Desperate for answers regarding IPN

1sttime · Jun 28, 2016

My days are better, every where I look I find someone who wants to support me. I received a letter from my monitoring agency,they want me to go to Inpatient treatment, now I'm looking for a rehab I can afford, the choices I was given are not many. What to do? Any suggestions.

The way that it was explained to me was that if the board says to do it, find a way to do it... I was recommended inpatient treatment, luckily I was able to go to another evaluator and get outpatient treatment. This might not be possible in your case.

If it was me I would call around and find one that takes your health insurance, or would let you do a payment plan. Do what it takes to keep your license, or if you are looking for a change in career there are a couple of options...

But I am at the end of my IPN- and when I am done I have my nursing license free and clear- its worth it to keep it.

catsmeow1972, BSN, RN · Jul 4, 2016

"The reason I ask is because one admitted instance of Tylenol #3 landing you in inpatient tx seems very harsh. "

]The biggest cons of Florida is the evaluation required by certain crooked Dr's in Florida connected to their rehabs."

Here is your answer in a nutshell. It seems that if you are directed to an evaluator that has a financial interest in some treatment facility that has inpatient, you can bet your tuchas that is what your gonna get. I've said it before and i'll say it again...IPN is about the $$$. They (or the board, for that matter) don't give a whip about your sobriety, your recovery or anything else other than what seems to be the myriad forms of raping your wallet (and your self-respect and dignity along with it)

This (and others like it) may have been a lifesaver for some, basically a wake-up call to some serious issues and that's great. For others it's the cause/exacerbation of more fear, stress, anxiety and depression than was present to begin with.

I get that BONs take diversion of any sort very seriously as well they should, however treating the person who made a single bad decision, the same as a person with a significant, ongoing substance issue, IE: the identical in and outpatient treatment that does nothing but mess with an already hurting mind, the generic contract of 5 years and so forth is just plain WRONG!

This all sounds like a ferocious conspiracy theory, but more than once I have seen such a person as the OP, only get outpatient treatment or an order for counseling, yet others get nailed to the wall, seemingly based on where they went for the evaluation and how much money is available.

I think that IPN (and maybe other state's programs too) formulate the contract based on the recommendations from the evaluator. If the evaluator sees you only as a cash cow, you're gonna get the maximum standard contract with stipulations that may or may not be appropriate.

If I sound bitter, it is because I am. Some days it is all I can do not allow this ruin my day. Fortunately I do have a job and for that i am grateful, however it barely meets my expenses and is not terribly reliable in hours and the like. I am not terribly happy as I feel like my skills are drastically unused. Were I not saddled with IPN, i would have near limitless opportunities to move forward with both my education and my employment. Instead, I am working an unsatisfying job and feel like I am in a rut.

How is this "protecting the public?"

1144 days to go, but who's counting...

CryssyD · Jul 8, 2016

Rosa, best of luck to you. I love your positive and accepting attitude--it will take you far. Recovery is a journey, and you are taking your first steps on solid ground--accepting responsibility for your actions, going to meetings, letting others support you, and reaching out for help from those who have travelled this path before you. I think you will be just fine--hang in there!

Rosa09 · Sep 15, 2016

After 5 months of what I thought it was the end of my world, here I'm back from inpatient rehab, attending AA meetings everyday and ready to go back to work. I can honestly say I feel better, things happen for a reason and getting caught using was not a bad thing after all. I have learned many new ways to stay calm, to live a better life, I have learned to embrace my monitoring program. Life is good and I'm happy to be alive. â˜€ï¸

deltakappamu · Sep 19, 2016

After 5 months of what I thought it was the end of my world, here I'm back from inpatient rehab, attending AA meetings everyday and ready to go back to work. I can honestly say I feel better, things happen for a reason and getting caught using was not a bad thing after all. I have learned many new ways to stay calm, to live a better life, I have learned to embrace my monitoring program. Life is good and I'm happy to be alive. â˜€ï¸

This is so beautiful!

Congratulations on your recovery and your new way of life! I too am in IPN and honestly, its really not so bad. Being in recovery we get an opportunity that people that are not in recovery do not get- and that it so know ourselves inside and out and to work on ourselves in ways that could not be afforded if we were not in recovery.

I am so happy to read this outcome and how far you have come just in the few months since your original post!

