Consent Agreement Error

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I live in AZ and I am trying to work through a consent agreement with the Ohio BON. I am 10 months into a 12 month agreement to do random drug screens among a few other stipulations. I flew from AZ to OH and of course was chosen to do a random drug screen. I fly that route every 3 months to see my Grandchildren, so luckily I was prepared "just in case" with the list of lab choices I had for that area. My flight arrived at 5pm and I quickly realized there were NO locations, from the list I was provided to comlete my drug screen that late in the day; all closed by 5:30pm. Here in AZ there is a 24 hour location and many open in the evenings. I called First Source and was simply directed back to that list. After calling every location on the list, my only choice was to do it first thing the following morning. Which I did. My "monitor" at the board for this has informed me that because I didn't supply it on the day I was supposed to, I have to start over. So all the time and money spent will mean nothing and it will basically show noncompliance. I have asked him SEVERAL times what I was supposed to do and even referred him back to the list they provided, and he just copy/pastes the section from the agreement stating I need to supply it on the day chosen. This to me, is wrong on all levels. I know that nursing boards are not "monitored", but I can't sit back and let this happen. I have never failed a urine drug screen or missed one before. I am also worried about flying in to Ohio again and having the same thing happen?? I looked into an attorney to deal with it, because I KNOW this isn't normal, but the $2,500 for a retainer seems ridiculous and out of reach right now. I there ANY ideas on what I could do? I hate to go over the head of the monitor, but I feel like I have nothing to lose at this point.

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Our monitoring program requires us to submit an 'interruption' in monitoring when we go out of town. That way, if we are selected for a drug screen the program knows we are out of town. We call in, if a location is close, we are still required to drop, if not, we are excused. But, we still must check in and do all of our communication with IPN while we know the labs are open.

I don't know your program, but based on my own experience with mine, it looks bad that you waited so late in the day. I would have scheduled a flight for after I had checked in, leaving enough time to drop were I selected. The way you went about it, it just looks like you said, "I'm going for my trip regardless of whether I'm selected." I would only risk a later drop if I were home, there's one place open until 7pm. But, if I were out of town, checking in and finding a spot would be my priority early in the day because I could get lost, etc...

I do agree it's a bit drastic to make you start over, but shorter contracts are that way here in Florida too. If you have signed a contract, they have you. The time for attorneys is at the beginning, before you sign and to follow you throughout the contract.

Just my 2 cents

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Also, in Fl., we have a 10 hour window in which to 'check in.' From 4am until 2pm... any check in after 2pm could spell disaster. It's happened to me once and I just selected 'self-test,' and ran down to the 7pm place. Our labs are open from 6:30am until 2:30pm. This all lessens the time people have to screw around with fake specimens, etc... We're meant to check-in and pee, give blood, hair, whatever, within a very narrow window of time. So, it could always be worse. WE have no 24 hours options or labs that I'm aware of and what would keep AZ from saying that you knew you were going out of town, why didn't you check and drop before going to the Airport at the 24 hour place?

They have learned to think like addicts/alcoholics. They don't believe a word we say and I can't really blame them.

Good luck!

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Specializes in OR.

Ditto. They have us by the cojones in regards to this. I have developed the habit of doing that delightful check in at precisely 4am every. ******. Morning (Monday to Friday, anyway). If I gotta go, I will hold it till 7am and be at LabCorp when they unlock the door. Then I can be on my merry way without worrying about a dilute or what have you. Uncomfortable as heck but no way will I let them gig me this close to the end. It’s been a long horrible 5+ year sentence for sins I never committed and I will NOT do this a second longer than I must.

Here, I have heard of 3rd party labs that are open later but there is a surcharge on top of what Affinity hits us for ( which I already think is obscene) and there’s another set of hands on the specimen on its way to LabCorp...which increases the likelihood of a screw up....which of course will be our fault.

As Perse says, we are required ‘ask/tell Mom and Dad’ if we are traveling out of the area. I don’t know that they’ve ever denied anyone’s plans but I think just the specter of control that they “could” is bad enough. We are also required to provide a “recovery plan” though there’s been minimal to no guidance on exactly what that is especially for those of us who have nothing to recover from?.

Either way, the complete lack of support and guidance is par for the course. You’ve signed the contract. It’s unfair and not right, but they do have you over a barrel.

They don’t believe a word we say and it behooves you to protect yourself and not trust them any further than you can kick them. They can point to the contract and say ‘them’s the rules, we just enforce them.”

