Having a hard time with work and TPAPN...Help!!!

[OSoStressed]

Hi I am a grateful recovering addict sober for 8 months. I have been in tpapn since October 2007 for diversion of narcotics and dont have any real issues with them surprisedly. My problem is this...I was able to get a job in November 07 at a surgical hospital which ended in termination not because of my nursing skills or anything with narcotics but because they didnt want to deal with the whole TPAPN thing and found a way to get rid of me. This happened in March 08 and after a month long search I was able to find a great job which I love at a Nursing home as an MDS coordinator. I was informed by my new employer that the company was being bought out by another. They told me that TPAPN would not be a problem with new company and the take over but I have come to find out differently. I had worked under the old management for a month and the take over happened on MAY 1. Every employee had to submit to a drug test that day which I passed fine. I was told just prior to the takeover that the new company does not hire TPAPN Period but they could not fire me since I already worked there. Since then I have found out about secret meetings with my advocate and been asked again about my circumstances of my addiction. I keep getting poked with this daily and I am about to have a nervous breakdown. I cannot afford to lose my sanity over this however I cannot afford to be out of work any more. I was out of work for 3 months initially and then worked for 3 months and then off for 1 again until getting this job. I have applied to every hospital with 75 miles and met alot of silence. The jobs I have found are either not appropriate with my restrictions or I just get over looked because of my problem. I have not been fired but I feel as though its coming for whatever reason since this company is so afraid of TPAPN. I have a clear license and I was not charged with a crime. My job at this nursing home doesnt require me to even think about drugs. I have worked so hard and come so far but I keep getting beat to death with my problem. I feel as though I am trying for nothing because just when I start to feel comfortable or actually enjoy what Im doing something happens. Why bother. Any advice or similar experiences?

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

I got a job in home health, I start tomorrow. Things are looking better, thanks for all your support

Awesome. Good luck to you!

[j3em2]

Hi everyone, I am new to this website and it was suggested I seek other nurses w/ experience dealing with getting or keeping a job with a noted discipline history on my license. I'm not familiar w/ TPAPN. My event occurred in 1992 -was not hospital med. related --and I completed the Impaired Prof. Program in 1998 (there was a lapse due to a fire in Harrisburg in 1993 and I was told my file was destroyed until it was recovered in 1997) - My family relocated a few years ago in part so I could work flexible hrs to be home w/ my young children. I am so grateful that nursing has many options. But I feel discouraged because I have been denied several jobs due to this noted discipline history when employers verify my license. I have tried waiting to discuss the situation until after a good interview and I have told them up front - either way, the nurse managers want me and HR denies me. All they have to do now is look it up on the internet and send an email to the contact to receive all the information. I know of someone else who completed the IPP and her license does not show a discipline history. I have read the other posts here and appreciate the general encouragement and suggestions. I just still cannot believe it never goes away......... If I'm understanding correctly, it seems my pursuit of casual or per-diem positions (to have flexible hours around my husbands job) makes it even harder to get a job verses full time or in a non hospital setting........ I am just so discouraged. I am also afraid of my anonymity here so please accept only my 1st initial as my name -thanks.

J

[sissiesmama, ASN, RN]

Hey J. Hope you are doing ok with your situation. I am an RN and entered the La. RNP in August of 1999 and just could not imagine all my hard work up in flames. PM me if you can, I noticed you are rel. new, and I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Anne

[martysmiles]

Hi, This is my first time sharing my story with anyone other than family and Doctors,

