I have a lawyer, I diverted over two years ago, and it's taking all this time for the board to respond, and their proposed discipline is Tpapn, and that it would remain confidential and off my record once completed.
I'm having trouble deciding if I'm willing to do the program or if I'm going to surrender my license, I've been on pain management for basically 10 years and I'm terrified to cold turkey stop gabapentin and hydrocodone but when I call TPAPN they say that they are more open to people being on prescription medication than they used to be. but I don't see that anywhere in these forums.
I feel like the people who answer the phone at TPAPN . Just tell you whatever you wanna hear and then once you're assigned a case manager, they will say absolutely not.. is this y'all's experience?
and has anyone been allowed to stay in a home health job? Because they told me that was possible too but I don't know if I believe them
Specializes in Geriatrics, Short Term Rehab, SNF, & Home Care.
April Thompson you are openly admitting that you diverted from work. This should tell you that obviously you have an addiction.
Base on your following statement this is what I can understand;
"I'm having trouble deciding if I'm willing to do the program or if I'm going to surrender my license, I've been on pain management for basically 10 years and I'm terrified to cold turkey stop gabapentin and hydrocodone"
It seems like you are not ready to admit that you are an addict and that you are willing to take all the necessary steps to get better and recover. All I can get from your statement is that you are more concern on wether you can continue to use, instead of worrying about losing the license you worked so hard for.
My advise to you is that you take responsibility for your actions and go into the program which is a privilege and an opportunity for you to recover and continue to be a nurse. It's not going to be easy but in my experience getting caught diverting and getting into the program was the best thing that happened to me.
Knowing what I know about long term opioid use, I would have surgery again. As for your own monitoring program, the BON will not allow it IF you live in the same state because monitoring is more than checking in daily and peeing when told. Monitoring vua the state nurse monitoring program is Recovery meetings x 3 or 4 weekly and sending that report to the BON, therapy from an addictionologst and a report sent from her or him to the BON quarterly and a report sent by your supervisor to the BON quarterly and your own quarterly report to the BON and......they want to see how you do with the stress of working as a nurse while you are doing all of the above. This is why they will not accept your own monitoring program.
As for Hydrocodone, I'm just bring honest and giving you a fair warning. It's not going to happen. You will be required to stop taking it, OR....you time in monitoring (the 5 year clock) will not start until you get off of it.
You really shouldn't speak on things that you know no nothing about.
OP-feel free to PM me. I, too, was worried about starting TPAPN d/t being in pain management as everything I found online said I wouldn't be to do both. TPAPN was more than reasonable and never gave me a hard time about my meds or asked me to taper off of them. I was on a few things a lot stronger than hydrocodone but it was a non-issue. They didn't even ask for extra documentation, I just filled out my Quarterly Med Rec and an additional one if something changed before then.
I'm coming up on 3 years in Texas. They made me stop narcotics and couldn't even do Tramadol. Had to do pain management injections and told me I can't stay in program if not off narcs after 6 months. I'm in for Diversion. It might depend on what you're in for or when you went through it.
PM Dr gave me injections nerve blocks and neurontin and weeded me down over 5 months. BON let me be in program but wouldn't count my 5 years of official recovery until I had first clean drug test off opiates and gave me 6 months. I had surgery at about 8 months in program and that helped. I think they are more strict nowadays than in past
You really shouldn't speak on things that you know no nothing about.
OP-feel free to PM me. I, too, was worried about starting TPAPN d/t being in pain management as everything I found online said I wouldn't be to do both. TPAPN was more than reasonable and never gave me a hard time about my meds or asked me to taper off of them. I was on a few things a lot stronger than hydrocodone but it was a non-issue. They didn't even ask for extra documentation, I just filled out my Quarterly Med Rec and an additional one if something changed before then.
I don't doubt your story, but to be clear, your Case Manager (one person) allowed you to take opiates. There is a Difference in your case manager (who is one person) and TPAPN. Because your case manager allowed you to take opiates doesn't mean that ALL of TPAPN in its entirety allows opiates. Again, I don't doubt your story, but your situation is One Single Situation. It is NOT the norm or majority, and reading through this forum going back 10 years will tell us exactly that regarding TPAPN allowing nurses to take opiates. The absolute overwhelming majority of the time, you for forbidden from taking opiates, especially for people entering in 2024 and 2025.
I don't doubt your story, but to be clear, your Case Manager (one person) allowed you to take opiates. There is a Difference in your case manager (who is one person) and TPAPN. Because your case manager allowed you to take opiates doesn't mean that ALL of TPAPN in its entirety allows opiates. Again, I don't doubt your story, but your situation is One Single Situation. It is NOT the norm or majority, and reading through this forum going back 10 years will tell us exactly that regarding TPAPN allowing nurses to take opiates. The absolute overwhelming majority of the time, you for forbidden from taking opiates, especially for people entering in 2024 and 2025.