SororAKS, ADN, RN · Oct 2, 2016

After 5 months of what I thought it was the end of my world, here I'm back from inpatient rehab, attending AA meetings everyday and ready to go back to work. I can honestly say I feel better, things happen for a reason and getting caught using was not a bad thing after all. I have learned many new ways to stay calm, to live a better life, I have learned to embrace my monitoring program. Life is good and I'm happy to be alive. â˜€ï¸

Whatever you're doing, it is working. So glad to see this!

Rosa09 · Jul 5, 2017

Update: I have been clean for 1 year, I have been part of IPN for 11 months, held a job for 9 months. In 3 more months I will be able to handle narcotic. I'm living a happy life, I enjoy what I have and I'm thankful for those that have stuck with me through my dark moments. I check in Monday thru Friday, test when they they tell me to test, I attend support meeting, aa meetings too. There is no sense in fighting the system, I'm in for the long run and I plan to stay clean and happy.

Alphabug82 · Sep 14, 2018

Hi GonzoRN, are you still active? New on this IPN thing and need some answers, thank you

Rosa09 · May 2, 2019

Update: In 3 months I will “celebrate” 3 years in IPN, 2 to go. Still doing good, working an an RN and enjoying my sobriety. It hasn’t always been easy, frustrating at times, I get tested 2-3 and 4 times a month. Had issues with UTIs for not drinking enough water, afraid of getting a diluted. I love my nurse support group, most of the participants are committed to complete the program without trying to play the system. I have also seen a few trying to BS their way out with no good outcome.

Just wanted to let you know where I stand today.

SHlpn50, LPN · May 11, 2019

Hello

While in NC i worked for a week at LTC , it was Thanksgiving 2018. Suddenly every employee was taken off the floor and we were driven to an urgent care center for drug tests. This place had no DON and several bottles of Ativan went missing from the Omnicell. I was not worried i had no access to it and i have a prescription for Klonopin so what could happen? well a week later i got a call from the MRO i was told i was positive for Xanax and no Klonopin showed up. I’ve had to take Klonopin for many years and that is not even possible. i was absolutely floored. I was terminated and was told i’d be reported to the NC BON. i was in the process of moving back to NJ AT that time. Fast forward to now. I am being forced into NC IP program for one year. Non disciplinary consent order. I have 5 days to inform my employer, my doctor etc. Not sure if i’ll have a job after this. I have no restrictions on my license. Just daily check ins and random drug testing for one year and meetings weekly. Any advice on how to approach my employer? I feel alone and quite scared and humiliated. To be honest I still can’t figure out why Klonopin did not show up in my system it makes no sense, i guess it could be worse. If anyone has ideas on where to get support from other nurses please let me know . I’d really appreciate it. All of this is now public information so i don’t mind posting it.

Wizard 1 · May 11, 2019

1 hour ago, scotthudsonlpn said:
Hello
While in NC i worked for a week at LTC , it was Thanksgiving 2018. Suddenly every employee was taken off the floor and we were driven to an urgent care center for drug tests. This place had no DON and several bottles of Ativan went missing from the Omnicell. I was not worried i had no access to it and i have a prescription for Klonopin so what could happen? well a week later i got a call from the MRO i was told i was positive for Xanax and no Klonopin showed up. I’ve had to take Klonopin for many years and that is not even possible. i was absolutely floored. I was terminated and was told i’d be reported to the NC BON. i was in the process of moving back to NJ AT that time. Fast forward to now. I am being forced into NC IP program for one year. Non disciplinary consent order. I have 5 days to inform my employer, my doctor etc. Not sure if i’ll have a job after this. I have no restrictions on my license. Just daily check ins and random drug testing for one year and meetings weekly. Any advice on how to approach my employer? I feel alone and quite scared and humiliated. To be honest I still can’t figure out why Klonopin did not show up in my system it makes no sense, i guess it could be worse. If anyone has ideas on where to get support from other nurses please let me know . I’d really appreciate it. All of this is now public information so i don’t mind posting it.

I'd get a lawyer with experience working with the BON. I'd also get a hair test to back up your statements. Something doesn't sound right here.

catsmeow1972, BSN, RN · May 11, 2019

Me thinks there might be more moving parts to this.....

Who ordered the drug screen, where’s the chain of custody, supposedly positive for drug not taking but negative for prescribed drug.

Something is definitely not right with this....