Chemical Dependency Evaluation

mstigerlily · Nov 1, 2005

Anon, that is horrible. I don't have any information on how to deal with the BON or the evaluation process but I imagine that if you are drugfree you don't have to worry. Explain things to your attorney (and perhaps the BON in a statement) exactly hwo you have explained things here and I hope that would make the situation clearer.

Good luck!

I was just wanting to know what all the evaluation entails. So, if someone has been ordered by the board of nursing to have done one of these, could you please tell me all that is involved. I didn't know if I just had to pee in a cup, or if I get a full body check or work up. I'm fine with the pee thing, it's a man doing the eval and didn't know if I was going to have to undress. Any info about this would be greatly appreciated. I'm having it done because of not wasting narcs, a common unit practice and I'm paying the price, no one else. I have a nurse attorney, but I am guilty of pitching them in the sharps container, so I don't see how I will get out of it. She says if we can prove it to be common unit practice I have a chance. I still see it from their perspective and know I'm going down for this one. I work in labor and delivery and we staffed by mandation a lot. So you can imagine there's not but a couple of us working a shift. Not always available to waste. Occasionally we are sent to work a unit and you're there by yourself. Any helpful input on this if you have knowledge on situations like this with the board of nursing. Please don't bash me as I have done that enough already myself and now am in a deep depression. I am having trouble even taking care of my little boy because of the depression. I am on an antidepressant now, but it hasn't kicked in yet. All I can think about is my case and can't sleep at night. I'm so miserable any info would be greatly appreciated.

gr8rnpjt, RN · Nov 1, 2005

I was just wanting to know what all the evaluation entails.
Anonfornow, so sorry to hear about your troubles. My daughter had to go to a rehab facility for a chemical dependency evaluation after she was caught taking xanax at school (not prescribed). Besides the pee test, she had to have an evaluation done by an intake person for the facility, it included a kind of history of any other behavior including drinking, etc. I am not sure if you will have to go through all that but I wanted to prepare you, in case this was the case for you.
Don't be too hard on yourself. I know it is hard and I am currently going through my own personal he** so I know how you feel. But remember that your child needs you now even if you are sad, and try to remember that sweet child needs you no matter what is going on in your life, and try to stay focused, love your child, and keep your chin up. Your doing everything you can to straighten this out, and there is nothing you can do better. So stay focused, love your child, and keep on doing what you gotta do.
Best wishes to you. :kiss

Thunderwolf, MSN, RN · Nov 2, 2005

sorry to hear about this. this must be very rough for you. hope things turn out in your favor. hang in there...for yourself and your child.

moving this thread to legal nursing forum.

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Shell5 · Nov 4, 2005

I had an eval done yrs ago. I was guilty though. My BON referred me to TCADA which is Texas Council on Drug and Alcoholism. In Texas this is what they did anyways: The LCDC or Licensed Chemical Dependency Councelor will ask you questions about what happened at your work and about your drinking hx and/or drugging (if any) and will determine if they believe if you have a problem. At TCADA, they don't test you there. They can do a number of things from there. I continued in CD counseling, but wasn't getting better so the BON required me to go into a treatment center. In your case this more than likely won't happen. I know where I work, especially at night, when there is not a lot of nurses, they will even allow a CNA to sign as a witness. Good luck........

Editorial Team / Admin · Nov 4, 2005

I. I know where I work, especially at night, when there is not a lot of nurses, they will even allow a CNA to sign as a witness. Good luck........

Hello, Shell5,

If unlicensed personnel are co-signing narcotic/controlled substance wastes, that is in direct violation of the Nurse Practice Act.

