Florida IPN question

RickG85 · Jun 25, 2017

I self reported too after being confronted by my employer. If your employer is allowing you to self report then do it, now. The only time consulting an attorney helps is when you did NOT divert, but in the end the employer usually has sufficient evidence to fight that claim so it's pointless anyways. Since you already stated your diversion then really the only option is to self report. It makes things easier.

I don't know about Florida but I can tell you how it went here in Oklahoma for me:

Employer confronts me, I break down and confess. They evidence is overwhelming with or without a UDS. I self report that day and within a week I apply and join the peer program. Self reporting, at least here anyways, allows you to voluntarily enter the program. Since it's not board ordered then there's no mark on your license and it is CONFIDENTIAL. With there being no mark it allows you to successfully complete the program and go on like it never happened. They'll want you to get some type on evaluation done by an addictionist, or whatever they're called. They'll make a recommendation on counseling, inpatient treatment, yadda yadda. Usually if it's your first time doing this you just get told to do counseling. Anyways, I'm getting off track here.

You have the right to consult with an attorney but at this point it would be useless. Self report and get this going ASAP. You'll be out of work for about 3 months. The program isn't so bad once you get through the bulk of it at the beginning/narc restrictions

MFTinRN · Jun 25, 2017

Ok, that helps very, very much!! Thank you so much for sharing! That's basically what happened is I just completely broke down and was honest with them. I will definitely be self reporting first thing in the morning, this is a HUGE wake up call and I am beyond lucky to have a chance at making this right while retaining my job.

Some of the posts I have read talk about how intense the program is and how it can be up to 5 years but they both told me they have never seen that happen in a situation like mine. They said that would be a possibility if my situation escalated, but that I was fortunate in that hadn't reached that point yet.

Did you have to do a hair test? It looks like from peoples posts that is common, and extremely expensive. Some posts say they paid $1000 for a hair test.

dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN · Jun 25, 2017

My employer did this but I did have to reapply as an internal candidate to jobs that met my practice stipulations. So you might want to brush up your resume.

I wouldn't trust what HR is telling you about the program. My HR was just as kind hearted but also clueless. (She thought I might get monitored "for six months" because that is what she had seen before. Lol. My state doesn't monitor anyone for just six months.)

RickG85 · Jun 25, 2017

I think the 5 years is reserved for worst case scenario. Say someone who has been in the program already, relapsed, criminal record, major personal issues (divorce, etc). I don't know your situation, but the people who usually end up getting out the first chance they get are the ones you are first time offenders who do everything they're supposed to. Never miss a meeting, drug screen, check in, NSG, etc. Just lay low and do what you're supposed to. When you meet with your case manager/committee just remember they're not your friends no matter how nice they seem. Say the bare minimum, smile, yes ma'am, no ma'am, etc. Don't screw up, stay employed, all that good stuff. I'm 8 months in and getting my narc privileges back next week and in 2 months I'll be down to one UDS a month. The program sucks balls at first but once you get the hang of it then it's not so bad. It's a wake up call yes but they ******* have you by the balls and tits. Anyways, it's not as scary as it seems. Everyone gets a second chance. Just don't blow it lol

MFTinRN · Jun 26, 2017

I think the 5 years is reserved for worst case scenario. Say someone who has been in the program already, relapsed, criminal record, major personal issues (divorce, etc). I don't know your situation, but the people who usually end up getting out the first chance they get are the ones you are first time offenders who do everything they're supposed to. Never miss a meeting, drug screen, check in, NSG, etc. Just lay low and do what you're supposed to. When you meet with your case manager/committee just remember they're not your friends no matter how nice they seem. Say the bare minimum, smile, yes ma'am, no ma'am, etc. Don't screw up, stay employed, all that good stuff. I'm 8 months in and getting my narc privileges back next week and in 2 months I'll be down to one UDS a month. The program sucks balls at first but once you get the hang of it then it's not so bad. It's a wake up call yes but they ******* have you by the balls and tits. Anyways, it's not as scary as it seems. Everyone gets a second chance. Just don't blow it lol

Thank you! I kind of felt like 5 years would be for more extreme circumstances. I know someone who actually served 2 years in federal prison for drug trafficking charges and she was allowed to return to work under the 5 year program. I did divert and I did admit to them I did, but a total of 4 doses of a PO med, nothing more than that. This is the first time this has happened to me, I have never been arrested, I haven't been in trouble at work. I made the stupidest mistake of my life and got caught, which I actually feel is a good thing because I have made poor choices in the past outside of work that could so easily carry over into work.

