The way that I understand the terms is that diverting means that you were taking drugs from work for your own personal use or for some other use and diversion refers to the program that many state boards of nursing have that allow us to keep our licenses while in recovery. All of the nurses that I have met that are in diversion had their substance abuse interfere with their professional life. The diversion program can last 3-5 years, involves very strict guidelines, but at the end when completed, your record is clean.