Help my wife got caught diverting

Nurses Recovery

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I NEED advice. My wife an RN of 10 years was confronted and admitted to drug diverting of fentanyl . It has been going on a few months due to chronic pain. No excuse but shes been seeking help from pain management for a long time with no relief . A car accident set off the latest bout that pushed her to the stupid decision to divert(steal) and self medicate.... She admitted use and asked for help they gave her a drug screen and suspended her first she did fail a drug test and was fired. She did enroll the day she was suspended into out patient and completed the 30 day plan and is going to 2 or 3 aa/da meeting a week. She has passed every drug test since the day she was suspended. That was 6 weeks ago. She just got the letter from Board giving 30 days to respond in writing. She has talked to a few lawyers and is to retain one next week. My question is..will she go to jail? can she work while under investigation? How mych will lawyers fees and fines be? She just got a new rn job will the y fire her? Anyone tell me what to expect? I am trying to be supportive to rehab and her working. I feel stupid for not seeing the signs. I am worried because we do have kids and bills to deal with . I just don't know what to do ...Help in Missouri

Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
Question. Does the testing you have to check everyday weekends and holidays too ? Are facility's open 7 days a week?

Everyday, weekends and holidays included yes. I had a regular testing center that I went to if it came up on weekends. It was a mom and pop shop that did insurance and DOT Physicals. Very low key and easy going. If I got picked on a weekend I had to go to an industrial clinic that was open 7 days a week. When I went to my sister's wedding in Hawaii I had to locate a clinic there that I go to get tested at. in my 4th year I went on a vacation that was in a remote location with no cell phone reception. The board gave me an exemption from calling in and testing for those 14 days - but I had been 100% compliant up to then.

I would like to add that your wife's career is not over - follow the rules and she will probably be able to work in some capacity in about a year. When she gets certain things back such as narc keys, overtime etc will be up to her compliance monitor and her own compliance. If she was caught red-handed and tested positive or admitted guilt there is not much a lawyer can do. It might be worth a 1 hour consult but I wouldn't put out a lot of money on a big retainer.

The way things went for me - I was permitted to return to work at 9 months in. I went to work in an In-patient psych facility that did not require me to pass medications. (I still work there and love it 17 years later) By one year I had my narcotic keys restored. years 2,3and 4 were just about towing the line, keeping my head down and staying compliant. Year 5 was a transition year I was not required to attend meetings or support group but I still had to call in every day. I finished the program and never looked back. It's almost like it never happened now.

You can and will get through this

Hppy

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
Thank you. I wonder if a person could ask to do monthly blood or hair tests those go back 90 days and you wouldn't have to check in daily. Since your the one paying for it but I guess they cant control your every day life that way :/

No they won't allow that - part of the process is to have you give up your sense of being in charge of this process. Recovery teaches you that your best thinking got you into this mess. Yes they can control your everyday life - bottom line if your wife wants to continue in nursing she will have to wrap her head around the concept that she is not in control and jus follow the program. Any deviation or questioning will be seen as "RELAPSE BEHAVIOR" and will only get her more time in monitoring.

Hppy

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Of course you may call me Spanked

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So ... so far so good doing great with meetings and starts a new job next week. Glad we got the lawyer because the next day she got :The call" which the lawyer is helping with how to best respond. He has dealt with this unfortunately a lot . He said she wont lose license just get the probation you all have talked about. Realistically a year of testing he thinks and if she jumps thru the hops hopefully that will be all. He said since she already on her own has had and completed 30 day rehab and is going to 3 or 4 meetings a week, has a sponsor that helps. Plus passing all drug tests ect. He has someone similar get 5 years but after a year of testing and passing everything asked for reduction and they agreed and she is now off after 14 months and good. Hoping she gets to work 6 months or so before she has to get a different job or crossing fingers this one may work with her. Lawyer said he s seeing more and more hospitals actually in a messed up way liking her situation because they know she wont screw up because she's being monitored and wont complain about being worked hard and will be dependable due to license being in their control. She's working with a different dr for pain management for her back issues so that will help too . Thank you all for the advice. I'm not the nurse but the spouse so what she goes thru I go thru. Its hard to just find people with related issues that can just talk. Talking helps a lot the only part worse than the addiction is the not knowing what comes next and no outlet or information without fear of what people think or getting yourself in more trouble.

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Specializes in OR.

I am beginning to think that slowly facilities are seeing these programs for what they are- a useless money sucking destroyer of nurses. It seems that some of the better facilities are getting to where they will give a person a chance but if they blow that chance that's it. To me that's fair.

