Does being an R.N. mean we cannot be human?

chadprepton, ADN · Jul 25, 2018

There is a big difference between tpapn and discipline. Discipline stays with you forever, you can lose your license or have it revoked. Tpapn is just monitoring. If you do what you need to do, you can pass the program with nothing on your record. Thats a great deal and I wish I had stayed on it! The nurses that post here about being drunk on the job is not normal. They have a problem like me with drugs. Some people can handle drinking and not have problems, I'm not one of those people. No one is thrown into the program based on someone "acting funny" a drug test would clear that nurse. Plus why are you worried about that? You're already in tpapn...I wouldn't worry about what your psychiatrist says about getting a job. You will find one.

heron, ASN, RN · Jul 25, 2018

Hard to say how appropriate monitoring is in the OP's case. It's not unheard of for employers or nursing boards to require disclosure of prescribed meds or psych treatment. If the OP is managing her issues effectively and was reported based just on the fact that she is in treatment, then that's a huge problem, IMHO.

On the other hand, we have also seen more than one thread in which sub-par performance was explained as the result of crippling anxiety or adverse life events precipitated by the effects of major depression. The key is whether the nurse's work is being adversely affected by her psych diagnoses. The point of the diversion programs is to address the individual's issues before harm occurs ( (or too much harm, anyway).

allnurses Guide · Jul 26, 2018

You know the more I read these posts, the more I believe that being an R.N. means we are being judged for simply being human beings, and it is really upsetting! I was lucky in that I am on the Mental Health track of tpapn. So is having anxiety and MDD something that an R.N. cannot have? I read these posts about people drinking while off and I think, "so is no nurse suppose to ever drink". I understand that if the drinking goes beyond a rare social occassion, if the drinking is a problem. But honestly, it seems that another R.N. just has to hypothesize that another is "acting different" while on shift, and even without evidence we are thrown in the program! My god this is frightening!
After I told my psychiatrist that I was in tpapn she told me it would be hard for me to find a position. The next visit with her, she told me that she felt I did not need to be in tpapn and that she had other patients in it for ridiculous reasons. She told me that nurses are being disciplined for being human, for having disabilities. So where is our justice!? The more I read the stories, the more angry I get! How do we make changes?? How do we get to become human?!!!

To answer your question - Of course Nurses are allowed to be human. However all humans are vulnerable to inherent human weaknesses and their consequences. It is when our humanity gets in the way of patient safety that the gears of monitoring and discipline kick in.

I act a peer counselor for nurses in the programs in my small corner of the world and can tell you I have never seen a nurse land in monitoring simply because they were reported as acting funny! A report would have been followed by a request for drug test or breathalyzer, or a psychiatric consult to prove said claims. There is a big difference between say responsible drinking and drinking to access that results in arrests for drunk driving. Or taking legally prescribed medications for pain or anxiety and diverting from the hospital. The same is true for some people with mental illness who are not taking steps to be stable and whole. These three are examples of situations that "Might" place patient safety at risk.

On the other hand there are nurses in monitoring who may have had a DUI years before they became a nurse, therefore never had a chance to practice impaired. Or people with well managed mental illness who somehow come to the attention of officialdom and end up in monitoring.

The fact is untreated or denial of disordered behavior be it addiction or mental illness will get you caught in the web.

The programs as they now stand are draconian and unfair to most of the nurses in them. The corrupt recovery industry is making millions if not billions off people who are just trying to get well and move on with their lives. The culture of catty-ness in our industry helps fuel this flame. Nothing will change until nurses bond together and demand change, not because we want to hide from our consequences/responsibilities but so we are not afraid to seek out help that really helps. I have been trying for a couple of years to get one of our local legislators to look at the problem but that takes time a money and I have a whole other life to live as well. There will be more to come as things develop and I need people to step in and help.

Hppy

mom35 · Jul 26, 2018

I appreciate these responses! I am thankful to only be monitored and not disciplined. I am grateful that I was placed in the mental health track for a year, minimum. I am very thankful for my advocate too!!! My advocate really has assisted me in navigating through the program!

FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN · Jul 27, 2018

Hard to say how appropriate monitoring is in the OP's case. It's not unheard of for employers or nursing boards to require disclosure of prescribed meds or psych treatment. If the OP is managing her issues effectively and was reported based just on the fact that she is in treatment, then that's a huge problem, IMHO.
On the other hand, we have also seen more than one thread in which sub-par performance was explained as the result of crippling anxiety or adverse life events precipitated by the effects of major depression. The key is whether the nurse's work is being adversely affected by her psych diagnoses. The point of the diversion programs is to address the individual's issues before harm occurs ( (or too much harm, anyway).

I think either way, it's unacceptable discrimination to put a nurse in a monitoring program for depression or anxiety.

Any illness will cause a decrease in performance. That's not a reason for monitoring.

We don't monitor people for broken ankles and such. We jusy give them support while they recover.

heron, ASN, RN · Jul 27, 2018

I think either way, it's unacceptable discrimination to put a nurse in a monitoring program for depression or anxiety.
Any illness will cause a decrease in performance. That's not a reason for monitoring.
We don't monitor people for broken ankles and such. We jusy give them support while they recover.

I'm not talking about a decrease in performance, I'm talking about unsafe performance.

Orion81RN · Aug 5, 2018

I have to completely agree that it seems we are not allowed to be human. I told my story under the title "They Tried To Lock Me Up." They could have very easily put me in a monitoring program for seeking help to taper off Xanax. A med I NEVER took at work or right before work. But because I am physically addicted (of course I am, my doctor had me on it for 11 years and now I have gaba receptor down-regulation) I could easily be in a monitoring program. It's b.s.

SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN · Aug 12, 2018

We are not allowed to be human. In my experience some nurses will go to any length to get another nurse punished and then delight with their like minded pack of wolves in the misery and drama. So long as this is the case we will stay easy prey for the institutions we work for and this is reflected in the working conditions and some pay that nurses get. As a profession we don't protect one another.

I think if somebody is going to be placed in a discipline or monitoring program there should be actual evidence that they were impaired at work. A DUI on an off night, a random joint smoked or an old pain pill taken for a back ache then failing a pee test is no proof of impairment at work. If you came to work drunk or high or diverted meds well then you probably need some sort of monitoring (not this profit-driven BS that exists but actual treatment) for a period of time (not 3-5 years felons get less probation time).

The simple truth is that nurses are human and a percentage will have substance abuse, mental health and other issues. They shouldn't be punished for that. I would never, ever advise a nurse to seek help from their EAP or self-report to the BON because they will wind up in a "program" that very often does much more harm than good.

These things are disgraceful, punitive and much worse yet a mirror of how we judge and treat each other

FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN · Aug 12, 2018

I'm not talking about a decrease in performance, I'm talking about unsafe performance.

Originally, you used the word "subpar". The concept of safety is important, but still not relevant to the point of whether or not a nurse should be placed in a monitoring program for anxiety or depression. There are many factors which play into safety, but they are not all reasons for a nurse to be placed in a monitoring program. A nurse who has hurt her back is going to be less safe for herself and her patient during transfers. Not a reason for a monitoring program though right? Of course it isn't. What is there to monitor? It's a reason for extra support. Anxiety and depression are in the same category.

catsmeow1972, BSN, RN · Aug 13, 2018

Not a reason for a monitoring program though right? Of course it isn't. What is there to monitor? It's a reason for extra support. Anxiety and depression are in the same category.

And if the monitoring programs were truly the 'extra support' that some of them claim to be, it would be one thing. However what we have is the 'profit driven BS' that Spanked speaks of.

We have cookie cutter nonsense that lumps anxiety, depression and mental health in with those with alcohol and substance issues. They ignore the fact that it's conceivable that if one (the mental health) were properly treated, the substance issues would not exist. They ignore the fact that any kind of anxiety/depression etc. might be situational. They ignore the fact that if a person simply made a dumb decision while not functioning as a nurse, that they must somehow be 'impaired' as a nurse.

Frankly, they ignore an awful lot and make an awful lot of assumptions.