Recreational THC = now starting IPN!

Nurses Recovery

Published

Well...... hello new friends!

As a "new" Registered Nurse of 2 1/2 years @ 43 years old, a part of my "previous life" did not fall away as completely as it should have. A phone call was made ( and I strongly suspect this was by a co-worker who knew too much of my personal life, and who was increasingly aggressive and confrontational with me at work over the last several months.... regardless of that fact, however, I OWN this now and here I am.... )

This occured last Thursday. I was escorted to HR by mgmt., and then went to give blood & urine. Prior to this, when asked by HR if I "thought it could be positive" I simply, honestly stated, "Yes, it's possible." I did this because I truly feel I have nothing to hide, and I have already been fussed at for #1.) Admitting this - - but if my credibility is all I have, it MUST remain intact!!!! and #2.) For not resigning before submitting to testing. Hmmm...... never occured to me, and seems a wee bit shady anyway......

I know the test will come back (+) and have already made initial calls to IPN to self-report and to an attorney who advised me and told me to call her if things with IPN get bad.... (((( ?!?!?!?! :eek: )))) I am fully trusting this process and HOPE I am not naive in doing so....... All that is in my head is "BE HONEST! BE HONEST!! THIS HAS HAPPENED AND YOU HAVE TO OWN IT!!!! :cry:

I see alot of good & bad posts about IPN but what gives me hope is the people that say, "Do what they tell you & you will be OK" or "It's hard, but it becomes a way of life and you can do it" or "you will be stronger" or "the time will pass anyway"

The journey and success of becoming an RN changed my life in many profound ways and I will do everything in my power to protect & preserve my license!!!! NOTHING matters more.... I am NOT struggling with concerns of withdrawal or replacing my "buzz" in any way...... I am not sipping wine as I write this!!!

I am also pretty hopeful, as the attorney stated if I am diagnosed at a level that is a need for "Education" and is not addiction/dependancy, that this is taken into consideration.....

Is anyone else in a similar situation?!?!?! A first-time offender, recreational user, no polysubstance use...... I would love to connect with those in a similar situation........... I know this is going to take months to start and years to end...... I would appreciate any and all feedback.......!!!!!

Thank you for listening to my story and I wish you well!!!!!!!!:redbeathe

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
MagSulfate....... how do I PM you.... still having trouble navigating the site..... THANKS!!!!!!

You need 15 or more posts to be able to send a pm, You can however read any pms sent to you

Specializes in Psych, hospice,homecare, admin., Neuro,.

I agree not to mention it to your peers. I have often wondered why it is that nurses eat their young? It is sad when you think of it, we help others but not our peers. This is why I am grateful to be in recovery, true friendship.

Specializes in L&D, M/B.

IPN is in Florida. I am in my last year of my 5 year contract. ( my 3rd one, I have started over 3 times, am a slow learner!)

This last contract I have really worked on my recovery like I did not before. I am not board referred, I self-reported.

Life is good, One Day At a Time!

This occured last Thursday. I was escorted to HR by mgmt., and then went to give blood & urine. Prior to this, when asked by HR if I "thought it could be positive" I simply, honestly stated, "Yes, it's possible." I did this because I truly feel I have nothing to hide, and I have already been fussed at for #1.) Admitting this - - but if my credibility is all I have, it MUST remain intact!!!! and #2.) For not resigning before submitting to testing.

Is anyone else in a similar situation?!?!?! A first-time offender, recreational user, no polysubstance use...... I would love to connect with those in a similar situation........... I know this is going to take months to start and years to end...... I would appreciate any and all feedback.......!!!!!

I'm not in your situation, but I could be. So, what would have happened if you had denied it and refused to test? Obviously, you would have had to resign, but would work have to report it to the BON?

I am currently in the EXACT same situation as you. Let me just tell you that whatever IPN projects to the "length" of time it will take, it will take a lot longer. I'm currently on my third month and counting. Seeing as you only tested positive for marijuana and self reported (as did I), you most likely will not have any limitations in your job work and will have to undergo "educational classes" (AA meetings, support groups, etc.,etc) and agree to monitoring. You will have to sign a contract with IPN and any future employers you may have. This is the difficult part. Many hospitals, clinics, doctors' offices are reluctant to hire nurses involved in IPN, regardless of the reasoning. They hear the word and shy away. I currently am on my 15th interview, waiting for my IPN contract in the mail so I can sign it, tell my "future employer" and hopefully move on with my life. Let me know if you'd like to chat- I'd love to speak with someone in the same shoes

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

I worked with someone who was busted for pot during a screening of the entire unit looking for some missing narcotics. He was a recreational user only and wasn't deemed to have a serious problem. He spent only a year in the IPN program and our employer was supportive of this process. He's doing fine now. Every case seems to be unique.

Best wishes

hello all......

thought i would update you on my story and my iop / ipn journey thus far. this is week 6 of my 8-week-iop program. my counselor sent my "return to work" paperwork to ipn last wednesday, a week ago today!!! my timeline has been as follows: 11/6/09 - left work after hr drug screen. 11/11 - notified of positive thc results; officially self-reported to ipn. 11/19 - terminated from job & signed all hr paperwork, which included positive words such as "voluntarily", "cooperative" and "open and honest" and i will always take great pride in this!!!!