Nurse36_2000 · Nov 30, 2005

Sweet Heart,

Dont bash your self anymore......I know.....I along with others stripped my self-esttem years ago.......but.....it will be OK.......Chem Eval is a joke.....it is a business just like hospitals and every other business in this world.......they will do anything to say you need treatment......therefore profit...................One thing I know.....ya wont win with the Board............unless you can beyond a DOUBT prove it is common practice......are your co-workers going to stand for you???. You have already admitted you are depressed.....who would not be......I was.......seek counsel for depression now.......not antidepressants unless last resort......if you dont, the depression will get worse when the BON puts you on probation............need someone to talk to.....pm me

anonfornow · Nov 30, 2005

An update to my story. I had the chem eval and did great. He even called my husband at home and tried to trick him into telling him that I had already confessed to my drug addiction. It felt like how they would treat you at the police station, like telling the other criminal that his cohort had already confessed and said you told him to do it. Trying to trick him up or something. Of course since I don't do drugs, his plan didn't work, but I didn't like the tactics none the less. I was there for over 2 hrs and my husband thought they were keeping me cause it was another hour before he heard from me. He was quite upset at being done that way, but what can you do...nothing. The counselor said he has seen it before and that my attorney could get pharmacy documentations pulled on all nurses in that time frame to verify that I wasn't the only one not wasting. I do have one nurse friend that doesn't work there anymore and she said she would be more than willing to testify on the nurses not wasting part. I don't want to get anyone else in trouble, I just don't want to be the only one paying the price. They sent me a copy of what they sent to the bon. Now I'm just waiting to hear from the bon. When will this nightmare end???????? I do feel better since taking my antidepressants, I'm actually enjoying waking up and starting my day. I love being at home with my child and have no desire to go back to work for a very long time. My question is, if I take a few yrs off from work and the bon puts me on probation, how does that work if I'm already not working? Or does the probation continue until I do work and serve out my probation period. I'm a little burned out on the nursing field right now as you can imagine, I just want to be a stay at home mom for now. So, if anyone can tell me how staying at home and probation works, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks to all who have given advice. I am really greatful, you're kind words meant a lot to me and to my husband who feels helpless in this matter.

Nurse36_2000 · Dec 1, 2005

The probation and stay at home situation will depend upon what agreement your attorney works out with the bon as far as probation and /or " consent order ". Many BON require a certain amt of months of employment in Nursing while on probation. Example: If a nurse had a chemical dependency problem, the BON would want to monitor that Nurse while she was exposed to the enviroment..............not while she worked at the grocery store..... The thing to remember is either way, dont let this matter destroy your self esteem. If you are guilty of wrong doing, remember, we are NOT PERFECT, if you are not guilty, I empathise with you.....I have gone thru a simular thing being innocent..........but if no one believes you and you cant change whats black and white then you just have to go thru the ropes with the knowledge that you know the truth. I am disheartened with Nursing too after my dilemma.......but I am a nurse.....and a very good one......I cannot lose if I dont quit......................My prayers are with you

anonfornow · Aug 26, 2006

An update/end to my ordeal. I met with the bon to state my side. I had submitted several letters stating that it was indeed common practice to not waste narcotics. My case was closed with nothing, not even a reprimand. I am home free and have learned my lesson on documenting waste. I also have learned my lesson in thinking that an employer couldn't just punish one nurse for doing something wrong, cause they can and did. No one else to my knowledge got in trouble or lost their job, only me. I will say this whole ordeal has really burned me out on being a nurse. I know it will take some time, but I'm seeing it taking a long, long time. In the meantime, when I document now at my new job, I find myself being OCD and repeatedly checking and rechecking out of fear that I don't trust myself in leaving out something important, I feel paranoid and i know it will pass with time. Just thought I would say yes, you can win with the bon and they actually were quite nice to me and you could tell felt sorry for me and how my whole situation came about.

Trauma Columnist · Aug 26, 2006

Wow - thanks for the update. I hope you can relax soon! Take care of yourself.

rnmom3153 · Aug 27, 2006

WOW! What an ordeal! Kudos to you for your courage & strength for reaching out for help and for keeping it together during this time! They took their sweet time, huh?

rnmom:nuke: :nurse: