Calling all PNAP/VRP Nurses in PA

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Specializes in Bottom wiping.

So Im on here all the time but I never see alot of posting from other PA nurses.

Im in the program for 3 1/2 years and due to relapse now looking at another 3 years. So it would be great to discuss the daily grinds of PNAP/VRP with others in the same boat.

Im kind of surprised honestly because there are thousands of us out there....

Is there another forum they go to or website?? Where are you all? :-)

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Hi IrishCMSRN

Sorry to hear about that crap news. Is that the final word from PHMP, extending you for 3 years?? That is really tough, but I know you can do it.

I've been in PNAP since August 2016, so I still have almost my 3 entire years to go. There's a couple people I know that had their contracts extended, and they are doing really well.

Let me know if I can help you out in any way.

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Specializes in Bottom wiping.

Thanks for the reply! Yes it's pretty much an automatic restart. I have petitioned to have it reduced but my case manager tells me I'm wasting my time. I'm just sick of it. I can't afford to do another 3 yrs so I'm likely going to get my license suspended when I can no longer pay for the screens etc.. I'm so over nursing at this point!!!

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it really sucks, I've been in since July of 2014. I had a positive for alcohol last august and my contract was extended for an additional 2 years which will make it 5 years total. my husband made homemade wine and not even thinking i drank some. I've been a nurse for 30 years, never been reprimanded or disciplined. I had a rough time in my life in 2011 which resulted in 2 DUI's. I went to rehab, counseling, and a year later was contacted by pnap. I had no idea what I was in for. it is so unfair. I was suffering from depression, loss of my parents and an abusive husband. I was using drinking as a numbing medication. I resolved my issues, even worked for a year as a clinical tech in a drug and alcohol rehab.Am now working as a school nurse LPN but PNAP is financially, and mentally draining me. I just went to my doctor to have my antidepressant changed and he ordered me an anti-anxiety medication. All related to the demands of this insane program. My counselor and medical doctor both stated I am in total remission, and feel I need no further intervention. but it means nothing to PNAP. its to be non profit, but someone is obviously benefiting from the money I pay to pee in a cup at least 2 times a month. It is degrading, robs my self esteem and frustrates me to my limits. The closest testing center for me is 54 miles, it takes a minimum of 3 hours for me depending on how busy med express is. meaning I get home after working at 8 pm. needless to say if I had plans with my children or appointments they need canceled. If this had something to do with my nursing I could understand. It happened in my personal life, I dealt with it, took a year off work and even resigned from the job I was working at to deal with my problems. This is so unfair to nurses. I feel for each and everyone who is going through this.

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The case managers seem to delight in finding fault and do nothing to help. I don't think they are on our side at all. Its called Peer Assistance. They have never done anything to assist me. I think their job is just to find fault to make us pay longer.

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Specializes in Bottom wiping.

Im so sorry you are in this. I find it so unfair that they are making me repeat the entire program again so by the time I will complete it I will have been in the program for 6.5 years. I can't afford it now and just took a huge pay cut just to keep working as they told me to cease practice for 90 days. Many have told me the system is designed to make you fail. I can only offer my sympathy and tell you I know exactly how you feel.

Keep in touch on this site, I think we all need to stick together and support each other. I intend to keep protesting my penalty and see how far it gets me. My PNAP case manager told me "dont rock the boat"...not sure what that means, almost sounded like a threat..lol?

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I'm here! I don't have much to offer except an understanding ear. I've been in since April 2015, now (im)patiently counting down these last 11 months. I can't even imagine life beyond PNAP at this point, but I can't wait to try it.

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Specializes in tele, ICU, CVICU.

Sorry to hear about the extension, that is so upsetting, especially so close to being done. I assume you were all but done of the first 3 years. It would be nice if the program was more individualized for the patient and get rid of the cookie cutter theory. Not everybody benefits from the requirements of the contract, (AA, NA etc.)

I am also in PNAP, but cuz I'm an extra bad person, in DMU. I haven't had any issues, with the screens so far, so can't really add anything to the discussion about getting a extension.

I do know that PA seems to be a tad bit nicer in some aspects 3 year contract, and have seen lots of other states having a 5 year contract. But I've also seen posters say many times, they were able to review their screens online, to check & make sure no false positives. I find it sort of annoying/semi-odd that PNAP won't tell you what it is (if there's a positive urine) you hafta play the guessing game. And also it seems to take at least 3 weeks or longer for them to call & let you know it's positive. Especiailly cuz it's your job to recall the past month or more, of your life and be able to pinpoint what it was likely from.

I am thankful for being able to keep my license, but as mentioned by PP, it is degrading at times. Some of the PNAP case managers do nothing to assist you (as the website says) to address the problem and offer support, not just constant negativity, further increasing the stress we feel.

I wasn't sure if you were asking, where we all are (like geographical, or asking about alternate websites...

I know a few times, when I've googled things, the job website Job Search | Indeed seems to have a decent following of PNAP and other monitoring programs.

And of course the stigma regarding PNAP nurses. As compassionate as we must be to patients, it's horrible the way other nurses beat up on others, won't give a second chance...

Sorry, didn't mean to ramble...

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Specializes in OR.
The case managers seem to delight in finding fault and do nothing to help. I don't think they are on our side at all. Its called Peer Assistance. They have never done anything to assist me. I think their job is just to find fault to make us pay longer.

Agreed! While I'm not in Virginia's clutches, I do think these programs are all cut from the same cloth. You can produce funny smelling flatulence and that will give them cause to order another overpriced evaluation or a repeat rehab stint. What is sad is that so many people are unjustly packed into these programs (ones that either their "crime" is irrelevant to nursing or was just a bad decision and the fear of God was struck into them.) I've seen people that have an ancient DUI that are forced into this replete with rehab, 12-step indoctrination and drug tests for multiple years. If that's not a money making scheme, i don't know what it is. The sad thing is that the energy expended on these cases takes away from the cases that are people that really need and benefit from this kind of thing.

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I got a DUI last year. Of course it was my fault. I drank and choose to drive my car. Poor choice and the cops and the court are doing their job and punishing me for my crime. However, the punishment I'm receiving from the law pales in comparison to the beating I've been getting from PNAP. I immediately self-reported my DUI to the Board of Nursing as I thought it my professional duty to do so. After about 3 months I was sent for a "professional evaluation" by a Greenbriar Counselor. What a Joke!!! Being evaluated by a employee of a company who has a vested monetary interest in keeping you in treatment as long as possible so the cash keeps flowing. I was sent to 28 days on inpatient "treatment" with a bunch of heroin-addicted children who were trying to avoid jail-time and supervised by the best minimum wage can buy 95% of the time. Honestly, given the choice again I would surrender my hard-earned license before subjecting myself to that clown show again. After that I spent another 3-4 months in "intensive outpatient" until my private insurance ran out. A bit of advice, if you are stuck in this hell avoid Greenbriar. Once released I have to attend weekly "support" meetings which have no value at all except to keep the cash flowing to the rehab industry and mandatory AA meetings in a voluntary program. All of this "rehab" is nonsense. If I can't drink for three years (or more) why not just Pee test me? I hate this program and more than that I hate that I'm expected to pretend that it has any value besides knowing if I'm clean. I was never impaired at work in anyway. This is simply another example of over-functioning Nurses demonizing and eating their own.

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Please tell me if you know if I'm convicted of possession and paraphernalia will I be able to do the program and is there a difference between vrp and pnap do you have any convictions I'm just starting this so please let me know

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When you relapsed did they restrict your license or just extend you? After 2 1/2 years I relapsed. They are still deciding on what to do with my license.

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