Drastic to make you start over, yes. Even here, there’s latitude for a single dilute towards the end (so they say, see above about trusting) but for missing, I don’t know.

I am sorry, it does bite. I hope you get some resolution that does not involve more time in this hades.

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Specializes in Clinical Leadership, Staff Development, Education.

I think the reaction is tied to your short monitoring period.

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Specializes in NICU/Neonatal transport.

What time does the notice come? Since you gain 2 hours going to arizona, I'm surprised you either didn't have time prior to leaving if you didn't arrive until after 5pm.

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I was flying from AZ to OH, so I lost 2 hours. My AZ flight left at 7am with a short layover in Denver. I arrived in OH at 5pm I checked in on the way to the airport and realized I was chosen. Totally threw me off considering I was just dropped 5 days prior. However, I "assumed" I'd be fine; just hit a place in Ohio once I pick up the rental car, right? Wrong. The list I was provided was very minimal and not up-to-date. AZ has WAY better choices for people that work any and all hours, you'd think OH would do better!! None of it seems to matter. Even though I have been on point this entire time, it seems they aren't budging. Monitor blames First Source, First Source blames the monitor. Now I am terrified of future trips to OH, or anywhere for that matter. So now I am back at Day 6. Not to mention the 3 years of probation after. I just wonder sometimes if this is all worth it. Nursing is my soul. And if the truth were known how I ended up in this position.....well lets just say, anyone else may have gave up a long time ago. Constantly being reminded that you are a piece of *** that can't be trusted, gets so exhausting. It's like being stuck choosing between what you want, and what you don't want. But pitty parties don't help.

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Specializes in OR.

I do understand about the lab list not being up to date. I got dinged the day after Thankgiving. I was on the other side of the state with family for the holiday. I wasn’t leaving the state, so I didn’t do any monitoring interruption BS. After this long, I’ve concluded that unless it’s something of the magnitude of what you were doing, they can KMA on knowing every detail of my personal life. I’m not on parole nor do I wear an ankle bracelet.

Anyway, naturally...guess what....so I have to tip toe downstairs and wake up my dad and get a ride to LabCorp. Check Affinity list for nearest one. Get there and nope, they’ve moved ??. Fortunately it was just across the street, but still. For what we pay these clowns, you think they could at least keep thier lists up to date. Even the tech at LabCorp was surprised that I got picked that day.

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Specializes in NICU/Neonatal transport.

Going the other direction makes way more sense, time wise. That really sucks. :(

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I am in Ohio and not surprised to here any of this.. It makes me so sad.

The bon took three years to get to my case. A year to find a job. I have a two year consent agreement. Six years.. I could have had another career by now. I wish I would have walked away. I sincerely do.

I am so jaded right now that I hope I look back on this post and feel different someday... I go to work everyday begging my coworkers to give my patients their medications and feel resentment and gossip directed to me at every shift. I can pee on command. Trips are fraught with anxiety. The girl at my main lab doesn't watch me, says how stupid this whole things is, and just can't believe what a monumental waste the whole thing is. I am ashamed of myself.

Like boxer said feeling like POS is just a constant tag. I was a confident proud person who had pride in herself and career and now... Im a shell of what I was. I doubt Ill ever get that back at this point.

Sorry to be downer. Today has been really hard.

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Specializes in OR.
4 hours ago, berdeenbird said:

I am in Ohio and not surprised to here any of this.. It makes me so sad.

The bon took three years to get to my case. A year to find a job. I have a two year consent agreement. Six years.. I could have had another career by now. I wish I would have walked away. I sincerely do.

I am so jaded right now that I hope I look back on this post and feel different someday... I go to work everyday begging my coworkers to give my patients their medications and feel resentment and gossip directed to me at every shift. I can pee on command. Trips are fraught with anxiety. The girl at my main lab doesn't watch me, says how stupid this whole things is, and just can't believe what a monumental waste the whole thing is. I am ashamed of myself.

Like boxer said feeling like POS is just a constant tag. I was a confident proud person who had pride in herself and career and now... Im a shell of what I was. I doubt Ill ever get that back at this point.

Sorry to be downer. Today has been really hard.

Agreed. Very so often I think the same, but I don’t know what else to do that would not involve having to clean this mess up anyway. Depression got me here. None of its has exactly been what I’d call helpful.

best I can do is a group hug to bird and OP. It will be over eventually for all of us and we will get there. Just gotta keep telling ourselves that. But yeah, it’s hard, no doubt about that.

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