intensive outpatient program? Or will I be offered any other options that you know of, or know someone who has been.Is the program outpatient, since I have a family to care for? When will I have a chance to work as a nurse, the soonest you've seen? Thanks for all replies, I feel some hope, I think.
Good for you!!
I don't have personal experience to share, and it looks like there's lots of good stuff in this forum, but it sounds to me like you're definitely on the right track.
I've talked at length with my friends that are "impared" that I work with about their experiences. They both diverted demerol (mostly). Neither had legal problems, neither were fired. They did outpatient rehab and AA meetings and have to do random urine drug screens. They both had a narc restriction for six months. Both of them are now passing narcs again and doing fine. Like I said, they're among the best nurses I work with and good firends of mine.
I will tell them about this forum and maybe they can tell you all the details.
Hi,
I'm an RN and just lost my job to diversion. I self referred to the program through the BRN. I am afraid I have lost everything..my license..my home. I am a single mother with a single income and now I have nothing. Will I be able to get disability now that I was terminated? I don't even know if the diversion program will accept me. I was caught diverting Fentanyl and I think that I will go to jail because of it. I know that the hosp legally has to report to the BRN and FDA. I am clean now for 3 weeks. I am scared to death and don't know if I'm going to make it. I love my job and I know I screwed my life up. Any advise would help.
I am responding to the post above. I know you love your job, but you have to place your priority as recovery. That means not only admitting your addiction to your employer, the Board, but also to yourself. Really admitting it deep down and getting help. Being honest, completely! Get help and do it for the right reasons and do it now. The Boards of Nursing do understand but want you to do things the right way and will except no B.S. about "reasons" why you used and "I swear I won't do it again", etc. AA/NA are the places to be. Find meetings, keep going everyday, as many meetings as you can make. Find a sponsor you trust. Even if it's a temporary one! You need someone to help you along the way. Believe me, I do know. I'm in recovery and only after losing my job, my license, and almost losing my life (literally by accidentally overdosing), my wife and family did I really commit to AA and the program of recovery. Honesty about the real nature of my addiction and living in the solution is what has led to my being re-licensed as a nurse a few days ago. I don't ever want to lose sight of how precious my license is and what a privelege it is to hold it and practice. The way I did it was being completely transparent with the BON about my addiction, my recovery, and my past transgressions and decided not to try to manipulate the outcome by lying about it. That's what addicts do! Recovering addicts don't. Live in the solution of AA and do what is suggested by them. Life gets SO MUCH BETTER when you are not living a lie anymore. People are a great deal more understanding than you think they will be. Humility comes along the way too. I'm currently working as a waiter for very little money but appreciate every day I have with my wife and kids and by working the program, really working it, things are working out for me. As long as I continue doing things the right way, I will be back to work as a nurse in a few months and a few months ago, I thought that would never happen. Stay strong, be honest, commit yourself to recovery, and I promise life will get better! One day at a time, it will get better. I can't say for sure that you will work as a nurse again, but if this is your first experience with the BON it is very likely you will practice again. You just can't place expectations on when, where, and how it will happen. Just do the right things and it will.
Scott
I was in the exact place you are. When approached, I denied any wrong doing and offered to take drug test. The insanity of that is so clear to me now. I new it was going to be positive. WHAT WAS I THINKING. I was suspended while they investigated and than terminated when results of tests were positive. Instead of going to the board and asking for help, the board came to me. My addiction(it is so hard to own that) helped me loose my job, my peers trust and even their admiration of my nursing skills. You have the opportunity to take a different path than I. I hope that you can find the strength to be owned and own up to your actions. I know how scary it is. I know the despair. It will be so much worse if you take the same path I did. Keep us posted. You are not a bad person. You are not alone.
