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!!

passionate RN said:

Hello, yes I am anxious about it all. I don't want to come across like it's not a big deal but you're right, I should not seem so overwhelmed by it. I should show them I am going about life okay, which I am, doing things as I normally would, going to work, spending time with family and friends.

I totally understand the anxiety but yes just don't show them how anxious you are.. Can your lawyer guide you as to what to expect?

 

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I feel like my lawyer hasn't guided me much. She did suggest I get references from people at work/life. She is going to schedule my substance abuse evaluation. Otherwise I feel left on my own. I asked if I should volunteer or anything else on my end I can do to help show the board I've learned from my mistake, but other than continuing education I'm not sure. I don't know what to expect at the informal hearing. She did say the board will send their report to us in advance so we have some time to prepare beforehand. She seems unsure how this will go and has not given me any ideas. She has probably seen many sad bad situations and has numbed herself to them and does not show much emotion.

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passionate RN said:

I feel like my lawyer hasn't guided me much. She did suggest I get references from people at work/life. She is going to schedule my substance abuse evaluation. Otherwise I feel left on my own. I asked if I should volunteer or anything else on my end I can do to help show the board I've learned from my mistake, but other than continuing education I'm not sure. I don't know what to expect at the informal hearing. She did say the board will send their report to us in advance so we have some time to prepare beforehand. She seems unsure how this will go and has not given me any ideas. She has probably seen many sad bad situations and has numbed herself to them and does not show much emotion.

I would guess your lawyer doesn't want to make any type of guess on outcome. There really isn't much more than the substance abuse evaluation that you can do. I would just be honest make sure to sync up with your lawyer before the hearing so she can explain to you what to expect and what she wants you saying and not saying if anything. Again as we talked about before if they do suggest HPMP I would appeal if everything you are saying is 100% honest and true. I would discuss with you lawyer how to proceed if they suggest that and possibly an alternative suggestion. It was the substance abuse evaluator that made the recommendation for me to do IOP which then in turn meant I was doing the monitoring program. It's not definite they will do whatever the evaluator says but they take that into consideration. The investigator told me from the jump to offer to self enroll into HPMP and that would help my license so I do think your situation is unique and it may just be a reprimand such as probation or something to that effect. 

 

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What does it mean if it is a reprimand or probation? Regardless it sounds like I will lose my job and not be able to work in the hospital although I have been working in the hospital okay since all this happened.

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passionate RN said:

What does it mean if it is a reprimand or probation? Regardless it sounds like I will lose my job and not be able to work in the hospital although I have been working in the hospital okay since all this happened.

I'd be glad to get rid of that job if I were you.  They didn't give you the benefit of the doubt and reported you. 

Try to focus on avoiding a monitoring agreement. 

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Oh I got a new job, I'm not at the hospital that reported me. Yeah it does seem like all I can do is continuing education and wait till the informal hearing and stay positive. Yes I hope the board sees I have learned and grown a lot, takes my character references into consideration and does not put me in the hpmp.

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I had the substance abuse evaluation and the counselor says I don't have a substance abuse problem but I'm at high risk for one. She made it out like the HPMP is the best outcome for me, but I'm really hoping I can be put on probation or reprimanded. I am hoping to switch lawyers to one that is more specialized in this, I thought I had one who worked specifically on this but I don't think so. I really hope the lawyer who specializes in this field is able to come up with a plan/aggreement where I can be put on probation. I saw somewhere else on here that a girl had her 1st DUI and she had to do the program and that sounds like less than me because she wasn't even at work, but maybe she didn't have a lawyer or one who specializes in this. I understand I will have consequences, I just hope I can avoid the HPMP.

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passionate RN said:

I had the substance abuse evaluation and the counselor says I don't have a substance abuse problem but I'm at high risk for one. She made it out like the HPMP is the best outcome for me, but I'm really hoping I can be put on probation or reprimanded. I am hoping to switch lawyers to one that is more specialized in this, I thought I had one who worked specifically on this but I don't think so. I really hope the lawyer who specializes in this field is able to come up with a plan/aggreement where I can be put on probation. I saw somewhere else on here that a girl had her 1st DUI and she had to do the program and that sounds like less than me because she wasn't even at work, but maybe she didn't have a lawyer or one who specializes in this. I understand I will have consequences, I just hope I can avoid the HPMP.

Not to scare you, but often times what the evaluation recommends is what they go with, but your situation is unique, especially since they have not restricted you from working at this point. Eileen Talamante is a lawyer that many work with in theses cases she is in Virginia and is very familiar with the HPMP program. I would reach out to her and have a consult ASAP.

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Thank you so much RecoveringRN. I have accepted it if they make me do HPMP but I really hope I can avoid it and compromise on something else. I really appreciate all of your advice! I will reach out to her, thank you!!

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I just got notification that my previous employer did in fact report me, from a diversion and positive drug screen back in December.  I am in a pickle bc my license is in Texas but I live in VA and the TX program can't accommodate me long distance, but with this complaint IDK if they'll let me get my VA license.  
in other words I am stressed.

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Nursefailure said:

I just got notification that my previous employer did in fact report me, from a diversion and positive drug screen back in December.  I am in a pickle bc my license is in Texas but I live in VA and the TX program can't accommodate me long distance, but with this complaint IDK if they'll let me get my VA license.  
in other words I am stressed.

Some states at least will let you get a license, maybe all. If I were you I'd try to pick a state where 3 years not 5 is the average sentence.  Michigan and Nevada are average minimum 3 years. 

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Nursefailure said:

I just got notification that my previous employer did in fact report me, from a diversion and positive drug screen back in December.  I am in a pickle bc my license is in Texas but I live in VA and the TX program can't accommodate me long distance, but with this complaint IDK if they'll let me get my VA license.  
in other words I am stressed.

If your Texas license isn't free and clear of any issues, Virginia will not issue a license.  Virginia's program is 5 years. DC's program is much more lenient and shorter, not sure if that is an option. Also of note, have you sought treatment and started the recovery process?

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