Anyone left TNPAP before contract end?

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I voluntarily entered TNPAP (after being lied to in treatment and threatened unethically). I was never "caught" at work or accused or anything else that I have read on here. I have not been able to find a job and this has seriously affected my family financially.

I simply want to know if anyone that was not diverting at work or has never been in ANY trouble at all and who voluntarily entered TNPAP has ever left before their contract ended. I do not think there is anything anyone could do, including the BON, or if they would even look twice at the notice TNPAP would send that says "file closure," as stated in my contract. It says they MAY notify the Tennessee BOard of Health of my file closure. It says they MAY notify the BON if they think I am a current public threat, which I am not working so I am not a threat. I have never had a positive drug screen with them. To me, it seems the BON could do nothing as the records at TNPAP are also confidential, though there is nothing in those records that would cause me any trouble anyway.

I can not imagine the BON, if notified, would go to any length to try to do anything against a nurse that has no trouble and voluntarily entered. I mean at worse I would think they might inquire as to why I entered, and while I would tell them even that I don't think I would HAVE to tell, as that is also confidential information. They would have to go through some serious legal steps to gain any information.

Anyone out there ever left?

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I don’t know about where you are at but here it’s my understanding that you either complete the program or lose your ability to practice. I think this is BS and just another piece of evidence that these programs are about as voluntary as a jail sentence but I also think that’s the way it is. I truly wish you the best

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See http://www.tnpap.org/enrollment.htm

When you enrolled, you signed an authorization allowing TNPAP to exchange information with the Department of Health. Don’t doubt for a second that they will notify the Board that you failed treatment and those are a “public threat.” Leaving will only make things more difficult for you.

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Any ideas that you had about the BON looking the other way or being uninterested in your termination of treatment should be tossed now.

It really doesn’t matter why you were in the program or how little of a public threat you really are, they will report you to the BON and the BON will take serious action against you. Please don’t doubt that.

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Please consult a lawyer ASAP

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So what evidence do you all have that the BON will "take serious action?" I have consulted a lawyer, two actually, one of which is a lawyer WITH THE BON! They CAN NOT take "serious action" against me for voluntarily entering TNPAP with no history of an incidences and great standing as far as work and legally. They can not punish you for having done nothing wrong with your license. They can inquire as to why the file was closed with TNPAP, but even that I do not have to answer. TNPAP can not claim you are a public threat if you are not currently working either. That is a serious allegation and can not be made just because I leave TNPAP. This is all straight from a lawyer.

Many comments on these threads are similar to the ones above and seem to have no evidence to support them. I am not recommending anyone leave, but my situation with this "helpful" program has caused way more damage and ZERO help. It is a non-disciplinary way to go if you need or are in danger of discipline. I did nothing at work or while working or in and around work.

It is not true that any action can be taken against anyone in these programs for any reason. I would say to get facts before posting these comments.

I have been in the program for nearly a year now so I am not new and have heard ALLLLL the stories. Please educate yourselves before you allow anyone to run you over. If you did have work issues, then a program is definitely beneficial for you and a great alternative to losing your license. For those of us that "voluntarily" enter based on threats, lies, or someone else's agenda - educate yourself! You have rights and they are not all powerful, all mighty people who can just get your license suspended or revoked.

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I am aware the they will notify the TN Board of Health. They can only simply notify them of my "file closure." They have to say you're a public threat to actually release ANY information from your file, and if they do that they must have EVIDENCE you are a threat. It can not just be said you are - this is a VERY SLIPPERY slope.

For many who have been compliant, your TNPAP file should be sparkling. Mine is and in fact I have never had any positive anything at anytime. Therefore, per the lawyer, they can no just say I am a threat. Once again, know facts before misleading people on these forums. Scaring people is not always the best way to go and there are people in these programs that most likely should not be there and have rights to not be in them and spending a fortune and time on stuff that is not needed nor warranted.

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It sounds like you knew everything you wanted to know before coming here. You consulted with a lawyer for your BON and everything.

The words we are giving you are based on our own experiences and what we have seen.

I don't think anybody here is suggesting that you should just "take it lying down" so to speak, and we hate these programs as much as anybody else. It does nothing for us to scare people unnecessarily if we don't actually believe that these programs can and do violate people's rights. They have our licenses in a vice grip. Kind of like how the cops violate peoples rights every day.

Do what you like, but don't belittle people for having an opinion and call them uneducated or fear mongering for sharing it with you when *you* asked for it.

Reading your responses I'm literally wondering why you even came here for advice? You know it all.

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I posted that and then spoke with the lawyers to answer that last question and your first statements, so your assumption I did this and "know everything" is wrong.

I did not call anyone uneducated. I did not call anyone fear mongering. Please do not put words in my mouth. You seem to have taken my response personally by saying "do not belittle" people, which I was certainly not and not saying educate yourself to anyone in particular. This was my own personal general advise, which this is a public forum, so just as you responded with your own personal comment, I will as well.

You are RIGHT! They absolutely violate rights. And they will continue to do so unless we stand up for ourselves. So I 100% agree you! They have your license in a vice grip for sure for many if not most if you are there for the nondisciplinary part of it - and I am glad the program is around for that reason! I may be seeking advice from a minority of people here but it is very difficult to find people in similar position to me, so while I am unsure why you are quite defensive and seem offended by my response, I seek information from those that have gone through this similar to me just as I am sure you have done.

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1 hour ago, RNlove12 said:

... So what evidence do you all have that the BON will "take serious action?" ...

... Many comments on these threads are similar to the ones above and seem to have no evidence to support them. ...

... I would say to get facts before posting these comments. ...

... Once again, know facts before misleading people on these forums. Scaring people is not always the best way to go ...

Well, firstly, you actually quoted me (twice) so I took that as a good indication that you were speaking to me.

Secondly, posted above is just a tiny snippet of the things you said which sound belittling, accusatory in terms of posters being uneducated, and telling us that we are scaring and misleading people.

Do you see how your posts come across? Hopefully my quoting you is illuminating in that regard.

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They were not meant that way to anyone! I am sorry they "sounded" like that to you! I hope you can move past it as it has nothing to do with the thread! Thank you for the feedback.

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I hope you can get it worked out so that you can leave the blood sucking program (they don't really help anybody more than they harm them, let's be honest).

If you do and are able to keep your license unencumbered I really hope you will report back and give some hope to the forum about how it can be done.

Many people would stand up for their rights more if they felt like doing so would yield results instead of further punitive measures and potential loss of career.

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