Anyone in a monitoring program due to their disability?

Published

Hi,

I am currently in the process with all the paperwork of signing up with PNAP/PHMP in Pennsylvania due to bipolar disorder. I was wondering if anyone else has been through this in PA and if you are currently in it, if you have been evaluated and what your experience has been in the program and if you can offer any encouragement to someone who is just starting the program. I seem to be just overwhelmed with all the details. Thanks for your input.

P.S. I have completed three uds and have been in the program since April 17, 2013.

Beone

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

((((BeOne77))))

Wish I had some words of wisdom here. All I can do is offer my sympathy and say I think it absolutely STINKS that you're being penalized for having a mental illness!! Your state is doing EXACTLY the opposite of what should be done to encourage healthcare providers with psychiatric issues to get the help they need.

I don't know about anyone else, but I'd rather have someone with bipolar disorder who's medicated and stable working on me, than someone who's too scared to go to the doctor and be treated because her state BON punishes practitioners with mental health diagnoses. I am so sorry.

Your bipolar 'partner in crime', Viva.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
((((BeOne77))))

Wish I had some words of wisdom here. All I can do is offer my sympathy and say I think it absolutely STINKS that you're being penalized for having a mental illness!! Your state is doing EXACTLY the opposite of what should be done to encourage healthcare providers with psychiatric issues to get the help they need.

I don't know about anyone else, but I'd rather have someone with bipolar disorder who's medicated and stable working on me, than someone who's too scared to go to the doctor and be treated because her state BON punishes practitioners with mental health diagnoses. I am so sorry.

Your bipolar 'partner in crime', Viva.

yup, the unintended sequelae of there actions......

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych.

I for one think it is totally outrageous for BONs to put nurses with bipolar/MDD into programs designed for addiction. Granted the two go hand in hand, but what is a person without a dual diagnosis going to get out of such a program? The last time I was inpt all the programming was centered around dual diagnosis and I felt like it was one giant waste of time as the addictions stuff didn't pertain to me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I for one think it is totally outrageous for BONs to put nurses with bipolar/MDD into programs designed for addiction. Granted the two go hand in hand, but what is a person without a dual diagnosis going to get out of such a program? The last time I was inpt all the programming was centered around dual diagnosis and I felt like it was one giant waste of time as the addictions stuff didn't pertain to me.

Hear, Hear....I agree completely...a lot of busy work but no gain....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
I for one think it is totally outrageous for BONs to put nurses with bipolar/MDD into programs designed for addiction. Granted the two go hand in hand, but what is a person without a dual diagnosis going to get out of such a program? The last time I was inpt all the programming was centered around dual diagnosis and I felt like it was one giant waste of time as the addictions stuff didn't pertain to me.

And you know, even some of us with dual diagnosis don't really need the addictions stuff---I was sober for 20 years before I was ever diagnosed with bipolar. I'm dual diagnosis only because of my distant ETOH history. I think I'd give up my license before I'd ever go into one of those monitoring programs.......but then, I'm closer to the end of my career, if not my working years, and I don't have as big a stake in it as a younger nurse would.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion