FL IPN and completion requirements

[PrayerMighty]

Has anyone already completed FL IPN***

Hello, all.  I am nestling my review for completion date (50 days, but who’s counting, right***) and am trying to be prepared for what this entails.  I’ve been told I’ll be asked for a letter from my PCP, my support group facilitator and one from myself about why I think I’m ready and what I’ll do to maintain sobriety off of monitoring, so I’ll try to have those done before the review date.  I am trying to save in order to be financially prepared, though.  One nurse recently told me that she had $785 worth of testing (blood, hair, and the high-dollar urine test) the week after her review date and a week before she was received her completion letter.  She says she asked her CW why so many and she said it was “part of the completion process”.  I don’t remember people who got out before me (from my support group) having all of these so is this a new thing***  Or was her CW just saying that because she didn’t really have another answer for why***

Anyone already have the joyful experience of finally completing who can shed some light on this with your own circumstances, please***

[OhNoUhOhRN]

Hi Pixie. So at the end of your contract, like the week of or after, your case manager will usually reach out and let you know about the discharge process. You could reach out to your CM and follow up, but they won’t know until your case is reviewed by the CM and affinity. Just keep doing what you’re doing, avoid dilutes and be patient. 

[BonitaFLnurse]

Hi, I am potentially facing IPN very soon.  I'm a nurse in Florida. Would anyone be able to speak to me and answer some questions about what to expect?  I am not able to send direct messages to anyone.  Thank you

[JayflowersPN]

Hey, just wanted to know what I should look forward to with this IPN process. Tested positive for THC. for pre employment. 

[PrayerMighty, ADN, LPN, RN]

JayFlowersPN,

Unfortunately you have a long and expensive process going forward.  In Florida, IPN will do intake with you over the phone.  They'll get info related to what occurred and then give you information regarding what is next.  They will send you paperwork to sign and one of these states that you agree not to work as a nurse until such time as IPN gives you permission to do so.  You will be required to have an appt with an addictionologist.  They will give you a list of people with whom you can schedule.  This generally costs around $1000.  They will usually perform hair, blood, and urine testing with this appointment and you will speak with the doctor.  
After this appointment, it may take a week or so for IPN to contact you with next steps as they wait for direction from that physician.  You may be assigned to complete either outpatient or inpatient rehabilitation.  This depends on what the addictionologist recommends.  There is no option to appeal any decisions that have been made in IPN.

You will be given a list of their accepted providers for this treatment.  Once you have completed the rehab treatment, the people from that facility will send notice to IPN recommending your contract requirements.  IPN will contact you with this information.  Almost all contracts in the State of Florida are five years.  During those five years you will be required to check in either in the app or by phone every weekday.  Upon check in, it will tell you if you have been selected to test that day.  If you are selected, You must go to a facility sometime during the day and provide whatever specimen is ordered.  This is most often urine but could be blood, hair, or nail.  This will occur a minimum of two times a month and you will be required to pay for each test.  The cost depends on what had been ordered but that will be given within the app.  If you miss a test, they will suspend you from working until follow up is completed.  
 

You will also be required to attend one meeting a week with an IPN support group and are usually assigned to attend a number of AA or NA support groups per week.  You will have to log these meetings attended in the app.  Every three months you will need to have a report filled out and returned by your employer in which they answer questions about how you appear at work.  Prior to accepting any new job, you are required to tell the hiring agent about your IPN contract, that person must speak to your IPN caseworker, and they will be told the restrictions of your contract.  Most participants are not allowed to work overtime.  Some are not allowed to pass narcotics for a designated amount of time and another nurse would need to pass any of these meds for you but you would be able to pass any other meds yourself.  
 

Any other restrictions would be set in your specific contract.  If you have further questions regarding something I haven't mentioned, please feel free to ask.  

 

[JayflowersPN]

Thank you for responding. And the 5 years isn't based on if it's alcohol or marijuana? It's automatic 5 years in florida? 

How long will I have to look forward to not working? And what jobs can I work? 

[JayflowersPN]

And can I not do any work outside of nursing? Like customer service? 

[JayflowersPN]

If you don't mind, you can email me at [email protected]

[PrayerMighty, ADN, LPN, RN]

I copied and pasted your email address into an email to you and it was just returned undeliverable.

You can work outside of nursing.  Any job that doesn't require your nursing license.  I've only ever met one person who had a two year contract in recent years.  Everyone else, drugs, alcohol, psych, have all been five years.  They used to be two years in FL but maybe ten or so years ago they decided that (supposedly) statistically people relapse less after five years in than two.  

I can't tell you how long you'd be out of work.  Depends on what they decide for rehab.  Many people do ninety days inpatient.  I've known a few to do what's called "IOP" and it's an outpatient format but you still have to go daily for awhile.  
 

Completing IPN is doable but 100% not easy at all.  If you decide you're staying in nursing, you'll have to be really committed to staying in because they do not make it easy.  It's costly and time consuming.  I'm not trying to be a Debbie Downer but it's just hard, especially the first year.  At three years in you get a transitional contract that removes some restrictions and makes it a little bit easier to finish out.  Best of luck with your journey.

[Nursekloe]

If you tested positive you will definitely have to do atleast 5 years and will have a diagnosis. It's a crappy process and expensive. I was out a year just because of finances. They don't care if you don't have the money, you will be refrained from working and have to start over.  I'm rob Thank goodness. After you get into the process and actually start IPN and sign contract it's not bad you get a routine going. I only had to do two years. I tested negative for everything. But was reported to BON. If I had tested positive for something that could have been 5 years for sure. 

[JayflowersPN]

JayflowersPN said:

Can I work with my medical assistant diploma in the meantime ? 

[Nursekloe]

My understanding is, anything that has to do with patient care you will have to go through IPN. If you decide to move foreward with it. You can do customer service.. grocery store .. stuff like that but basically any thing medical would need to go through IPN while you are in a contract with them until you complete the IPN program. 

[Nursekloe]

Is there a format that your boss has to write for the exit letter? Just trying to get everything together!