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But when they don't meet some -- or any -- of those requirements, years often pass before the board tries to revoke their probation.
At times the punishment for violating probation is more probation.
One nurse was put on three years' probation in 1996 for stealing drugs from a Sacramento hospital. After she ignored numerous requirements, her probation was extended three more years in 1999, according to board documents. Finally in 2003, after she relapsed, skipped drug tests, was convicted of possessing codeine and Valium without a prescription, got a job without permission and missed support group meetings, her license was revoked.
But last year, the board found the nurse had "demonstrated sufficient rehabilitation" and gave her license back -- with probation.
Carolyn Claeys, now 61, was put on probation in July 2005. The home healthcare nurse had showed up for work drunk and had stolen drugs from a former patient's house, according to her board disciplinary record.
At the time, Claeys also had three criminal convictions: two for drunk driving and one for petty theft.
Nursing board documents describe what happened next:
Less than four months into her nursing board probation, Claeys was convicted of a DUI. Four months after that, she was fired from a nursing home for stealing drugs. She tested positive for drugs three times between November 2005 and March 2006 and missed 12 required drug tests.
Any of these violations would have been grounds for the board to revoke her probation. But the board took no action -- at least none that could be found in public records.
In July 2006, Claeys was found passed out, high on drugs, in the Santa Cruz apartment of Dorothy "Jeanie" Rising, who had died of cancer the previous day. Claeys, one of her caregivers, admitted to authorities that she'd stolen Rising's painkillers and injected them.
Five months later, the board filed a petition to revoke Claeys' probation. She didn't contest the charges, and her license was later revoked.
In an interview, Claeys acknowledged that she was "an impaired nurse." But she said she'd waited until Rising was dead to steal the drugs.
"It wasn't that horrific," she said, "as opposed to if I had been sitting right there when I was there with her: 'Here, one for you, one for me.' "
Terry said that adding probation staff should help. "You won't find that happening anymore," she said of such cases.
As for other improvements, she cautioned that they would take time.
"It's not going to happen overnight," Terry said.
charles.ornstein@propublica.org
tracy.weber@propublica.org
maloy.moore@latimes.com
At times the punishment for violating probation is more probation.
One nurse was put on three years' probation in 1996 for stealing drugs from a Sacramento hospital. After she ignored numerous requirements, her probation was extended three more years in 1999, according to board documents. Finally in 2003, after she relapsed, skipped drug tests, was convicted of possessing codeine and Valium without a prescription, got a job without permission and missed support group meetings, her license was revoked.
But last year, the board found the nurse had "demonstrated sufficient rehabilitation" and gave her license back -- with probation.
Carolyn Claeys, now 61, was put on probation in July 2005. The home healthcare nurse had showed up for work drunk and had stolen drugs from a former patient's house, according to her board disciplinary record.
At the time, Claeys also had three criminal convictions: two for drunk driving and one for petty theft.
Nursing board documents describe what happened next:
Less than four months into her nursing board probation, Claeys was convicted of a DUI. Four months after that, she was fired from a nursing home for stealing drugs. She tested positive for drugs three times between November 2005 and March 2006 and missed 12 required drug tests.
Any of these violations would have been grounds for the board to revoke her probation. But the board took no action -- at least none that could be found in public records.
In July 2006, Claeys was found passed out, high on drugs, in the Santa Cruz apartment of Dorothy "Jeanie" Rising, who had died of cancer the previous day. Claeys, one of her caregivers, admitted to authorities that she'd stolen Rising's painkillers and injected them.
Five months later, the board filed a petition to revoke Claeys' probation. She didn't contest the charges, and her license was later revoked.
In an interview, Claeys acknowledged that she was "an impaired nurse." But she said she'd waited until Rising was dead to steal the drugs.
"It wasn't that horrific," she said, "as opposed to if I had been sitting right there when I was there with her: 'Here, one for you, one for me.' "
Terry said that adding probation staff should help. "You won't find that happening anymore," she said of such cases.
As for other improvements, she cautioned that they would take time.
"It's not going to happen overnight," Terry said.
charles.ornstein@propublica.org
tracy.weber@propublica.org
maloy.moore@latimes.com
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