Completed VA HPMP... Have Questions? Let me know!

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I completed VA-HPMP 5 year monitoring program. If anyone has any questions or just need to talk or vent let me know. It is a tedious program and often times you can do everything right and things still pop up and you just gotta keep on the course and get to the end. Good luck and give a shout if you need any advice or info!!

I'm in Virginia. It really was an isolated incident and I haven't drank since the incident. I hope they see that. That was not my character, not at all.

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passionate RN said:

I'm in Virginia. It really was an isolated incident and I haven't drank since the incident. I hope they see that. That was not my character, not at all.

Your lawyer will instruct you what to do. Have you been contacted by the investigator yet? They will contact you and ask you a series of questions. They will also ask you who your counsel is. They will recommend to the board what to do. If they suggest the program that is an entire process. They may impose a probation, but some sort of behavioral health/substance abuse eval will be performed, and then that will also determine what the board decides. 

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My lawyer suggested I get an alcohol use disorder eval and she suggested I get a 6month eval from my manager, she hasn't suggested anything else. Is there anything else I can do? I took a 4 hour Drug and Alcohol course online. Should I attend AA? I will attend AA if it means they see I understand what I did was a mistake. I have not drank since the incident it scared me so much! I don't want to attend AA and then think I have a problem because I'm attending. Is there a counsel that will be at the informal hearing? Is it like a jury? I have never been to court, all of this is nervewracking for me. What kind of probation? Will my license be suspended or not be able to be a nurse for a while? I got a new job and have been working as a nurse just fine and I want the board to see that.

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I really really appreciate all of your advice Recovering RN! I have learned so much from the mistake it makes me never want to drink again. I realize what could have gone wrong at work and thankfully everyone was OK. I showed up to work hungover and I should have just called out. I loved my job. I worked 7-8 day shifts 12hr days in a row sometimes, I loved it so much. I picked up shifts every week. I love what I do and I never want to take that or anyone for granted. I want to do everything I can to show the Board I've learned my lesson. I just don't know what they're looking for. I tried to see if there's anything I can do in the community and I haven't found anything yet. I really want them to see I've learned a lot and it won't happen again.

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passionate RN said:

My lawyer suggested I get an alcohol use disorder eval and she suggested I get a 6month eval from my manager, she hasn't suggested anything else. Is there anything else I can do? I took a 4 hour Drug and Alcohol course online. Should I attend AA? I will attend AA if it means they see I understand what I did was a mistake. I have not drank since the incident it scared me so much! I don't want to attend AA and then think I have a problem because I'm attending. Is there a counsel that will be at the informal hearing? Is it like a jury? I have never been to court, all of this is nervewracking for me. What kind of probation? Will my license be suspended or not be able to be a nurse for a while? I got a new job and have been working as a nurse just fine and I want the board to see that.

The eval will likely determine what the board decides. If they suggest HPMP or treatment, you can appeal to the board, and then you do go in front of the board.  Everything comes down to what the eval shows. I had a real problem, and ultimately, the program, as tedious and awful as it was, saved my life and my career. My license was never "suspended," but if you agree to the program, you cannot work as an RN until HPMP decides you can, for example, after an inpatient or outpatient treatment program, therapy, etc. If you don't have a real addiction or problem, I wouldn't suggest AA, as that would almost be admitting a problem. I know its difficult but all you can really do is wait for the eval and then the investigation. If you could get your job or a supervisor to vouge that there have never been concerns or incidents prior that may help as well. 

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Sorry I'm confused, your license was never "suspended" but you probably lost your job if you couldn't work as an RN for x amount of months? I'm afraid to lose my job and I just applied to a new job for ICU and I'm soo excited for it but I'm afraid it'll be swept away from me. Okay I took pictures of a bunch of places and I'll call them in the morning to see if they can do an eval. Do you think there's any chance of them dismissing or reprimanding or letting me keep my job for an isolated incident? I will do anything. I rarely drank in the first place, just holiday and special occasions, so stopping is not at all a problem, I've been stopped for almost a year. I'm super excited to start the ICU but I'm just so scared what the board will do.

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My lawyer and I already met with the investigator for the board. Now the board wants to have an informal hearing. I hope it doesn't go further than that, it is all nervewracking and I will really do anything to show I will never let it happen again. I'm trying to research things to do but it is a waiting game. If they say I have to do HPMP am I allowed to travel, go on trips? Am I allowed to change jobs? I guess it's just difficult to change jobs or find place that would accept me.