How bad is the evaluation? Like, the questions and your answers determine their recommendations for treatment I imagine. I do have a significant hx of depression so I am hoping that doesnt effect my outcome and cause me to have to be out of work longer.

That's excellent that you are so close to having narc priviledges back!! It's nice to know the process can work for you and that gives me hope.

RickG85 · Jun 26, 2017

Thank you! I kind of felt like 5 years would be for more extreme circumstances. I know someone who actually served 2 years in federal prison for drug trafficking charges and she was allowed to return to work under the 5 year program. I did divert and I did admit to them I did, but a total of 4 doses of a PO med, nothing more than that. This is the first time this has happened to me, I have never been arrested, I haven't been in trouble at work. I made the stupidest mistake of my life and got caught, which I actually feel is a good thing because I have made poor choices in the past outside of work that could so easily carry over into work.
How bad is the evaluation? Like, the questions and your answers determine their recommendations for treatment I imagine. I do have a significant hx of depression so I am hoping that doesnt effect my outcome and cause me to have to be out of work longer.
That's excellent that you are so close to having narc priviledges back!! It's nice to know the process can work for you and that gives me hope.

The evaluation isn't that bad. The main problem is a lot of them will recommend some type of inpatient treatment that is affiliated with them. It's complete ****. I'm not saying lie, but don't spin your life as some horrible soap opera. Don't confess the horrible things that happened to you as a child, certainly don't tell them anything that would lead them to believe you are a chronic substance abuser or anyone in your family is. The questions are a lot of personal history along with family history of drugs. Then a long questionnaire with questions I can't really remember. It's nothing too crazy. The cheapest I've seen the eval offered for was $600. I'd recommend shopping around first and talking to the evaluate to get a feel for it. A lot of the ones affiliated with any office or company will usually **** you somehow. I was fortunate, the eval I got was only $600 and done by someone who was basically independent. My recommendation was 6 weeks counseling and to attend AA. Paid $600 for that ****, ******* *******s.

Anyways, like I've said before, I don't know your history too well. A lot of people believe this program saved their life and blahblah. Maybe that's true, but that doesn't mean you need to bend over backwards for these pieces of useless ****.

So, TLDR: when you meet with whoever you meet with, be genuine and spin your story/problem/answers in a way that is somewhat favorable. They don't need to know if you've been popping norcos since you were 12 because your step dad abused you and your mom was a drunk. That's just an example, not my own story. Hope this helps

MFTinRN · Jun 26, 2017

My employer did this but I did have to reapply as an internal candidate to jobs that met my practice stipulations. So you might want to brush up your resume.
I wouldn't trust what HR is telling you about the program. My HR was just as kind hearted but also clueless. (She thought I might get monitored "for six months" because that is what she had seen before. Lol. My state doesn't monitor anyone for just six months.)

Thank you for responding. Were you hired back in to your hospital system under the stipulations they set? HR told me there would be options like having a co-signer for all narcotics administration or not having narc privileges at all until completing the program.

I just know I can't afford to be out of work, and to pay for tons of evaluations and tests and I have no one to blame but myself. I'm so frustrated with myself for doing something so stupid :-/

MFTinRN · Jun 26, 2017

The evaluation isn't that bad. The main problem is a lot of them will recommend some type of inpatient treatment that is affiliated with them. It's complete ****. I'm not saying lie, but don't spin your life as some horrible soap opera. Don't confess the horrible things that happened to you as a child, certainly don't tell them anything that would lead them to believe you are a chronic substance abuser or anyone in your family is. The questions are a lot of personal history along with family history of drugs. Then a long questionnaire with questions I can't really remember. It's nothing too crazy. The cheapest I've seen the eval offered for was $600. I'd recommend shopping around first and talking to the evaluate to get a feel for it. A lot of the ones affiliated with any office or company will usually **** you somehow. I was fortunate, the eval I got was only $600 and done by someone who was basically independent. My recommendation was 6 weeks counseling and to attend AA. Paid $600 for that ****, ******* *******s.
Anyways, like I've said before, I don't know your history too well. A lot of people believe this program saved their life and blahblah. Maybe that's true, but that doesn't mean you need to bend over backwards for these pieces of useless ****.
So, TLDR: when you meet with whoever you meet with, be genuine and spin your story/problem/answers in a way that is somewhat favorable. They don't need to know if you've been popping norcos since you were 12 because your step dad abused you and your mom was a drunk. That's just an example, not my own story. Hope this helps

