I am in a monitoring program for psychosis, not substance use. But I have to get UAs anyway, same as anyone else. I'm losing my mind over all the ways I could accidentally fail a drug test. I thought I could just avoid drugs and alcohol and be fine. But now I'm realizing I have to worry about sugar alcohols, poppy seeds, alcohol in cleaning products etc.
It seems impossible to pass this program! Almost every beauty product I have has alcohol in it. My case manager insists I don't have to worry about these with "normal use". But then I see all kinds of stories online about people getting false positives from food and household products.
Has anyone here actually made it through the program without false positives?
That's crazy, we don't have to test when we are on vacation (but we do have to go to this peer group meeting). But you have to put in for a monitoring interruption. They have some arbitrary rules about how many you can take and how long you can go before they decide to extend your contract. I went to Spain for 3 weeks, and had to extend my contract to go. I only did it because I had some family things that I couldn't miss. Part of me is glad I went, but another part feels it wasn't worth it. Now, I still plan to go on vacation but only if I don't have to extend my contract.
The crazy thing is they could do a Hair or nail test to make sure we didn't do anything we weren't supposed to except alcohol and they could breath test for that using a breathalyzer. One person took 8 instead of 6 weeks for maternity leave and got 6 extra months. One could attend the meetings online anywhere.
I'm looking for insight from nurses who have been in a similar situation. I'm currently in the HAVEN program in Connecticut, which is a confidential, non-disciplinary alternative to board action. My license remains clean—no public discipline, no restrictions visible on Nursys, and even my narcotics restriction is private.
I self-reported to HAVEN the same day I was confronted about a diversion incident. From the beginning, I've been fully compliant, with all negative toxicology tests. My case is being framed by my case manager and therapist as anxiety and situational distress-related, not substance use. I do not carry a substance use disorder diagnosis.
Once my narcotics restriction is lifted, I would like to return to an inpatient hospital role, possibly med-surg or another acute care setting. My case manager told me I do not need to disclose why I'm in the program to employers, unless absolutely necessary (e.g., if they require a liaison), but in that case I can mention the mental health issue. My diversion was really an isolated case for Ativan not that it makes it any better.
So my question is:
How difficult was it for those of you in a monitoring program—especially with a clean license and no SUD diagnosis—to find a hospital job?
Did you encounter major hurdles, or were some employers understanding and supportive once they saw compliance and transparency?
Any personal experiences or advice would really help as I prepare for my next steps. Thank you so much in advance.
I'm looking for insight from nurses who have been in a similar situation. I'm currently in the HAVEN program in Connecticut, which is a confidential, non-disciplinary alternative to board action. My license remains clean—no public discipline, no restrictions visible on Nursys, and even my narcotics restriction is private.
I self-reported to HAVEN the same day I was confronted about a diversion incident. From the beginning, I've been fully compliant, with all negative toxicology tests. My case is being framed by my case manager and therapist as anxiety and situational distress-related, not substance use. I do not carry a substance use disorder diagnosis.
Once my narcotics restriction is lifted, I would like to return to an inpatient hospital role, possibly med-surg or another acute care setting. My case manager told me I do not need to disclose why I'm in the program to employers, unless absolutely necessary (e.g., if they require a liaison), but in that case I can mention the mental health issue. My diversion was really an isolated case for Ativan not that it makes it any better.
So my question is:
How difficult was it for those of you in a monitoring program—especially with a clean license and no SUD diagnosis—to find a hospital job?
Did you encounter major hurdles, or were some employers understanding and supportive once they saw compliance and transparency?
Any personal experiences or advice would really help as I prepare for my next steps. Thank you so much in advance.
Several nurses in my monitoring program, different state, diverted something or other and work in a hospital. Sometimes they had to apply broadly.
You will get a job Easily after the narc restriction is lifted because...
1. You have no license flaws.
2. You voluntarily entered monitoring. That's considered incredibly awesome by many employers and some will be shocked to see a nurse who did so. That's looked at as great character and honesty.
3. Tell the truth to the employer In My Opinion. Tell them about the one time Ativan Diversion. They will actually be more impressed as you tell them how you are in monitoring and doing well. You will EASILY get a job. I would caution against bring untruthful for your own recovery. Don't go down that road. You have no licensing flaws. You are in monitoring and you will soon have no narc restrictions.
You will get a job Easily after the narc restriction is lifted because...
