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[Rick]

After one and a half years of depenancy inpatient treatment for 34 days, monitoring and not working as an RN for a year and a half. And after working for 5 months in a critical care/open heart unit with an excellant work record. I was placed on the Office of Inspector Generals list, which means I cannot work for a medicare or medicaid funded facility for fives years. Beginning this year. My single count felony prescription drug charge with a plea of no lo contendre was deferred and expunged from my record in 1999. I have done everything I was told to do to get my life back and repay society, eventhough my infraction was between me and the prescription I payed for with my own money. After being a nurse for 15 years with no infractions, other than this. Someone on the Oklahoma State Board and PEER assistance decided to add more missery to my life and that of my children. By reporting me to the OIG. This after a year and a half of my getting my life back. Now I've lost my apartment and am faced with 791.00 dollar a month childsupport payment. I am unable to find work, as I have only done healthcare work since high school. Orderly, paramedic then Registered Nurse. My infraction was committed in an another state, although the authroities in this state knew full well of what the could do to make my life impossible to regain. But they were humane enough not to totally destry my kife, AS THE UNUSUALLY CRUEL, SENSELESS AND MENIACHLY EVIL PEOPLE IN OKLAHOMA HAVE DONE. My advice if you are an RN in oklahoma, leave. If you are an RN not in Oklahoma stay out. for complete details contact me at email rdt74820@yahoo.com. Also I know of 3 other RN's with far greater infractions with the law that are not on the OIG list. The oklahoma state board of nursing has taken a speacial interest in my case. In oklahoma it is not what you know, but who you know. This is a good ole boy state. The OIG list was originally made for physicians, but the nursing association decided to add nurse in a senseless act to better the nurse profession. As physicians can hang their own shingles and work for cash,. the nurse can't. And find a facility that is not medicare or medicaid funded.

[NurseChat]

Have you sought legal advice on an appeal, or to try for a more leniant sentence, if it's a first offence? I'm sure from their point of view, the Board is trying to protect patients, which everyone would agree is an important goal.

Have you considered working in a neighbouring state, or in a different jurisdiction? Perhaps a related field, that can employ your talents? (for example, many pharmaceutical companies hire sales people to call on doctors, nurses and hospitals with with new products, etc.)

Try not to get too down, as it would be counter-productive. Perhaps with a bit of research, there are other opportunities that you've not considered -- might even find something that earns more money, with less stress.