That helps a lot, thanks! That is exactly the kind of thing I was wondering about so I am better prepared to answer questions without getting myself recommended for some 12 week in patient program that will cost some obscene amount I can't afford. I feel a lot better now about what go expect, thank you!

catsmeow1972, BSN, RN · Jun 26, 2017

Once you self-report, you will get a letter with 3-4 choices as to where to go for the initial evaluation. it seems that some of the most common ones they use (Gainesville, tampa, etc.) are also treatment facilities. I cannot say it loud enough. Stay away, far away from any place that also offers treatment. Those people stand to make money off of what they recommend and a lot of times the ethics are questionable. Also if those kind of outfits even take insurance, it's unlikely to be covered by most policies. Also you are not limited to just what they put on that letter. You can find your own evaluator. Just be sure that they know this is for IPN. If they know what IPN is than they are either approved to do this or can refer you to someone who is. You can call larger psychiatry groups for a referral or look up addiction medicine docs in your area. you just have to tell IPN who you are seeing. IPN is not your friend and regardless of what they come across as, they could not careless what got you in their clutches or about your recovery. At least to me, it all seems to be about money and power.

As others have said, basically verbal diarrhea will only hurt you. Answer the questions as succinctly as you can. Of course, don't lie, but don't offer any extra information.

not to be a buzzkill, but it seems that in cases regarding diversion, it's an automatic 5 years with key restriction and a bunch of other crap that or may not be useful. i won't say it gets easier, but you do get used to it. I've been at it for about 3-4 years now all told (i got roped into the 12 week sleazy rehab garbage, even though my issue is mental health) if i only knew.....

My suggestion, whether you wind up in some kind of rehab or whatnot, do you. Play their little games and follow all their ridiculous rules. Whatever you need to get through this, be it 12-step stuff, counseling, med management do it. This is about you healing as a person. That you are a nurse is a side thing right now.

I wish you well and please keep us posted. As you may have seen, you will find a lot of support here and minimal to no judgement.

dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN · Jun 26, 2017

Thank you for responding. Were you hired back in to your hospital system under the stipulations they set? HR told me there would be options like having a co-signer for all narcotics administration or not having narc privileges at all until completing the program.
I just know I can't afford to be out of work, and to pay for tons of evaluations and tests and I have no one to blame but myself. I'm so frustrated with myself for doing something so stupid :-/

Yeah. The no narcs for six months was my biggest hurdle but my state's restrictions aren't as bad as others. My hospital didn't really have a way for me to be on an inpatient unit with that restriction. I was placed on FMLA and received short term disability because I ended up needing a lot of treatment before I was cleared to work. I started applying to clinic jobs, inpatient dialysis, case management, and QA positions -- basically anything that wasn't bedside nursing. I still had to apply and interview but was given a tentative verbal list of managers/departments that were okay with monitored nurses by HR.

Once I was cleared to work, I was back to work in like six weeks? I did three interviews with different departments. Def look into getting short term disability if you won't be able to work for a while...

MFTinRN · Jun 30, 2017

Yeah. The no narcs for six months was my biggest hurdle but my state's restrictions aren't as bad as others. My hospital didn't really have a way for me to be on an inpatient unit with that restriction. I was placed on FMLA and received short term disability because I ended up needing a lot of treatment before I was cleared to work. I started applying to clinic jobs, inpatient dialysis, case management, and QA positions -- basically anything that wasn't bedside nursing. I still had to apply and interview but was given a tentative verbal list of managers/departments that were okay with monitored nurses by HR.
Once I was cleared to work, I was back to work in like six weeks? I did three interviews with different departments. Def look into getting short term disability if you won't be able to work for a while...

I opened a short term disability case today, but I am so confused on what to tell them. Ultimately it is an old back injury that caused me to use, but I'm on an LOA for a "medical problem" aka drug use. Do that cover substance abuse for short term disability, or I guess a better question is how did you go about your claim? A case manager will call me to get into the details so I want to make sure I don't cost myself short term disability by not being transparent, but I'm afraid they won't feel as though that's a deserving reason to need it, if that makes sense.