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passionate RN said:

Sorry I'm confused, your license was never "suspended" but you probably lost your job if you couldn't work as an RN for x amount of months? I'm afraid to lose my job and I just applied to a new job for ICU and I'm soo excited for it but I'm afraid it'll be swept away from me. Okay I took pictures of a bunch of places and I'll call them in the morning to see if they can do an eval. Do you think there's any chance of them dismissing or reprimanding or letting me keep my job for an isolated incident? I will do anything. I rarely drank in the first place, just holiday and special occasions, so stopping is not at all a problem, I've been stopped for almost a year. I'm super excited to start the ICU but I'm just so scared what the board will do.

I was granted what the board calls a "stay" which means my license was not suspended but I had to follow any and all recommendations by HPMP and complete the program . One of the stipulations was I needed to attend an outpatient IOP, have individual and group therapy and follow all the stipulations of the program including drug testing, recovery meetings etc. After about 4 months of that I was allowed to work as an RN again and then did the program for the full 5 years. 

When I had my investigation they chose who my eval was going to be by so maybe yours won't even get to that point if they haven't mandated that yet. Did this just happen? You said it was isolated but then said you've stopped for almost a year. If it truly was isolated and the investigator didn't feel it was more than that they may just do a probation and if no incidents or concerns it will be over. I assume someone smelt it on you and then they tested you or was there concern with your behavior and care?

 

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How was the HPMP? Were you able to have a life outside of work and HPMP? It sounds like a lot with the IOP, group and individual therapy, and drug testing. They were concerned of my behavior but I didn't harm any patients. The hospital documented my bac as 0.01 and then they told the BON it was 0.1 which is incorrect. Regardless I was wrong to drink. I don't want to minimize what I did. What I did was wrong and I should have called out. So simple to call out and I was afraid work would be angry if I did, although I never did. It happened in May. Then my lawyer and I met with the investigator in Aug. And now I'll have an informal meeting probably in May. I'll be sure to have an evaluation done by then. I feel like they're not easy to find.

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How was it not being allowed to work as an RN? Did you have time for another job, would they let you? How was it applying to jobs as an RN once they let you?

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passionate RN said:

How was the HPMP? Were you able to have a life outside of work and HPMP? It sounds like a lot with the IOP, group and individual therapy, and drug testing. They were concerned of my behavior but I didn't harm any patients. The hospital documented my bac as 0.01 and then they told the BON it was 0.1 which is incorrect. Regardless I was wrong to drink. I don't want to minimize what I did. What I did was wrong and I should have called out. So simple to call out and I was afraid work would be angry if I did, although I never did. It happened in May. Then my lawyer and I met with the investigator in Aug. And now I'll have an informal meeting probably in May. I'll be sure to have an evaluation done by then. I feel like they're not easy to find.

I'm surprised it's taken this long. But you are still working as an RN? That, I believe, goes in your favor. To be honest, HPMP is not great. It's a very archaic and cookie-cutter program that needs to be dismantled and reconstructed to truly help people. It's a lot of checking boxes and treating everyone the same when no 2 addictions are the same. You have to check in daily and can have a random drug/alcohol test any day MON-FRI. 3 weekly AA meetings, monthly monitoring reports by self and employer rep. Initially, it's very overwhelming, but it does get easier. The most annoying part of it all is the drug tests. If you are dehydrated at all it can trigger an abnormal. Over hydrated abnormal. On your cycle abnormal. Little things like poppy seeds or dayquil truly do trigger false negatives and can happen and cause a lot of havoc. You can travel within the US during the first year as long as you are within the testing area. After one year you can get approval for outside of testing areas. Honestly, it sounds like you won't have to do the program if it's been this long and they haven't told you you can't practice as an RN. Does your license show an investigation at this point? It would be on the public page.

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My lawyer and the board investigator we met up with are aware I got a new job. There are no investigations showing on my license on the public page. I'm afraid if it will change. I saw on the BON site that it's almost like point system too, I'd alcohol is involved that's 40 points and a minimum of a reprimand. I would be appreciative if I get a reprimand. I really will do whatever it takes to show the Board I do not have a problem. I don't want to sound like I'm in denial though either. I don't want to drink, the thought of it reminds me of the horrible mistake and I never want that to happen again. I don't know what to do in the meantime, I feel like there's something I could do to show the Board.

What is considered a testing area? So if I'm in Virginia could I go to any state as long as I travel near a testing area? I'm sorry for all my questions and I can't thank you enough for all of your advice!!

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