entering ipn

texasgirl77 · Mar 25, 2010

I'm so sorry to hear of your past experiences. Just one question. Did you ever seek professional counsel about the positive etg testing. I have heard of people that had to hire attorneys and expert witness physicians to testify on their behalf. The testing seems a little fishy to me.

imfree · Apr 13, 2010

Yes...really, you need to consult an attorney who specializes in dealing with licensing boards. If what you're saying is true and you were unjustly penalized for false positive UDS in your diversion program, something needs to be done! On the other hand, I totally understand just wanting to go with the flow and not buck the system. We are completely at their mercy when we're in these programs. But they are not really there for us. They are there to protect the public from us addicts/alcoholics, so it's understandable that they must err on the side of safety. You do have rights though and in your case it would probably be worth consulting an attorney. I know what you mean about just going a different route than clinical nursing practice. Unfortunately those jobs are few and far between. But I wish you luck in whatever you choose. Just keep in mind that your recovery must come in first place, above your nursing license and above your career.

Magsulfate, BSN, RN · Apr 13, 2010

If you are false testing positive this many times for etg, then an attorney and a doctor would be priority. Go to a doctor and get him/her to do the etg testing and find out why you keep testing positive. THen sue the person who invented the etg test. And you will never have to work again, ever! Seriously, it's time for a lawsuit or two if you've had to re enter rehab twice because of false positives, that is a lot of grief to go through.

gabby3 · Apr 13, 2010

I guess you haven't heard of the yahoo etg site. It is filled with mainly ca nurses who have tested positive for etg when not drinking. I paid for my own testng went to a dr to find out the problem jumped through the hoops and payed out 30,000 dollars in extra rehab, even thought I wasn't using.

There is other stories like mine. I have friends who have paid thousands of dollars, taking out money from there houses to pay for a attorney, it got them no where. Ca stand is they elevated the level for etg to test positive. I have friends who have gone 4 years in a program then tested positive for etg the last week of the program and they made them start over. There is a class action law suit regarding etg. I have written letters to every news, attorney and government agency. he bottom line is I am prone to testing positive and my sanity is more important , then eating only water and bread, worried about breathing in public over etg.

I would love to take part of a program I don't mind jumping through hoops believe me I have. I am worried about ipn testing the same way. so far what I have read is that ipn on randomly tested and I thought I heard of a nurse who was aloud to test a different way for etoh.

coco3299 · Apr 14, 2010

A. You need a Lawyer

B. There are several websites that indicate ETG cannot be used as a SOLE determinant in deciding if you were drinking. I read a newsletter a while back from the Alabama Physicians something that basically sent out a newsletter about this. I know its stressful but if you are not drinking something is going on and you need to stand strong and fight the powers that be. Nothing has been easy in the IPN I am sure, and this is just another obstacle.

C. Florida sux! They will take you through loops no other state will. I would do everything I can to stay in laid back Cali as opposed to down south, old school, Florida. I let that license go because of their rediculous demands-asking me to do psych evals and the whole nine yards all over again and I havent worked there in years!!! Never even renewed after my initial stent there!!! They are rediculous, but I think the housing market is crazy too, so I feel you situation. Try, try try is all I can say. Good Luck.

gabby3 · Apr 14, 2010

All of my problems are with the state of ca not fl. Ca is the state with the class ation law suit, that other nurses have paid large sums of money for top lawyers to deal with the attorney general for the board of nursing for ca. Ca is the only state that still has etg testing for each test.

Fl only has etg randomly and most of the nurses on the etg support group is from ca. Ca will not change the outcome for nurses in this situation The only thing that has changed is that they realize that humans will produce etg so they raised the levels of etg for testing, so they are saying that "we know that it is possible for people to have etg in there system without drinking"

Bottom line is I am addressing fl ipn program I heard once that nurse was allowed to use different testing then etg.

Lawyers don't change a thing for the requirements for probation/diversion program in ca. Every one gets the same contract, it is cookie cutter method. one nurse might of had a dui 4 years ago, another nurse diverted drugs from her work, they get the same contract.

