Hi,
I am new to this forum. I am posting a reply here because I am in the middle of a similar circumstance. I was "intervened upon" in North Carolina 20 months ago, and have been clean and sober ever since. I moved to California a few months into the NC Alternative Program, having confirmed that NC would accept CA's monitoring program (I turned myself in to CA's Diversion Program when I arrived). However, I chickened out and decided to take my chances with discipline after I learned this was possible...at a mandatory nurse support group meeting!! My NC license was then suspended, revoked, and voluntarily withdrawn. A year later I received my letter of accusation from the CA board and it was time to face the music. I was fortunate however. I had continued to submit to random drug screens with the NC testing company, and I have kept attendance slips from my AA meetings. I stayed in recovery where knew I belonged (and always will). Because of this, I was able get the accusations withdrawn and am now beginning California's Diversion program (3-5 years). I will meet with a Diversion Evaluation Committee in two days. They will decide whether they will credit my time in recovery so far, or make me start at the beginning. It's been a challenge to keep my serenity over this. You know...the control thing. But like you, I trust that things will work out they was they are supposed to.
During my period of voluntary drug testing, I have had two failed tests. They were both due to dilute specimens. The first time was because when I got to the center I couldn't give enough urine for a split sepcimen. They threw out my urine and I had to sit there and drink water for two hours until I could go again...hence the dilute urine. The second time it was because I drank coffee right before. I had gotten away with it at least 20 other times...complacency rears it's ugly head! Anyway, I know I will have to answer to that in two days. I plan on just being honest. Not defensive. Really and truly...as hard as it is to accept...things will work out the way they are supposed to. Aren't you glad you gave a split specimen?
As far as the job issue...I confided in my present employer when they hired me that discipline was "comin' down the pipe," and why. They appreciated my honesty and hired me anyway. I was able to work full time in the ED until I entered the Diversion Program. Presently, (and until the Committee decides my fate) I am unable to use my license. My employer found something for me to do that is not considered "practicing nursing" and I can do that until the Board lets me practice again. I know that I have been extremely lucky. I keep waiting for something devastating to happen.
I am thinking about your federal reimbursement issue. My employer has me auditing ED charts for accuracy with regard to billing/coding (not a tough job, learned it in a few days). I work with the coders to make sure that we are charging for everything we can and not charging for things that we can't. For instance, I make sure that injections and IV infusions are documented in a way that is maximally (but ethically) reimbursable and talk to individual nurses about their documentation issues. I also look at all procedures done in the ED to make sure we are coding those correctly. This position is making the hospital money, since it really takes a nurse's knowledge and experience to correctly interprete nurses notes and physician dictation and make sense out of it for coding purposes. I have heard that some hospitals have caught on to this. Perhaps this is something you can look at. In fact, I have heard that some travel companies are hiring nurses for just this purpose. Again, not rocket science. Doesn't require the RN, just the RN knowledge.
Have a fabulous Day!!
01-31-2007, 11:16 AM
Re: Where Do I Go From Here? 
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