Types of questions...

Nurses Recovery

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I'm curious. Was wondering what types of questions are asked in these evaluations? Whether it be by a psychiatrist, addictionologist, or any type of counselor that determines your future, what do they ask? I've never had an evaluation so I have no clue but I see so many of you talk about it And have such different outcomes that I would like to know. :)

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In my evaluation I was given 4 or 5 written multiple choice tests, some with 300 or so questions so that took awhile. It had a lot to do with personality, how you thought you'd react to certain situations, what you preferred. I don't really remember the questions but I remember thinking I knew they were trying to get at things like how much I preferred being alone versus being with other people, and how my anger would be shown, like would I confront someone if they hurt my feelings or whatever. Often the same type of question worded differently three or four times. I would bet they are the same standard personality tests you can get anywhere. Then they graded those, probably with a scanner or whatever because it wasn't very long of a wait, and I had a talk with the doctor, and he already had my test results. He asked about how I'd ended up there, asked about my home life, my husband d and that relationship and my kids, and even about my parents and siblings. That conversation lasted about 30-45 minutes (the questionnaires took about 2-3 hours).

That was it! I left (paid $300) and after a few days, maybe a week, I received the results in the mail, which were the same results he sent to TPAPN.

He recommended a specific IOP, (3 times/week) which ended up being 10 or 12 weeks I think, and also had a required after care (twice a week) of another 10 or may have even 20 weeks! That program also required you to bring your sponsor in person to some discussion day. Since I'd talked to other nurses at my nurse support group and I knew that there were plenty of 6-8 week IOPs out there, I started researching on my own. I also did NOT want to have to bring my "sponsor" to a group! Because my "sponsor" was just a friend I knew that had gone through TPAPN years ago, and was helping me through the process.

Anyway, I found 8 week IOP much closer to my house. I used the excuse that the hours of the IOP he wanted me to go to would required at least an hour drive because of rush hour traffic (it was 6 pm-9:00 pm) and that I generally tried to avoid driving after dark because I have poor night vision so I was an unsafe driver at night. TPAPN agreed to let me use the closer IOP which also was during the day rather than evenings. My IOP did try to get me to keep coming to "after care" twice a week after my initial 8 weeks were done but I declined and TPAPN didn't require it.

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Mine was an interview. They asked me a zillion questions about my drinking and drug use. I hadn't used drugs in 30 years but had been drinking since I was a teenager. I was honest with them. I told them I like to drink and was sorry I got a DUI but really had no desire to quit drinking nor engage in any rehab efforts. Honestly, I figured that I was 55 years old and never got a DUI before nor any real consequences of my drinking before. I told them I didn't identify myself as an alcoholic but was ready to face the consequences of my actions both with the law and the BON. Well the individual who interviewed me worked for the rehab facility I was to be sent to and guess what? That's right her recommendation was for the maximum amount of "treatment" that my insurance would pay for which was 1 month of inpatient rehab and 4 months of Monday-Friday IOP. Quite simply the worse experience of my life. I endured it to save my career but hated every single second of it and still resent it. Anyway, do yourself a favor try to find an independent evaluator who is not connected to a rehab facility as they are going to want to maximize their companies revenues from you. Sounds cold??? Yep!!! The rehab industry is just like the cigarette manufacturers. Their primary purpose is to maximize revenues and helping the patient is of little consequence

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Specializes in OR.
That program also required you to bring your sponsor in person to some discussion day. Since I'd talked to other nurses at my nurse support group and I knew that there were plenty of 6-8 week IOPs out there, I started researching on my own. I also did NOT want to have to bring my "sponsor" to a group! Because my "sponsor" was just a friend I knew that had gone through TPAPN years ago, and was helping me through the process.

Wow. Mind blown. Doesn't that violate the sponsor's anonymity? For what short moment I get my nose out of my book to consider the whole (insert affliction here) anonymous gig, I should ought to think that anyone who is far enough/secure enough in thier own sense of recovery to be sponsoring someone else I am pretty sure ain't gonna consent to being dragged to the Sponsor/sponsee lunch day at rehab.

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Yeah when I was in IOP they wanted me to bring my sponsor for some discussion day. I refused and said the man was gainfully employed & that he couldn't take time off work for drunk / high show & tell day at the impaired daycare

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Mine was just an hour long interview with a drug counselor. It basically was just about my past, my drug and alcohol use, my family, my employment history, any psych history...they recommended a two day a week 9 to 5 IOP at their facility, which is 35 minutes from my house. I had to do that for 16 weeks...then I stepped down to one day a week of the same program, for a total of a year. After that, I have to stay in monthly "aftercare" with that program for the remainder of my five year contract. They also mandated 2x a month therapy and a monthly psychiatry appointment.

I also have 3x times a weeks AA or NA and 2x a month Cadeusis meetings.

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whats a cadeusis meeting?

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HCP support group. You would hate it.

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gotcha!!!!

I have to go to my nurse support group meeting tonight and am going to try not to speak if at all possible. At the last one some nurse was going on and on about some personal issues and invariably the counselor asked the group what they thought of the issue. I tried "no comment" but got pushed for an answer so I told them the truth which was I could care less. Now I'm on the outs with everybody there. I'm honestly not trying to me mean but I've been to about 60 of these things now listening to the mundane issues of everybody's life and I really am burnt out and could care less. I think I only have about 10 or 12 to go so I'm just going to try to shut up.

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Specializes in OR.

I say very little in mine beyond yeah I'm fine. I get the "you look sad" or " you look tired." Well, yes I am tired. Tired of being here. If I have to pay for it, I reserve the right to look however I want to. I've never been able to paste on a fake smile for anything, least of all this dreck. I say very little because if I do, I'll get my hand smacked for a bad attitude. If someone asks me a question I'll give a noncomittal answer but that's about it. There's enough newbies there that enough people talk that I don't need to. So I stay quiet and watch the clock....

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I'm gonna try cats!!! Are these things actually supposed to be therapy sessions? I know I've never got any level of "support" there. Its just a requirement to be completed to get through this BS

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I don't think there is any scenario where anyone has ever not been recommended for treatment. I am serious. If it is the famed 96-hour eval, I have known folks who test negative by hair samples, get referred for 90-day stints. It is not about the treatment or the disease....it is about money.

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