GA BON

Nurses Recovery

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Specializes in Nurse.

Hello all! I am new to this forum, so far it has been my only source of sanity. I cry pretty much all day, every day. I have been at the same hospital for 23 yrs & was recently terminated for diversion. I was scared & refused a drug test & I did not self report. I initially thought I would just give up & find something else to do after I heard about the 5 year deal. I'm very social & just can't wrap my head around not being able to go on vacation, cruises, all inclusive trips which I do 1-2x/yr & not drink. And now I'm reading hairspray will even make you test positive for alcohol!! Also, I reached out to the last 3 nurses in my unit that were fired for diversion & they either got their license revoked or did what they needed to initially & then let it lapse r/t the financial strain & stress of the program so I was very discouraged. I waited about a month before I changed my mind & went to a PHP

(M-F/8-2) & AA/NA meetings on top of that for at least 3 weeks, maybe more depending on what the Dr. recommends I guess? I haven't actually started, I'm waiting on my Cobra ins to go through but I did my initial assmt last Wed. I had to sign something agreeing to no alcohol or even my lunesta between then & when I start or I wouldn't be eligible for the program so I haven't been sleeping at all, hopefully I will start this Tues. I received a letter from the BON stating a compliant had been filed & the allegations, requesting a sworn statement concerning the allegations to be notorized & a medical/treatment info release authorization for medical records which I have not submitted yet b/c I wasn't in treatment when I received it. But I have missed the deadline of when it was all due 9/23, I also spoke with an attorney & he advised me not to sign anything. I did admit to the diversion, which was opiates over a period of about 4-6 mo so I'm not sure if getting an attorney is even worth it? I may have waited too late now. It's been 7 weeks since I've worked (5 since I was terminated, I had 2 wks off prior to my termination) & I'm fine w/o narcotics. It was a stupid lapse in judgment with personal reasons that looking back, were so insignificant compared to how I've ruined my life now. I've had to put my house & car up for sale preparing for what's to come & have already pulled money out of my retirement & it's just the beginning. I'm just not sure if it's all worth it. Any advice in general & on how the GA BON/process works would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

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You can go on vacation but no alcohol and you can use hairspray.  The tests are specific for ethanol which is in a lot of food. Probably no Lunesta, but maybe.  My advice is skip the monitoring agreement if you can see yourself in another career.  If you want to do the monitoring, it sucks but it's doable. I'm not in Georgia so I don't know the specific details.  For 5 years your life will be rough but you get your life back after this is over.  Don't miss a single step or you will do more time. 

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Specializes in Nurse.

Healer555 thank you!! I have no clue what else I would even want to do, I love nursing! I really appreciate your input. I knew I was taking a huge risk diverting. If I knew the consequences would be this bad I would like to think I would've made better choices 😞 

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Hey there! 

I'm not from Georgia but I just wanted to send you love and positive thoughts during this difficult time.  I went through a 5 year program for different reasons (turned into 7 because of financial issues and a slip up) and all I can say is keep your head up surround yourself with supportive people.   You got this!! 

But as for the hairspray you're fine! I still used the same beauty products and no issue.

Don't let them instill fear into you!  only thing I'd be watch are certain pasta dishes that have wine

Best of luck to you!! 

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Specializes in Nurse.

Bugsandlola22, thank you so much for your encouragement!! I really appreciate it!! 7 yrs is most certainly something to be proud of!! 

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Smit5292 said:

Healer555 thank you!! I have no clue what else I would even want to do, I love nursing! I really appreciate your input. I knew I was taking a huge risk diverting. If I knew the consequences would be this bad I would like to think I would've made better choices 😞 

OK. Then your choice is made.  Make a promise to yourself that you will comply 100% so you can be done and get your life back. Don't try to get away with even a sip of alcohol.  People get monitoring agreements for stupid things. This could have happened even without diversion.  Make a plan to check in every day to see if you need to drug test. Either skip the vacation or skip alcohol on vacation.  Don't do anything to add time. They are brutal with punishment. Just comply with everything.  Come here to vent if you need. 

