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TXRN2 · Jun 1, 2011

wow- oh my!! what has happened to make you feel this way? what's going on? hang in there- whatever it is will be okay!

catmom1, BSN, RN · Jun 1, 2011

wow- oh my!! what has happened to make you feel this way? what's going on? hang in there- whatever it is will be okay!

Sounds like all over again got the standard treatment that I have read about for most nurses in monitoring programs. If you, TxRN2, were monitored and had a more benign experience, you were lucky.

Catmom :paw:

faithnow · Jun 1, 2011

Yeah, i hear you as well. And that thought passed through my mind more than a few times in my five, extended to six year monitoring program. But most of the time if a nurse is in a monitoring program, she/he made some bad choices, and took some bad actions. Probably endangered themselves as well as any patient they were caring for. And the nurse wants to keep their license and be able to work. What is a board of nursing to do? Just say, go on and practice and heal yourself? no matter what they mandate, or how many times they make you pee-you end up healing yourself anyway. I hated the board and the monitoring program and the groups and the licensed clinical social worker they made me see and the addictionologist who wrote that i was in long term remission and the board made me keep on being monitored anyway. i hated them until at some point it occurred to me that i had given them this power over me. at least in my case, they didn't blindly seek me out. there needs to be some way for a nurse who has exhibited a problem to be held accountable if they want to continue to practice. does anyone have a better way? at this point, i'm just thankful that there was a way for me to return to practice as an RN and an administrator that gave me a chance. and the other poster was right, it will be all right.use your emotion and energy to heal yourself and get/keep your license.

all_over_again · Jun 2, 2011

I made a year's worth of bad choices, followed by 4 years of much better choices, which has left me working at a minimum wage job and still with the stigma of a suspended license. I hate my life and I manage to hate it without pharmaceutical enhancement. Yay me. If my posts accomplish anything, they will make another struggling nurse get treatment and get clean before the government ruins his/her life.

diva rn, BSN, RN · Jun 2, 2011

Dear all over,

I am just curious, what state are you in?

While I am not a fan of the IPN, and it is most assuredly a pain in the behind.....I have been doing this for 2 years and it is manageable. (don't get me wrong-I don't want to be doing it, at all)

I am just wondering if this is a state thing or what-----

But, My peer group is $15 a week, I do not have to see a Doctor or a social worker or counselor of any kind-I was never mandated to- other than the addictionologist evaluation in the beginning.

I do have to call for colors daily and the UDS usually comes up about once a month. Weekly peer meetings. They recommed 3 x week AA or NA or so--but do not ask for proof...they are pretty easy going on this.

Then quarterly evaluations from Peer group leader and manager at work, that's about it.

The people in my peer group are really not a bunch of old crones, and out of 12 of us, 5 are guys...one is 26.

Our groups are really pretty good, we have helped each other thru some crummy situations, helped get jobs, and let each other vent.

Out facilitator is really great...she has been doing this for 25 years.

I so sorry you have such a crappy experience....this whole thing is hard enuf to get thru without all of that too

diva

all_over_again · Jun 3, 2011

Thanks for the positivity, Diva. I have a suspended license in one state, but I reside in another. No one seems to know what to do with me! I was born in Kentucky, for goodness sake. I am a U.S. citizen who graduated from an accredited program in the U.S. I just feel like the rules and regulations for nursing licenses should be consistent all over the country, instead of some backwoods states still trying to tar and feather us for messing up.

TXRN2 · Jun 3, 2011

i surmise that my experience in a monitoring program is, indeed, more benign that all-over's- & some other's- experience. & maybe a major difference is that i am & have been able to continue to work as a nurse. i make considerably less than i used to- but still am able to support my family & pay the necessary expenses incurred per my monitoring program. that, too, is less than all-over has to pay. i can only imagine what it is like to go through all of this & not be working as a nurse- which is our goal & our reason for being monitored. that aside- i have had to remind myself from the get go that i created this situation & must do whatever it takes to make it right. i hope in the long run, all over, that your situation improves & this is all worth it to you. best of luck, God bless you!

catmom1, BSN, RN · Jun 3, 2011

When I had a job, being monitored was not difficult since I had the money to easily pay for it. (Sorry if I posted this same comment elsewhere ) Plus, I didn't have to "air my dirty laundry" to anyone when I wasn't interviewing for jobs.

I have no doubt that it helps immeasurably that I was C & S long before going back to nursing. The stress of trying to sneak something by the powers that be would be horrible!

Anyway, I am glad your experience has been better than mine, TXRN2.

Catmom :paw:

diva rn, BSN, RN · Jun 4, 2011

Thanks for the positivity, Diva. I have a suspended license in one state, but I reside in another. No one seems to know what to do with me! I was born in Kentucky, for goodness sake. I am a U.S. citizen who graduated from an accredited program in the U.S. I just feel like the rules and regulations for nursing licenses should be consistent all over the country, instead of some backwoods states still trying to tar and feather us for messing up.

I have to agree whole heartedly.

It's so unfair that some states have liberal monitoring programs, while some, for example West Virginia have none at all, you just lose your license.

The Fl IPN is about middle of the road with rules and regs, and it is one that is actually able to be completed. While strict, I don't feel that they are "out to get you" as long as you don't screw up. That includes sending in paperwork on time.

Acording to my Peer facilitator, Florida was the first monitoring program and a lot of the others are modeled on it.

My facilitator is part of a PAC that lobbies in Wa DC and is trying to make monitoring programs standard in all states. As she is from West Virginia herself, she is appalled that this is not universal.

They should be standard and they should be in all states.

Good luck, all over

d

she71 · Jun 20, 2011

You will get nowhere fast. Seriously. If you agree to the monitoring, you agree to the monitoring. I know this is tough and it seems unfair but it is the only way. I have been through a lot with the monitoring system provided to me in Florida but I have come to realize that if I want to work I have got to adhere to their plan. You have to find some way to turn that anger into positivity and fast so you can move on. This to shall pass, right. :) You can do this, there are a lot of nurses that have experienced what seem to be unfair requirements but they have to overcome it. You are a nurse. Use your faith and desire to work to help get you through this. AA meetings are the least of your troubles at this point, go to them if thats what they want you to do otherwise you could just give up and find another career and let them win. I hope you stay strong!:):):)

suziwasborntonurse · Feb 23, 2012

I didn't do anything to get me in this boat. I reported a nurse for abusing patients. When the DON did nothing about it, I went to a patients family and told them what was happening. The daughter worked for the Sheriff's department and filed charges for elder abuse. They found out that I was the one that had blown the proverbial whistle. I was naive and never dreamed I would be thrown under the bus. When they reviewed my medications, they realized I had taken Ambien for 14 years. Same doctor, same dose. I was put on Depakote at age 6 for familial insomnia. If I don't sleep, I seize and go into cardiac arrest. Lack of sleep is not an option. The attorney my mother insisted I speak with wanted $22,000 to make this go away. I thought, "You are insane. I didn't do anything wrong.". In hindsight, $22,000 would have been cheap. The infinite widom of the social workers that control SC's Board, suggested Benadryl. Benadryl? Are you kidding me? They forced me to go to rehab. Force me to be tested no less than every two weeks. Force me to go to meeting three times a week. I was called to nursing. It is my passion and I am a good nurse. My life has become a nightmare that I can't wake up from. I am no spring chicken. I am 45 years old. Volunteered as a candy striper, hospital volunteer, Whitten Center volunteer, Guardian Ad Litem for abused and neglected children and gave more of my inheritance to Salvation Army than I kept for myself. WHAT did I do that was so bad that I deserve this? Enough is enough.