I am in a position where I don't know where to turn! I got into trouble last year at my job, I was working at a correctional facility at the time. I was going to school fulltime for my RN, I had pretty much hit rock bottom at the time. I had a son in the hospital from having a seizure, a new boyfriend that I found out was a alcoholic and drug addict. I was starting to struggle at school with my classes and pretty much gave up. I started to drink with him from time to time to try to cope with it all. I went to work after being up at the hospital with my son for days, and I had not taken my antidepressant. I went to work and felt like I was going out of my head. I went and got a prozac from the stock cart, and was told on by a coworker. I was so stupid for doing that I know tha now, but that aint all, I also disposed of narcotics that nite, and signed the qma's name as the witness, I didn't even think twice about it at the time, and thought it would be no big deal. I was called into work a week later and confronted about it! I also was told that someone had called my job and said I was on street drugs!! wow! I didn't know what to think then, well anyways they gave me a drug test and said I would be suspended until the results came back. I never did get called back. about a month later I was arrested and put in jail for forgery and theft!. I was at a loss for words. I spent 5 weeks in jail, lost my kids, my job, my house, everything was turned upside down, and of course the guy was out for sure. I did graduate my class, but failed two classes to complete my RN. I am now on probation for a year and I have a felony charge for theft. I can have the felony charge dropped to a misdeamenor after a year. I can't even find a job now. I have had ISNAP on my side until they found out that I am on narcotics for my chronic pain. They turned me in for violating my probation with them. I was told that it didn't matter if I am not working if I am on a narcotic, but I guess that is not the case. now I have the Attorney general's office investigating me, because I am on narcotics. I have had to take a voluntary suspension of my license due to the medication. I don't know what to do now. I can't really afford an attorney, but I know I need one. Does anyone know of a good license defense lawyer that can help me? I have little to no income since this happened. I really don't want to lose my license, and I am thinking of going back to school to go into something else like radiology or something in that area. I did find out that my brother's girlfriend had her dad, that worked at the facility that I worked in; go and write a statement about me saying that I was on cocaine, which a total lie. my drug test came back negative, so that is how I ended up getting unemployment. I was also told that I should get a civil lawyer and sue for defamation of character and slander. I was on all 5 news channels, and the front page of the paper. How imbarrassing, I was made a mochary of. Please help with any advise that you can give. Thanks lostinIndiana.
You need an attorney with experience in administrative law. Contact the American Association of Nurse Attorneys (TAANA) or call their referral hotline: 866-807-7133.
Also, I found the following:
Indiana University Pro Bono Program (Pro Bono Program Overview)
Indiana State Bar Association
FindLaw Find an Attorney
American Bar Association Pro Bono and Public Service Programs
While it can be difficult to afford legal representation, I look at it in much the same way as seeking medical care for a serious, potentially fatal disease. If you make the wrong decision, say the wrong thing, or omit the proper paperwork, it could mean the "death" of your career. Contact family and friends to see if they will loan you part or all of the representation fee. Take money out of a 401K or other retirement fund. Refinance your mortgage or seek a home improvement loan. Cash in bonds, work a second job or pick up overtime if possible.
Of course it's easy for me or someone else to provide you with advice to "retain an attorney". I've seen too many nurses just "wing it" and then end up with permanent license restrictions, even permanent revocation, because they had no idea what they were doing and thought "It's just the board of nursing, they'll help me out." Nope, they won't. Their job is to protect the public from unsafe nurses. Also, board action against your license in one state can (and will) adversely affect any license you hold in other states. It can also have repurcussions if you hold a license in other professions. Trying to respresent yourself makes no more sense than trying to remove your own appendix.
I wish you luck. Keep us posted.