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I'm in the GNAPAP program here in GA, and it's not nearly as bad as you hear. My consent order was harder than the program is. I started the program the next day after my self report, so my time started the day I signed up, not when they finally finalized the consent order. 

They even allow my schedule 4 provigil and nausea meds (I've been on them 10+ years). You can message me if you have any questions. 

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Specializes in Nurse.

PaddedCellLPN thank you so much!! I didn't know anything about the GNAPAP. I guess I should contact them tomorrow, I'm assuming that's something I do myself? I have been in touch with the counselor who runs the "After Care" program for the 5 years after I'm finished with PHP/IOP. I'm still not quite sure how it all works. I haven't received a consent order yet, from what I've heard that may take a while? I'll message you as soon as I'm allowed. I have to make 15 posts 1st. I may have messed up not self reporting & waiting a month to start treatment but I'll guess I'll find out whenever I meet with the board. Either way, I needed help & am grateful that I might have a 2nd chance. I really appreciate your input!! 

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Georgia Nurses Association Peer Assistance Program (GNA-PAP)

Quote

In collaboration with the Georgia Board of Nursing and the Georgia Nurses Association (“GNA”), is to ensure the safe practice and maintenance of nursing standards while simultaneously supporting nurses with substance use disorders through supportive assistance of nursing peer

How Does GNA-PAP Work in Georgia?

For over 40 years, concerned nurses have volunteered their time to help other nurses with substance use disorders.

Volunteer nurses and certified addiction counselors lead weekly peer-support groups GNA-PAP   Case managers ensure compliance with mandatory quarterly reporting requirements, monitor random drug screens. Most importantly GNA-PAP offers hope, guidance, and compassion to nurses who are in recovery and are deemed safe to practice by the Georgia Board of Nursing.

Info - Participant package

 

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Specializes in Nurse.

NRSKarenRN thank you!! I looked it up as soon as I heard about them from the previous post & will call in the a.m. Maybe if I would've self reported the program would've been relayed that way, IDK. I really appreciate your info!! Especially the "participant package" link. I didn't see that on their website.

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Specializes in Home Health/Hospice, Public Health, Case Mgmt.

Like others have said, the programs sound a lot worse than they actually are. After awhile, you become used to the routine and it does go by fast. I didn't do a diversion program (it was offered to me, but I declined it because I erroneously believed that since no charges were going to be filed and my incident had nothing to do with nursing, that the board would not be able to do anything to my license. I was arrested for domestic violence when my husband and I got into a fight (after a long night of drinking) and he threatened to call my mom and was saying messed up stuff to provoke me, so I tried to get the phone from him and he was accidentally scratched (we both didn't realize he was scratched). He called the police to try and get them to make me leave, but when they arrived and saw the scratch, they arrested me 🙄. Long story short, the arrest was bogus and didn't even get sent to the DA. However, since I had been drinking the night before and admitted to the police that I had struggled previously with alcohol (because of a lot of tragedy/trauma I experienced in college), the board placed my license on probation for 3 years. I was able to get early termination of probation at 2 years old 4 months, thankfully. Like someone above mentioned, the board seems to have a one size fits all approach. The beginning of being in monitoring is overwhelming but it does get better. I found friends on this forum that were all from my state and we were all kind of going through the process at the same time so it was helpful to have peer support. I highly recommend reaching out to folks on here for guidance/ support. You WILL get through this. ❤️

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It's a good program, I only knew who to call because another nurse told me. Usually in GA, it's 3 or 5 years of proven sobriety, not from the date of the consent order. 

They also should give you a list of addictionologists, who will work with you during the program. 

It's ruff, but it honestly isn't that bad when you get your stuff from the consent order finished. Communication is the key. I was out of work for 2 months just a few months ago (long story, nothing that was my fault, I was laid off), and they have worked with me on payments, etc. My BON contact has also been super helpful whenever I have any questions. You will get your footing down, I promise. Take a deep breath, it's not the end of your career. I know I panicked the first 6 months... it's going to be OK. It's not forever. 

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