HPRP scared plz help

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Specializes in Emergency, intensive care.

I was charged with an OWI in January of 2020 and I’m just now being contacted by the HPRP. Digging into the program online seems like a nightmare. If anyone can answer some of my questions I think it might help ease my entry into this stuff. 
 

I currently work in an emergency room setting and without access to narcotics, I will probably lose my job. Should I put in my two week notice and start applying for dialysis or LTAC jobs now before I end up getting fired?  
Am I automatically going to be diagnosed with a substance abuse issue, even if I’ve never been prescribed a narcotic or taken narcotics? 
 

Is there anyway around this? 
 

I am 100% all about accountability and know that I put myself in this position. I am also not trying to minimize what I did. I shouldn’t have driven that night. But even with almost two years of documented sobriety and completion of substance abuse counseling through criminal probation, I am going to be slapped with a substance abuse disorder? Lose my job and income? 
 

They really don’t care if you have a family to support or anything ? 

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9 hours ago, HPRP help said:

I was charged with an OWI in January of 2020 and I’m just now being contacted by the HPRP. Digging into the program online seems like a nightmare. If anyone can answer some of my questions I think it might help ease my entry into this stuff. 
 

I currently work in an emergency room setting and without access to narcotics, I will probably lose my job. Should I put in my two week notice and start applying for dialysis or LTAC jobs now before I end up getting fired?  
Am I automatically going to be diagnosed with a substance abuse issue, even if I’ve never been prescribed a narcotic or taken narcotics? 
 

Is there anyway around this? 
 

I am 100% all about accountability and know that I put myself in this position. I am also not trying to minimize what I did. I shouldn’t have driven that night. But even with almost two years of documented sobriety and completion of substance abuse counseling through criminal probation, I am going to be slapped with a substance abuse disorder? Lose my job and income? 
 

They really don’t care if you have a family to support or anything ? 

HPRP is a nightmare. I didn’t have to join but I had to become very knowledgeable about it as the threat loomed over me for 2 years. I also made friends who are in the program, one of whom was in criminal sobriety court with me for a DUI as well. 

I don’t say that to freak you out, but because I want you to understand the seriousness of what I’m about the recommend next. 

GET AN ATTORNEY FAMILIAR WITH HEALTHCARE LICENSING MATTERS! TAANA.org is a great resource and how I found my attorney ( (she is located in .

My attorney was a B*#% and I was mostly convinced she hated my guts and didn’t care, but she helped me create an aggressive case for my safety to practice and get my RN license despite having a rap sheet that could have easily landed me in HPRP, on board probation, or just outright denied my RN license application all together.  

If I had a nickel for every time I heard a nurse say they declined to get an attorney thinking they could fight it themselves (or just rolled over and took the HPRP route without a lawyer and got maximum stipulations) I’d have a lot of money in the bank. I was absolutely BROKE when I made the decision to get an attorney and words cannot begin to describe how glad I am that I spent that money when I could have used excuses not to. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking an attorney can only help someone who was innocent of the crime or something. Their job is to get you the best deal and help you defend yourself regardless of what the facts of the case were. 

Whatever you do, don’t talk to HPRP, the BON, your employer, or anybody else for that matter, until you’ve spoken with and gotten counsel from a licensing attorney. They will advise you what to say, what not to say, and get you the best deal. An attorney could also advise you on the best course of action as it relates to whether to quit your job etc etc. 

To put your mind at ease to some degree, I have heard of people who were inevitably coerced into joining HPRP but their lawyer helped them avoid a narcotic restriction so they could stay in their current unit. 

Sorry for the novel but I hope it helps! Feel free to PM me. 

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Specializes in Emergency, intensive care.

Thank you! I don’t have any one else for information or with experience so please feel free to write as much as you want. Also I can’t use personal messaging because I just made this account and I think you need more posts to use the messaging. 
 

Im currently waiting for a callback from a lawyer but I’ll check that website if I need to thank you so much. 
 

I'm terrified and have a family of four that depends solely on the income from my current job and I’m terrified that their well-being is threatened from all of this. Any information or experience is greatly appreciated. 

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Specializes in Emergency, intensive care.
6 hours ago, K. Everly said:

HPRP is a nightmare. I didn’t have to join but I had to become very knowledgeable about it as the threat loomed over me for 2 years. I also made friends who are in the program, one of whom was in criminal sobriety court with me for a DUI as well. 

I don’t say that to freak you out, but because I want you to understand the seriousness of what I’m about the recommend next. 

GET AN ATTORNEY FAMILIAR WITH HEALTHCARE LICENSING MATTERS! TAANA.org is a great resource and how I found my attorney ( (she is located in .

My attorney was a B*#% and I was mostly convinced she hated my guts and didn’t care, but she helped me create an aggressive case for my safety to practice and get my RN license despite having a rap sheet that could have easily landed me in HPRP, on board probation, or just outright denied my RN license application all together.  

If I had a nickel for every time I heard a nurse say they declined to get an attorney thinking they could fight it themselves (or just rolled over and took the HPRP route without a lawyer and got maximum stipulations) I’d have a lot of money in the bank. I was absolutely BROKE when I made the decision to get an attorney and words cannot begin to describe how glad I am that I spent that money when I could have used excuses not to. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking an attorney can only help someone who was innocent of the crime or something. Their job is to get you the best deal and help you defend yourself regardless of what the facts of the case were. 

Whatever you do, don’t talk to HPRP, the BON, your employer, or anybody else for that matter, until you’ve spoken with and gotten counsel from a licensing attorney. They will advise you what to say, what not to say, and get you the best deal. An attorney could also advise you on the best course of action as it relates to whether to quit your job etc etc. 

To put your mind at ease to some degree, I have heard of people who were inevitably coerced into joining HPRP but their lawyer helped them avoid a narcotic restriction so they could stay in their current unit. 

Sorry for the novel but I hope it helps! Feel free to PM me. 

Do you know where I can find other people who have been through this? Thank you for your words. Tried PMing you but I don’t have access to messaging. 

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Did you end up in the program?

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I also have questions related to this but no access to messaging yet, if anyone could PM or DM me to talk about their experience I'd really, really appreciate it!

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HPRP is a nightmare. don't do it. I have been in this program going on 2 years now. It's expensive and I'm talking almost 700 dollars a month in drug testing. They treat everyone as if they are an addict, and diagnose you with some use disorder. I had an attorney but I stupidly had already contacted HPRP before I got her so it was too late. I have people who are in my group therapy who just contacted them for info and were basically threatened that if they didn't self report then they would report them to the BON. don't do it, avoid it at all costs.

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