IPN sounds a little different

Is there any nurses out there have entered into ipn in fl, because of a problems with other state license?

coco3299 · Apr 15, 2010

LOL, I find this info hard to believe about CALI. The facts are the facts and the evidence is evidence. How do you know that you won't encounter this problem in FL even if it is occasionally, you will inevitably be tested, then what. Find out why you keep testing positive and get a lawyer. Good Luck.

lifeistweet · Apr 15, 2010

I think Michigan doesn't use the etg anymore. I would definaltely look into why I was testing positive. I know there are certain conditions, ie; DM that cause false positives.

curiousrdh · May 24, 2011

Does anyone know if the North Carolina BON use etg testing in there monitoring programs?

diva rn, BSN, RN · May 25, 2011

all of my problems are with the state of ca not fl. ca is the state with the class ation law suit, that other nurses have paid large sums of money for top lawyers to deal with the attorney general for the board of nursing for ca. ca is the only state that still has etg testing for each test.
fl only has etg randomly and most of the nurses on the etg support group is from ca. ca will not change the outcome for nurses in this situation the only thing that has changed is that they realize that humans will produce etg so they raised the levels of etg for testing, so they are saying that "we know that it is possible for people to have etg in there system without drinking"
bottom line is i am addressing fl ipn program i heard once that nurse was allowed to use different testing then etg.
i don't think so---it uses a regular alcohol on each test-but an etg if it is ordered randomly..however..if you have ever been charged with a dui you will have an etg every month...even if that dui was 10 years ago...i have several friends in my peer support group in that situation.
lawyers don't change a thing for the requirements for probation/diversion program in ca. every one gets the same contract, it is cookie cutter method. one nurse might of had a dui 4 years ago, another nurse diverted drugs from her work, they get the same contract.
ipn sounds a little different--that depends..it can be on a case by case basis..most diversions are a 5 year contract ( see bottom of post for more details) while alcohol problems can be 2 years...it depends on what the addictionologist evaluation recommeds for treatment and the contract befoe you enter into the contract--that's all done upfront.
is there any nurses out there have entered into ipn in fl, because of a problems with other state license?

yep--read my post...ahem...

i am in the florida ipn and it uses etg to test for etoh..this is a very brief synopsis of my story..

my contract is for 5 years for a diversion that took place in another state (indiana) in 2000--that's right over 10 years ago.

i had been there on a 2 year travel contract and i returned to fl in 2002 because my father had died. i had not completed any program in that state (i had also had a hip replacement and couldn't work before i returned) and everything was uneventful until 2009. indiana bon had not contacted fl, and i had not notified them either ( i know now i should have) when i returned to fl in 2002--in 2009, i decided to make things right and flew to indiana and went before the bon to have my suspended license reinstated...well, at that time they acknowleged that they should have notified fl back in 2002--and they promptly notified them then...well, i beat them to it, and call the ipn practically when i got off the plane from indy-to self report..however, i still had to go before the fl bon and explain why i was not state hopping and how i had never been in trouble in fl...etc and all of the extenuating circumstances....etc..they changed my "self reporting status" of ipn to "board ordered" status which is no big deal, same contract, 5 years, random drug screens...alcohol is was not my drug of choice but i do get random etg calls at 5am on the morning that my color has been chosen and i am told to have an etg added..

the main points i am trying to make here are: fl's ipn does not play..

they use etg testing...

the boards of nursing are now all in networks now so it's likely they all interface and fl will know what cali knows

the contracts are usually 5 years for diversion, with a 1 year narcotics restriction, weekly peer group meetings and monthly uds are about the norm (case by case basis) after additionologist evaluation

your employer must fill out quarterly evaluations as does your ipn facilitator...

and that's the fl ipn in a nutshell

i am finishing my second lovely year.....actually it's really not too bad...once you get use to it, it's a lot of hoops to jump through, but it beats losing your license.

good luck

diva