Updated: Dec 21, 2023 Published Dec 11, 2023
Universe93B
151 Posts
Can someone who is knowledgeable shed some light on the process of required monitoring and getting back to work? Is the nursing profession different and I see that with so many scenarios here.
For physicians, it seems if they are intoxicated at work, diverting or whatever and it's their first time, they are required to go to residential treatment, PHP, outpatient, license may be suspended for a period of time depending on how serious the SUD is, and then probably within 6 months, they are back to work or are allowed to get another job and license is not suspended anymore. Then they do the required monitoring for 5 years (urine etg, peth, whatever).
Why are nurses in some states not allowed to work at all during monitoring? That doesn't seem fair. Are PAs treated like physicians? I thought the entire idea of new SUD treatment is to get intense treatment first like residential, and then start monitoring and slowly get the person back to work?
So am I right here or it depends on the state? Can nurses, including NPs, get back to work quickly after residential rehab and a 5 year monitoring program.
Just spoke to a physician in my AA/NA "professionals" meeting in the area, and met 2 people who were reported to the board, they took the initiative and went to a 12 week rehab (they were going to be told to do that anyway but they did it before that), got their license back after the 12 weeks, signed a 5 week monitoring program, and now back to work.
Sam_0896
47 Posts
You may find this useful. It is a study of different state programs and their components
https://www.NCSBN.org/public-files/ComponentsofNurseSubstanceUseDisorderMonitoringProgramJNR.pdf
subee, MSN, CRNA
1 Article; 5,904 Posts
Universe93B said: So am I right here or it depends on the state? Can nurses, including NPs, get back to work quickly after residential rehab and a 5 year monitoring program. Just spoke to a physician in my AA/NA "professionals" meeting in the area, and met 2 people who were reported to the board, they took the initiative and went to a 12 week rehab (they were going to be told to do that anyway but they did it before that), got their license back after the 12 weeks, signed a 5 week monitoring program, and now back to work.
Most nurses can't afford 12 week impatient treatment which is the gold standard. Partial outpatient treatment makes it difficult to continue working but it's only temporary. 5 years monitoring happens because relapse occurs commonly at that time. But I don't know to whom that figure applies- to nurses who had inpatient treatment or not. However, this 5 year priod was consistent with CRNA's who had high rates of inpatient treatment.
Healer555
556 Posts
Universe93B said: Can someone who is knowledgeable shed some light on the process of required monitoring and getting back to work? Is the nursing profession different and I see that with so many scenarios here. For physicians, it seems if they are intoxicated at work, diverting or whatever and it's their first time, they are required to go to residential treatment, PHP, outpatient, license may be suspended for a period of time depending on how serious the SUD is, and then probably within 6 months, they are back to work or are allowed to get another job and license is not suspended anymore. Then they do the required monitoring for 5 years (urine etg, peth, whatever). Why are nurses in some states not allowed to work at all during monitoring? That doesn't seem fair. Are PAs treated like physicians? I thought the entire idea of new SUD treatment is to get intense treatment first like residential, and then start monitoring and slowly get the person back to work?
Not all states require any time in Rehab, Some states have a 3 year not 5 year monitoring agreement.
Healer555 said: Not all states require any time in Rehab, Some states have a 3 year not 5 year monitoring agreement.
Interesting - wish my state had a 3 year monitoring program! Here, everyone has 5 year monitoring contracts as standard. Can't leave early either. It does gradually get less frequent monitoring after year 3 though.
Universe93B said: Interesting - wish my state had a 3 year monitoring program! Here, everyone has 5 year monitoring contracts as standard. Can't leave early either. It does gradually get less frequent monitoring after year 3 though.
What if anything other than testing and meetings are you required to do? I'm grateful I *just* have a 3 year monitoring agreement. They ads a lot of time for any errors. So far I haven't made ant mistakes
Healer555 said: What if anything other than testing and meetings are you required to do? I'm grateful I *just* have a 3 year monitoring agreement. They ads a lot of time for any errors. So far I haven't made ant mistakes
In the beginning for the 1st year, I had to see a therapist monthly that was approved by them. I was not honest with the therapist because I was afraid they would just report any issues with the monitoring agency/board. Therefore, that was a hoop to jump thru and a waste of money. Otherwise, I could've really used some real therapy at that time. I'm not on meds, but they would have made me see an MD that would have been expensive every month.
Now it's just 3 meetings a week which I do them online that I have to log. And urine etg and some peth thrown in there I guess, but it's very rare.
For years 4 and year 5, it's only 1 "screen" every month or every 2 months, so I wonder if they would do more peth at that time?
I'm not sure of the exact procedure, but if you test positive, you are sent back to rehab for a "recovery reset" for 3-4 weeks and your monitoring is reset and have to start the 5 years over again. I'm not sure what happens if you test positive during the last year, maybe they just add on a few years vs the full 5? It's hard to ask anyone these questions - you guys are all I have.
Universe93B said: In the beginning for the 1st year, I had to see a therapist monthly that was approved by them. I was not honest with the therapist because I was afraid they would just report any issues with the monitoring agency/board. Therefore, that was a hoop to jump thru and a waste of money. Otherwise, I could've really used some real therapy at that time. I'm not on meds, but they would have made me see an MD that would have been expensive every month. Now it's just 3 meetings a week which I do them online that I have to log. And urine etg and some peth thrown in there I guess, but it's very rare. For years 4 and year 5, it's only 1 "screen" every month or every 2 months, so I wonder if they would do more peth at that time? I'm not sure of the exact procedure, but if you test positive, you are sent back to rehab for a "recovery reset" for 3-4 weeks and your monitoring is reset and have to start the 5 years over again. I'm not sure what happens if you test positive during the last year, maybe they just add on a few years vs the full 5? It's hard to ask anyone these questions - you guys are all I have.
We have to have all negative tests the last 2 years. We have to go to IOP for a relapse. I'm not taking anything I shouldn't. We have to test 5x a month year 1, 4x a month year 2 and 3x a month year 3. 3 meetings a week .
Yellowbird68
23 Posts
Just sharing my experience.... I did not have to do rehab at all, my contract is 2 years. (I have 23 days left) I was able to work after I took a substance abuse course that's a few hours, then I was able to work.