Glad to see things are looking up. Hopefully they continue to do so. Having the lawyer in advance of any contact with board/ program sounds like it was a good choice. Please keep us posted. She lucky to have you and you both will make it through this.

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I actually do think people are starting to recognize these programs for what they are. The more of us that get caught in this giant net I think serve as a living example of simple injustice. I was at school and getting registered after a years absence and was asked what happened to me. I told my professors and they all thought it was crazy. Many of heard of this and none seemed to defend it. My bosses all think it moronic that I can't work in the capacity I had as I was a good employee and nurse. I was ignorant of these programs and am still simply amazed at the pure hell they bring to peoples lives with no good or just end for the vast majority of the participants. I'm not going to pretend to be a crusader against this garbage when I'm done but I will help the cause for reform if one gets started. Myself I've been harmed in a way I can't see myself coming back from. I got a DUI. The price I paid as a citizen was expensive, embarrassing and just. It would have kept me from drinking and driving again. The price I am paying to my profession is simply cruel with no cause and no justification. People see that and they comment regularly. Any change is too late for those in the program but maybe future generations of nurses won't be drug threw the hot coals for having a disease or simply making a mistake.

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Not justifying anything or making excuses either. I will say that it seems excessive at least for first time offenders. Repeat individuals I get it but if its the initial screw up or addiction issue it seems very harsh. Good luck.

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Specializes in OR.

I also think if that the evaluation and treatment process were appropriate (ie: about the patient need and not about how much money could be sucked from them AND not in bed with the programs) there would be a much much lower incidence of re- offending. However since anonymity is only assured depending on who feels like doing thier job on any given day, who knows what those statistics really are.....

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I think too from what I read and know, the problem is with the anonymity part. If you say anything and ask for advice or help you risk losing your job, license and freedom plus embarrassment. If you don't say anything you risk all off the same...There's almost no incentive to ask for help or advice.

I also think that some blame lays at feet of insurance company's. Those that self medicate with alcohol or narcs due to pain. It is a very long and hard road to get proper treatment, in cases of back issues its very hard. I know thru experiences with my brother and now wife and few others. The insurance company's would rather throw you to therapy and main meds for months or years before they decide to ok the expensive testing required to justify the surgery's or pain blockers needed to fix the problem that causes you to need pain meds that you get addicted to. My brother suffered for 18 months before they realizes oh gee you need major back surgery immediately.." work comp case".

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
Not justifying anything or making excuses either. I will say that it seems excessive at least for first time offenders. Repeat individuals I get it but if its the initial screw up or addiction issue it seems very harsh. Good luck.

While I agree that it seems harsh - you have to remember that there was a time not so long ago when diverting narcotics was considered a felony for which the offender could face jail/prison time and never practice nursing again. There are many addicts/alcoholics who don't place their patients in danger by stealing their meds or working under the influence. I was one of those. That does not make me better than anyone else but I still had to face the same program and stipulations. These programs are not going to change anytime soon so unfair as it may seem the only way to get through them is to get through them. It's not fair but as a means to maintain our license and ability to earn a living it's what we have to do.

I might add that your wife is lucky to have you as a support. My own husband literally didn't speak to me for two years (We communicated by e-mail/text even when we were in the same room) We have grown through that time and he had to address some very real co-dependency issues of his own. I would suggest that you do some reading on the subject.

Good luck to you both

Hppy

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Hello ..Been awhile since I have been on. Things have been better then worse. My Wife on a separate job 4 months between issues, while awaiting the back n forth with state had a relapse. Quit before any drug test took place. Took a month off to get rite and got back to work on new nurse job. Then lawyer got a call she has a complaint about documenting issues with the narcs at job she quit. She knows she now is looking at for sure 5 years probation and at least year of losing narc license. Lawyer said she has maybe 2 months or so before board makes a decision. If she stays with nursing will anyone even hire her with those restrictions? Trying to decide what to do. I am trying to be supportive but I am upset too. once I get stuff happens but twice and she lied to me too I found stuff in her clothes. To make matters worse were on literal verge of bankruptcy and stressed to the hilt. Just waiting to see if she should just find another line of work or try and make it thru the 5 years of probation. Yes I also worry about the addiction relapse I would rather her do something else than that happen again. We do have a 3yr old and kids in college I already work 6- 7 days a week and can only do so much. Just venting and asking for advice.....

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The word I have heard is home health perhaps if she stays as an rn . Any input?

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