I have been drug free, sober for 10 months and seven days. Thank you God!!. Man, why do we punish ourself so badly? My addiction started with back pain meds. I had back surgery in 2004 and stayed on pain meds Kadian and morphine for over three years. During this time I went back to work in acute care and my Director was aware I was on pain meds as well as Employee Health Doctor. I was random drug tested at work. Well, one day after work I took a darvocet for a headache, But it was my mom's and I was drug tested the next day. It was positve for a drug for which I didn't have a prescription. I was pulled from the unit to Employee health, given my results by the new Doctor over that area. We had not developed any kind of relationship. I had worked in this hospital 14 years and pretty much knew everyone. I was told to go finsh my charting as I was crying and report to Assistant manager then to leave the premises. My director and I talked. I did not divert medication. I was fired, She advised me to self report and call her back to let her know. I felt like someone reached in my chest and pulled out my heart. Shame,embrassment, I understood why they fired me. But it took a long time to get through my head and addiction. I had six months to clean up and was doing great until the addictionologist told me he would not recommend that I get my license back to the board. He said I 'm sorry if your surgery failed. But I can't recommed you be reinstated. You see I was still on all my pain meds. Pain is what the patient say it is. Why did that not apply to me. Oh, addicts rationalize to keep using. I was in pain and I got a second opinion. 2007 had a second back surgery which I was terrified of having done. I stayed on pain meds until June 2008. I was in withdrawal when I went to PCP. I told him I had abused my meds and he said ok, Let's face the music and called my pain Doctor who had a few choice words, But would not refill meds until they we due. That was another seven days.

So, I recieved catapress patches,phenegran and told to notify my family. That I was in for a really ruff week which turn into two weeks because I chose not to have those pain meds refilled and went through pure hell coming off the meds. So thats my story. I apologize for it being so long. I'm preparing to apply for my license again. I still struggle and I'm so gald for this site. How do you feel about being exposed to meds again? I'm afraid

I just don't ever want to use again. I could have lost so much more. My husband has hung in there with me. Great man.

[Magsulfate, BSN, RN]

I am so glad that things worked out for you!!!

You know, there are so many obstacles in your way, but you just set them aside and keep going. This is good. You are strong and you will get through this. Just keep trucking along... do your VERY BEST... show them how good a tpapn nurse is... Show them how goood YOU are!

If you ever need to talk,, message me, I've been through it all also. It does end, and you WILL complete the program. :)

[j3em2]

This posting is for Anne (sissiemamma) -- albeit I am very late in responding.......what did you mean to "PM" you? I really can't easily figure out my way around this website and could only get back to my original posting b/c you responded and it hit my home email......

Thanks.

Joyce

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

This posting is for Anne (sissiemamma) -- albeit I am very late in responding.......what did you mean to "PM" you? I really can't easily figure out my way around this website and could only get back to my original posting b/c you responded and it hit my home email......

Thanks.

Joyce

To be able to send a PM (private message) you need 15 or more posts to your account, you can however read them

This video may help you use the site Getting started on allnurses

[debnky]

how did you get a job in home health when you are under contract? Isn't that a restriction in all states or just a few?

[RNRutRO]

In TPAPN you are allowed to work homehealth. There is an additional form to the contract that must be filled out at time of hire.

Actually, I think that HH is a safer area to work. If you're not willing to commit to your recovery, sure, you can find drugs anywhere. But in HH, generally, you do not give narcotics. Hopefully OsoStressed is at the end of her contract and can put this behind her/him.

[Cherybaby]

IPN here in Florida you cannot work Home Health. Can't work nights either. Never really got that one. Aren't drugs around during daylight hours too?

All sorts of weird restrictions.

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

IPN here in Florida you cannot work Home Health. Can't work nights either. Never really got that one. Aren't drugs around during daylight hours too?

All sorts of weird restrictions.

Its not weird at all. Addicts tend to isolate. Home care is isolated. Many people on home care are on narcotics. Same for nights. Less staff - less observation - less structure. More isolation. Not weird at all. You might feel that it's a big inconvenience for YOU not to be able to work nights or in home care, but relapse is a lot MORE inconvenient.

[longhornfan1]

I have been on TPAPN for nearly 4 years. I make no excuses for my behavior that lead me to my current position (or lack there of). My choice, my consequence. But how long am I going to be reminded of that choice? I have been unable to find a job that can work with the restrictions, or that meet the TPAPN requirements. So, now what? Finished my AAS while on the program, so maybe bridge to the BSN? They say that progression through a nursing program "may" count towards the work requirement?