*!*!*! holy crap !*!*!*!* my two-year ipn contract just arrived in the mail!!!!!!

wow...!!!! real life in real time!!!!

the paperwork does state that my case will be reviewed "after one year of active monitoring."

and further states "early completion is contingent on:

a) compliance with all terms of this contract

b) negative drug screens

c) satisfactory work performance in a nursing clinical position for a minimum of one year

d) satisfactory recommendation for completion by the nurse support group facilitator and treatment provider, if applicable"

ok ~ so needless to say, i am all about being done with this in one year!!! :idea: :redbeathe :up:

however, if you will allow me to continue, i would like to provide this info for those that find themselves in this particular situation, as there was no alcohol, or narcotics involved and i am not being prescribed any drugs now for depression, anxiety or insomnia, etc... during my "sobriety"..... note: i do not have a narcotics restriction as part of my contract - hopefully this makes my impending job-hunt much easier!!!

ps - if i hear anyone say, "since it's just pot" one more time..... i am going to scream!!!!!!! :banghead:

so - the timeline - which was very much impacted by the thanksgiving, christmas and new year holidays:

11/11 - self-reported to ipn. 11/19 - mailed packet to ipn including my "passport-type" photo. 12/1 - received list of (3) ipn-certified evaluators. 12/9 - one-hour evaluation with forensic addiction psychologist costing $350.00. there was no computerized testing or hair or urine sample required. *i have since learned this applies to physicians entering the program. 12/30 - initial assessment with iop facilitator. *** i chose to schedule this after christmas.....

i began iop on january 4, 2010; 2 months after the day i was escorted from my place of work. this saturday is my 90-day mark in this journey and my contract to begin work will be in the mail to ipn by then. on 2/25/10, i will complete 8 weeks of iop. total cost: $2,125.00 = price of cashing in my retirement account - ouch!

my 12 weeks of aftercare will be from 3/4/10 - 5/20/10. i will celebrate a birthday the last week of may following that, and will note the great significance of that date as i never have before!!!

i can truly say this has been nothing but a positive experience for me... iop has opened my eyes to several issues as to what even my "recreational" use was masking. it has been a time of self-discovery, introspection and growth in so many ways. i realize now the anxiety i faced daily at work, constantly struggling to over-achieve in fear of any error or omission that would lead to peeing in a cup. even smoking 2-3 times a month, i always feared i could never "pee clean" and that fear is gone!!! i will return to work with a clean system & a clear conscience!

ok ~ gotta go and get ready for tonight's meeting...... thank you all for your feedback, comments and support! that is the one thing we all need & deserve!!!!!

my best to you all.... i welcome your thoughts and questions!!!!

:redbeathe

I'm not in your situation, but I could be. So, what would have happened if you had denied it and refused to test? Obviously, you would have had to resign, but would work have to report it to the BON?

I have learned that if I refused to test, and resigned, that my employer would have reported me directly to the BON and it most likely would have gone straight to "Disciplinary Action" thus removing the option of IPN... and risking a permanent mark against your license - - soooo not worth it in my opinion... once this process starts, you need to OWN IT from the get-go.... these are YOUR choices and YOUR actions and YOUR consequences!!! Ya dig?!?!?! If you are using recreationally, PLEASE just STOP NOW! If you are an addict.... know it and seek help through your Employee Assistance Program immediately..... which may protect you IF something does happen.... I learned this after the fact, as well.... Final note: I could not apply for Unemployment Benefits as my employer stated they would "fight it" because "it is an illegal substance"...... so, there you go...!

Take care out there!!!!!!!

Specializes in ED, Critical care.

OMG your story is so much like mine and you got only a year of monitoring....u are very lucky. I got three years for my recreational pot use. I however did not lose my job as a result so I guess I am lucky there. I had hoped that I woukd have gotten a lighter sentence but I guess that is not an option in my state. I also am using this experience to repair myself spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Good luck in your journey! Oh and I totally agree with you about how it's ok to get drunk every weekend but smoking some pot once in a while on your time off is a crime.

:smokin:

Specializes in ED, acute care, home health, hospice.

Thank you so much for sharing your story. I know several nurses who use recreationally and I don't believe that they realize the consequences of their actions and that smoking a little pot on their time is nobody else's business...your story goes to show that is truly not the case, as our selfishness can impair patient safety. Best of luck to you in your journey!

Good luck to you.

THANK YOU SOOO MUCH for your response!

Please forward this to anyone you know in our Profession who is smoking "recreationally"... as my mission now is to embrace the RN roles of both "advocate" and "educator" in this matter. Many people may maintain that pot use is "casual" and perhaps even "common" but it is still ILLEGAL!!!! And is NOT congruent with a Healthcare Career at any level..... I hope this story enlightens others as to the very serious ramifications of even a first offense!!!

While I might question your use of the word "selfish" (?)..... Ultimately, no RN ever needs to have THC in their system ~ ~ we must hold ourselves to HIGHER standards!!!!

OK ~ ~ PUN most-definitely intended ((( sorry! couldn't resist!!! )))

The only mistakes are the ones we DO NOT learn from....... and I hope & pray that others may learn from mine.......

Take care out there!!!:redbeathe

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