1. You have no license flaws.
2. You voluntarily entered monitoring. That's considered incredibly awesome by many employers and some will be shocked to see a nurse who did so. That's looked at as great character and honesty.
3. Tell the truth to the employer In My Opinion. Tell them about the one time Ativan Diversion. They will actually be more impressed as you tell them how you are in monitoring and doing well. You will EASILY get a job. I would caution against bring untruthful for your own recovery. Don't go down that road. You have no licensing flaws. You are in monitoring and you will soon have no narc restrictions.
Thank you, love, for this encouraging reply. You have no idea how different it made me feel. I appreciate you helping me and other nurses navigate this complex time, and I am sure other nurses feel the same. Also, you are right about what you said: I should be honest about the diversion, even if it seems "minor" to me and others in my program. That is because so far my journey has been liberating and being honest with my original employer and the program so far has been good to my mental health and spirit. With that in mind, I want to continue with these positive feelings. I hope that you can continue on your journey of recovery. Love always!
Healer555 said:
Several nurses in my monitoring program, different state, diverted something or other and work in a hospital. Sometimes they had to apply broadly.
Good luck
Thank you, Nurse Healer. I appreciate your input on this. Good luck to you as well.
Hi, does anyone know the name of the other program that doctors attend? Its a 2 year program and I don't think it's as traumatizing and evil as ramp. I heard nurses can do the program as well instead of ramp.
Hi, does anyone know the name of the other program that doctors attend? Its a 2 year program and I don't think it's as traumatizing and evil as ramp. I heard nurses can do the program as well instead of ramp.
The name is PAPNJ. Professional Assistance Program of New Jersey. You stated that "you heard that nurses can do the program as well instead of RAMP." <------that is Patially True and Partially Not True. If you are referred/under the BONs radar for narcotics or diversion and you are a nurse, you are going to do RAMP. It'd nearly automatic. If you got a DUI and/or there is some mental health issue and it's not related to on the job work (impaired at work, or diversion, etc) then thr BON will sometimes allow nurses in NJ to do the PAP program instead of RAMP.
Nurses can NOT choose which program they do. The BON decides and again, far, far, far more times than most, if you are a nurse and you are on the BONs radar for anything to do with diversion, narcotics, impaired at work, etc., then you are overwhelmingly likely to do RAMP. If you had a positive one time prr employment test for weed, or a DUI, or a mental health issue, or something not related to you being impaired on the job and your SUD eval finds that you don't really have much of a problem, then these are the nurses that the NJ BON will Sometimes be allowed to do PAP instead of RAMP.
Understand that like anything, there are Always exceptions to the rule. You may find the one or two people who were found passed out from diverting and using while at work that are in PAP instead of RAMP, but these are exceptions to the rule and very, very, very rare.
Your best chances of doing PAP instead of RAMP? You get a lawyer that argues for PAP, you have an SUD eval that shows no problem or very little problem, and you had some issue that isn't directly work related such as a DUI or positive weed test, or a mental health issue, etc.
Hi, does anyone know the name of the other program that doctors attend? Its a 2 year program and I don't think it's as traumatizing and evil as ramp. I heard nurses can do the program as well instead of ramp.
Hi thank you! I had a dwi on my day off. Never was impaired at work or did anything wrong. I was an examplary nurse. The problem is that I started ramp and like many people quit bc I couldn't take the abuse. Do you think it will make it harder for me to get into the other program?
Im still living in constant fear of incidental exposure. It's so hard to convince myself that I can eat normal food. I'm missing out on social engagements because I'm so scared to eat food that I did not prepare myself. I'm scared to eat at restaurants. I'm scared because everything seems to have vinegar in it. Do you guys have any experience eating food or sauce with vinegar in it and still passing a drug test?
Im still living in constant fear of incidental exposure. It's so hard to convince myself that I can eat normal food. I'm missing out on social engagements because I'm so scared to eat food that I did not prepare myself. I'm scared to eat at restaurants. I'm scared because everything seems to have vinegar in it. Do you guys have any experience eating food or sauce with vinegar in it and still passing a drug test?
Not me. I have less than a year and I'm not risking it. When this is over I can eat and drink anything and I will.
Healer555
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The crazy thing is they could do a Hair or nail test to make sure we didn't do anything we weren't supposed to except alcohol and they could breath test for that using a breathalyzer. One person took 8 instead of 6 weeks for maternity leave and got 6 extra months. One could attend the meetings online anywhere.
This is such a money grab.
I wouldn't do anything to extend thus.
I have less than 1 year