Florida IPN practice restrictions

catsmeow1972, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2019

There was a time when IPN seemed to slam everyone with the same contract (5 years + many of the stips you stated above) regardless of your “sin.” Diversion was treated the same as a single pre-nursing DUI.

Having been around as long as I have, I have noticed that there are cracks in that. I am seeing people with 2 years contracts for some things. That being said, my take on it is that you will have to be “evaluated” (be prepared to fork over some $$$) by someone of thier choice, and they supposedly write the contract based on that. The tick will be if the evaluator has the ethics of a rock or not. Some of the primary providers they have used (I don’t know if they are using more or different ones) seem to be more interested in filling beds at thier rehab ( cha-ching$$) than in actually being accurate. My personal experience, sadly was of that unethical, and frankly very damaging emotionally, mentally and financially, variety.

Wether they will recognize the year you have under your belt already or not, I don’t know.

If it’s any help, I don’t think I’ve seen restrictions on working ED or ICU, but I suppose it’s possible.

As far as finding a job. One of your probable requirements will be a weekly nurse support group. Depending on your group, some are very helpful in job leads, some are merely to be endured. I have been in 4 different ones due to moving (for jobs, or lack thereof) and the most recent one (been in this one for over 2 years) has been very useful in a lot of ways.

I had a lot of issues finding a job because I specialize in an area that seems to rarely hire folks like us. I think if you do bedside/floor nursing and don’t have things like a key restriction, you should be okay.

Once you get into this though, my recommendation is to just endure it, do thier bidding and have as little contact as possible. I can assure you that they are not there to help you. Frankly, I don’t think they care one bit, so long as you keep handing over the money.

Also, keep copious records and be ready to stand up for yourself. This is a rather draconian program and the way they interpret thier own rules seems to be rather loose.

i hope I have helped.

Persephone Paige, ADN · Mar 5, 2019

Yes, it's possible. In my group, our Marijuana people didn't get a narc restriction. IPN USED to have the night shift restriction, but participants were having such a hard time finding jobs that they stopped that one.

In your case, if they apply same restrictions as other weed ppl I know, I see no treatment center jobs (working with ppl in recovery until you have 2 years clean), no home health (or anything where you would not be supervised), no floating (for same reasons ) and nothing over 84 hours in a pay period.

Some of those restrictions will loosened the longer you are in IPN. The 3 yrs mark brings some loosening of the restrictions, IF you have been employed through that period. If you are like me, I only just got a job 3+ years in, I will never see a loosening of those restrictions until I MATRICULATE. Haa Haa Haa, I like that word.

Quickstepper, MSN, RN · Mar 5, 2019

This is all so helpful! It sounds like it will be similar to what I'm used to already. I have already done 30 days inpatient treatment, 2 months of IOP and a year of aftercare, in addition to a year now of random drug screening. My addictionologist eval here said I was approved to return to practice without restrictions. This was the same one I used for the Florida board when I applied for my license, so maybe they will take it. When you are required to get another evaluation, do they give you a list of providers to chose from or do they just assign you one? Also, are employers in Florida fairly open to hiring nurses in IPN? Where I am now, I might as well have the plaugue... employers shut the door in your face as soon as you mention it. I've been a nurse for over 20 years and this experience has ruined my self confidence. I have no idea now how to go about approaching an employer, as there is no help or guidance from the board here. I hope someone can tell me how they did it and were successful in finding a job.

Thank you all again for your input. It means so much to me.

Persephone Paige, ADN · Mar 5, 2019

They are more IPN friendly if you've already worked off your narcotics restriction. It's amazing to me that most places don't want to deal with it, but they'll hire you after it's behind you. So, who will deal with it? Idk, not us, come back when it's over.

Ipnsux, RN · Mar 26, 2019

IPN will give you a list of 3 IPN approved evaluators. Most have financial incentive to suggest as much monitoring as possible, especially if they own an outpatient rehab..

That being said do your research on the evaluators.

I worked with a doctor who did IPN evaluations, and he said they were horrible to work for. That IPN tracks a % of those that each evaluator does NOT recommend montioring. If that number gets too high, they will pull their ability to do evaluations for them.

Even the doctor said IPN was just out for money. They would complain he didn't order enough labs, etc. Or they would take his evaluations and add more stipulations to the nurses "sentence". He eventually stopped doing them because of all the harassment from IPN.

The list of providers is a secret, they will not give it out to anyone-- even the BON! They have to call IPN and IPN will simply say if they are approved or not.