IS TPAPN for Everybody?

Nurses Recovery

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Specializes in med/surg.

Prior to moving from PA to Texas , I was in an automobile accident. The doctor I was seeing for a back injury had me on oxycontin 20mg 2 x day for three months, then abruptly told me to consult a pain clinic to wean off my medication. I couldn't understand why he could not decrease me to once a day then maybe Vicoden and nothing. I was working for a long time as an RN and never took meds form work.

I moved here to Texas in 2001, with two oxycontin and could not find a pain clinic and went on methadone for a brief time. Needless to say while looking for employment my drug screen was positive, so Texas said I lied on my application for a license here and would not let me work unless I was in TPAPN, despite the fact I was prescribed it and was off of anything before I started working.

I was in that program for three years. I at no time felt it was for me. Then I missed calling in to see if I had to give a urine specimen one day(after working a double). It was considered dirty and I was called a week later asking why I didn't respond to a letter I never received. You have to call daily while you are in the program, plus other things. I was told to surrender or the board would revoke my license permantly. I surrendered and have tried to get my license back and have been denied. I have no $$$ for attorney fees and have been working as an RN since age 20 with good standing. I am at a loss as what to do. Any ideas?

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When I received my board order, I called around contacted an administrative lawyer who reviewed my case and advised me at no cost (no representation, just advice). Perhaps you could do this as a means of finding out where to start. Wishing you well ...Peace...

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Specializes in ICU.

Tpapn won't drop you for one missed call in. Definitely find some legal help.

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Specializes in med/surg.

Yes I am going to do that, thank you.

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Specializes in med/surg.

Actually it was two, but they said they sent me a letter after each incident. I got the first one and they added an additional year onto the program. I never got the second one. All the urines I gave were clean. I got the copies of them from TPAPN. It upsets me so much not only financially, but all the board order says is I surrendered because of non-compliance with TPAPN. I never took any medications from work or recreationally, but any one reading it, would think here was a nurse addicted to narcotics she stole from work and they gave her a 2nd chance and she failed a drug test. It was so ridiculous from the beginning. I love working as a nurse and am a good one. I wish I would have never surrendered. Is there any free legal counsel in Texas that could help me?

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Specializes in OR.

Might I ask, were you forced into any kind of "treatment?" That seems to be the thing here in Florida. As far as 1 to 2 "material noncompliances" as they call missed call ins, missed pee tests, etc., i know of an individual that has missed more of the above than a teenager has zits and yet that person is still in the progrgam. It seems that here it's a "so long as you keep giving us money, we'll let you screw up anyway you care to."

I don't know if TPAPN works the same way but I can furnish some insight into another state's Peer "assistance" (Ha!) program.

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Specializes in med/surg.

Yes and no. I was in Human Resources at the time of 911 and security was at the hospital door. The HR rep sat right next to me and I did not put down the medication I was on because she looked at all my papers. I shouldn't have cared what she thought, but I thought at that time even if it was positive I had a prescription for it, but it all went back to me lying on my permit to practice in TX. Being from PA where my license was obtained I had to fill out a form to get a temporary permit and they said I lied on the question of "intemperate use of drugs or alcohol" . I did have a lawyer at that time and she said just do it to get my career started here. I just feel so frustrated. After the year waiting period, I went to the informal hearing without a lawyer. I didn't have enough proof to prove my sobriety. A letter from my psychiatrist or addictionologist? ( I didn't have one) a letter from a from my priest (no church) I did attend all the meetings, but my story wasn t like the AA or NA stories, I had results of my urines. I was working for a installation Company, I had a stable home, but it wasn't enough Exactly even in the program doing all that paperwork, faxing it in every month going to meetings, working, I was paying $111 for each specimen.

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Specializes in med/surg.

Yes I was forced into the program in a way. When I applied for my trmp license when I moved from pa there was a question about being addicted to drugs or alcohol which I answered no. Then I tested positive for an opiod I was on prior to moving here. I wasn't even taking it anymore. They said I lied in the answer and wouldn't let me work without joining the program. Then all that work and money nand meetings and testing. Then I was asked to surrender for non compliance forgetting to call two times. I was wrong to surrender. I wish I could get a good lawyer get my license reinstated and sue for all the time I should have been working. Feeling hopeless.

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