I absolutely agree with you that it is not the norm. But it can happen. I was disagreeing with you stating, "It's not going to happen. You will be required to stop taking it". You are speaking in absolutes and while it may not be probable, it is possible that she will be allowed to stay on them.
I'm speaking in absolutes for Her Specific Situation because of the factors surrounding it.
1. Diversion at work, which she said she did. When you divert at work, the odds are overwhelming that you aren't going to be allowed Narcotics. It's possible (unlikely, but still a slim chance) if no diversion at work. That changes things because the BON sees themselves at incredible risk. In my recovery years and time working with the BONs and Recovery Groups, I've never seen a BON allow a nurse to continue with narcotics IF...they diverted at work. I have seen the BON give a nurse time (3 to 6 months) to get off of narcotics while in the program and I've seen this many times, but the nurses official monitoring clock does not start until they are off the narcotics.
2. The nurse referenced said she has been on Hydrocodone for 10 years IF....IF...I read correctly. That in an of itself is considered misuse IF.....IF......the nurse has not had surgical intervention. You simply can't say to the BON, "I'm scared of surgery or don't want surgery, so I continue the Hydrocodone." The BON isn't going to accept that, especially if the nurse has been on the drug for 10 years. Opiates are not designed for long term use.
This is the reason I was speaking in absolutes for her situation. Is it a 100 percent guarantee slam dunk she will be required to stop the Hydrocodone? Of course it's not, but it's well over 99 percent and I wrote in absolutes for her specific situation because I don't want her thinking there's a good chance she will be able to continue the Hydrocodone. The chances are barely, barely slim, and that's putting a generous estimate.
I guarantee you that when this nurse reports back on this forum, she will report that the BON and her monitoring program in Texas will require she get off the Hydrocone and likely, will give her a set time to weed off of it through pain management care.
I worked home health in TPAPN in 1995, it was 2 years back then. I was the first nurse they ever let work home health in Texas. I had to see my nurse manager face to face daily. She didn't have to sign a daily log though. If you have questions, call and ask to talk to intake. I really never saw the Case mangers as the enemy. I've been through monitoring twice, and never once felt that they were trying to deceive me. They helped me. It is a peer assistance program and I saw them as a peer. I've been out since 2018, (5 year program). Things may have changed, but they are aware how hard it can be to secure employment in monitoring. I know everyone hasn't had the same experience. I was so grateful that I was allowed to continue in my career. I also went through the I'll just leave nursing phase when I first got caught. When the dust settled I immediately self reported both times to get the clock ticking. It took the Board 18 months to contact me once reported. I already had 18 months in recovery and TPAPN behind me by that time. Every job I applied for during both times in TPAPN I was hired. TPAPN rules are not the law, and they can be bent. If you don't agree with what the Case manager says, then ask for your case to be staffed, the team will meet and discuss it. They did it for me on several occasions. You got this!
I got out of the monitoring hell nearly 6 years ago. I made it through the five years without missing a check in, popping a positive or a dilute or anything. When you take a person with OCD and put them up against IPN's BS? I guarantee you that person a.k.a. me will win, and I did I was not going to give them any reason whatsoever to trap me in this nonsense, any longer than absolutely required. The only thing I regret is not lawyering up sooner than I did. They tried some shenanigans, and I simply said I would refer to my lawyer. It's amazing how fast that stupid case manager backed down.
that being said, a few years after getting out, I experienced a rather violent back injury that has put me into pain management. Yes, I take opioids and yes, I really had to have some stern discussions with myself over the idea of taking them and working. I find that I am better medicated comfortable, and thus I can focus rather than in constant pain. I have also been able to get a spinal cord stimulator which has been an immense help. Every day, I am grateful that I am not still trapped in monitoring nonsense because there is no way that I would even be able to get out of bed. I find that the monitoring programs are thoroughly unrealistic in terms of limitations that they put on people. During my time there were a few instances where I would have a respiratory infection that would damn near segue into pneumonia because I was unable to do something silly like take a Sudafed. These things attempt to exert control over parts of a participants life that have zero to do with nursing. Somebody please tell me how that's helpful. I'll answer the question myself. It's not..
Sky1217, LPN
6 Posts
April Thompson you are openly admitting that you diverted from work. This should tell you that obviously you have an addiction.
Base on your following statement this is what I can understand;
"I'm having trouble deciding if I'm willing to do the program or if I'm going to surrender my license, I've been on pain management for basically 10 years and I'm terrified to cold turkey stop gabapentin and hydrocodone"
It seems like you are not ready to admit that you are an addict and that you are willing to take all the necessary steps to get better and recover. All I can get from your statement is that you are more concern on wether you can continue to use, instead of worrying about losing the license you worked so hard for.
My advise to you is that you take responsibility for your actions and go into the program which is a privilege and an opportunity for you to recover and continue to be a nurse. It's not going to be easy but in my experience getting caught diverting and getting into the program was the best thing that happened to me.
I wish you luck!