Assistance Program Tips

[StarlaBanks]

I have completed my state’s five year program, and continue to work with them as a mentor. I also admin a support group for us healthcare professionals in assistance programs. Here are the top tips to help with success. These are tried and true!

1. DON’T DRINK. For some reason, (maybe it being legal?) makes it a harder stipulation to adhere to. You will get caught and you will shoot yourself in the foot. 
2. Be upfront and proactive. If you mess up and are going to be confronted, do it first. Fess up to your case manager, and be prepared with a written admission that includes what you yourself have implemented as an intervention to this hiccup. Then follow through with said interventions.
3. Your first year and last year of any program are the hardest. The first because you are adjusting to some big changes. You WILL mess up your first year. It’s rare for nurses NOT to. The last year usually spurns some restlessness or complacency. Don’t fall into this trap! Keep your head down and power through. 

4. You’re going to get mad. You’ll get upset, feel hopeless, overwhelmed, or that you were wronged somehow. And these are valid but TEMPORARY feelings. Don’t quit. Keep going. Call someone and get these feelings out before you make any rash decisions.

5. Get what you can from your program. Immerse yourself in the groups, utilize what the psychiatrist has to offer, embrace your new community and lifestyle- LIVE IT FULLY- you’ll be amazed at the response you get from your case manager!

6. Own your ****. If you continue to blame others, dig in your heels, refuse to surrender power- you’ll only make it so far. It’s a bend over and take it mentality. 
7. If you’re working- don’t even BEND a rule! Not once, not for a second. 
8. Don’t think your personal life doesn’t impact your professional one. Keep your socials clean and locked down. Be diligent about the company you keep. Don’t even drive with a headlight out. Keep the mentality that anyone could search your person, your work locker, your car, your house. Whether this is a possibility or not, it keeps you alert and aware. 
9. KEEP GOING. It seems like forever, but it’s not. Find support and solidarity, grit your teeth and GO. 

[Big Blondie, ASN, BSN, MSN, APRN]

Sage advice except I don’t agree that you will mess up in your first year. This is doable without relapse or messing up if a person reads and knows and follows the rules to a T.  

[K. Everly, BSN, RN]

19 hours ago, StarlaBanks said:

6. Own your ****. If you continue to blame others, dig In your heels, refuse to surrender power- you’ll only make it so far. It’s a bend over and take it mentality. 

While I don’t disagree that one essentially has to adopt a “bend over and take it,” mentality to conquer a monitoring program, I wholeheartedly disagree that to do so is in any way an example of “owning your ****” 

That sounds like something a case manager or probation officer would say any time a person is fed up with the continued overkill. They don’t really just want you to own YOUR sh*t, they want you to own THEIR **** too. 

I do tire of persons in recovery continuing to be used as scapegoats and easy targets anytime something goes wrong or they have a rightful grievance. Nope, can’t point out an injustice, that apparently wouldn’t be owning ones ****... ?

[KyBeagle, ASN]

On 12/9/2020 at 8:53 AM, StarlaBanks said:

3. Your first year and last year of any program are the hardest. The first because you are adjusting to some big changes. You WILL mess up your first year. It’s rare for nurses NOT to. The last year usually spurns some restlessness or complacency. Don’t fall into this trap! Keep your head down and power through. 

I think these are excellent tips. Although, I have never actually seen these all written down together, I pretty much followed all of these in my 5 years in KARE & successfully completed my program. I agree with 8 all tips (well, mostly). 
 

My only disagreement is the statement regarding the first year. OK, I know that there are historically “peak times” for relapse & 1 or 2 fall within the first year. However,  I will say that my first year was the best. I was new to the program, sober, and did NOT want to lose my license. Being reported to the BON was MY “rock bottom”.  That first year, I was equivalent to an “A+ Student”, dotting every I & crossing every t. There was NO WAY that I wanted to be discharged. Unencumbered license was my goal & within sight (well... 5 years away, but still doable).

I did continue to follow these tips in the years 2-4. However, I wasn’t as tense or paranoid. Daily Affinity check-ins & random UDS became the norm in my life- routine. I knew what I could & could not eat. With weekly meetings I improved my coping skills, rarely having cravings but handling them in a healthy way if I did.  
Okay- I definitely agree with you on the last year. I STILL followed these tips & continued my sobriety. The first 6 months of the 5th year was status quo. The the last 6 months- OMG! Yes, I felt restless! I was irritated by the daily  check-ins and the monthly paperwork that I had to send in. I was just TIRED of it! I had NEVER resented the KARE program until the final 6 months. Prior to that I had always felt grateful for it- allowing me to keep my license & remaining confidential.  But, WHEW!  The day I completed, I felt a 100lbs were lifted from my shoulders. I have continued my sobriety (graduated 1 year ago). No, I was never compelled to use opioids during that 5th year. I just was chafing to return to a “normal life” that didn’t involve panicking every time we were on vacation or out of town, praying that I wouldn’t get chosen for a UDS (inconvenience).

Basically, I did what @StarlaBanks says to do- I put my head down & powered through. And FINISHED! 
 

Anyway- I’ve completed the program & happier today than I was most days before the KARE program. Those 5 years gave me time to figure out other, healthier coping mechanisms for my life, other than just retreating to oblivion with narcotics. I’m much happier now.