Husband starting IPN, needing advice

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Hey everyone. I know this is a bit different. I'm not a nurse, so I feel like I should not be on this site. However, I wasn't sure where else to go with my questions. Try not to laugh at my lack of nursing terminology...I'm new at this.

My husband failed a drug test at work a couple months ago. He had come back from 5 nights off to pills missing on his unit. He, along with one other nurse, was drug tested. He tested positive for marijuana. Of course, within two days, he was called in. He was immediately terminated and told to report himself to IPN, which he did.

His evaluation is scheduled for this Friday, October 10th. There's one issue, though. He got lucky when he only tested positive for weed. He had been taking pills months before, and that led to using Morphine intravenously. He had been clean from that for a couple months, but he struggled with the addiction for about 6-7 months total. (I should also add that he has not used pills/IV drugs for a few months now, and no weed since a couple weeks BEFORE the test. He is sober.)

Obviously, he plans on telling the truth about using marijuana, but also the other drugs. He needs the help, and we're welcoming this experience as a way for him to get clean and sober and stay that way. My question is, could bringing up the other drugs be counted against him? His employer never knew about his addiction, as he hid it pretty well. I'm aware it will most likely affect his contract length, but will it affect his compliance with IPN?

We're preparing ourselves for a 5 year contract, but we're curious if coming clean about everything will count against him in the end. Again, he's going to tell the truth regardless. We know how awful it would be if he were caught in a lie. However, we just want to cover all bases before we go into this and prepare ourselves as much as we can.

Sorry if this was all over the place. My mind is pretty jumbled at the moment. Any advice or info would be greatly appreciated.

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, Med/Surg.

Have your husband get a lawyer before talking to anyone! He needs a lawyer with experience in administrative law, specifically in dealing with licensure actions and the board of nursing. Per the terms of service at this site, we cannot give lgeal advice, but you can bet your bottom dollar that anything your husband says will be held against him. A lawyer will be well worth the investment.

Good luck & please let us know how it goes as this process continues.

Catmom :paw:

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You think he needs legal advice? From what I've read on this site, it's best to just go with the flow of IPN and don't waste time or money on an attorney. Like I said, we've already prepared ourselves for the 5 year contract. We really don't have the money for a lawyer. We've depleted our savings since he lost his job and have since moved in with his parents. It's a miracle we can afford his evaluation.

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Specializes in Emergency, Psych.

I am in the alternative program for chemically dependent nurses here in the state of Nevada. I was fired from my job for diversion of narcotics and self reported to the BON. When I did I was COMPLETELY honest about my past drug use/addiction hx (I was a chronic pot smoker and general poly substance abuser). Honesty is the cornerstone of any true recovery program and indeed an uncovered lie down the road will not be appreciated by your states BON. You husband has violated the Nurse practice act and the BON has all the power and every right to take his license forever. My plan was and I would recommend COMPLETE HUMILITY! HIRING A LAWYER IS ONLY GOING TO INFLAME THE SITUATION AND LIKELY LEAD THE BOARD TO ACT WITH A LESSER DEGREE OF COMPASSION, NOT TO MENTION COSTING YOUR FAMILY $$$$ THAT YOU CAN'T AFFORD NOW THAT YOUR HUSBAND HAS TEMPORARILY LOST HIS EARNING ABILITIES. I first completed a temporary voluntary surrender of my license contract and am now 2.5 years clean and sober with 1 year worked off my 5 year monitoring agreement. I currently have restrictions but am at a place to start requesting their return, about 1 every 6 months starting with my narc privileges. Best of luck.......after my resentments faded I realized this process actually saved my life and likely that of many patients I cared for while impaired.

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Specializes in Gerontology RN-BC and FNP MSN student.

I would say No way telling the BON his history. Leave that for the meetings he needs to start attending. Asap. Get to NA today. Do 90 meetings in 90 days. Get a sponsor. Work the steps. You can even go with him. Best wishes. You can get thru this. The BON is not your friends that are gonna help you stay and get clean, that's up to you.

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Thanks for the advice, BaseballNut. We have the same idea that you do. He's going into the process with an open mind and we're preparing for the requirements. The truth is, he chose to do these things. He made those choices. He has to make it right and get help. I had a lot of anger in the beginning, but I quickly realized that being mad and yelling won't change anything. It's better than we're a united front rather than divided and fighting. There's no point in adding to the stress of it.

We also knew that he had to tell the full truth, including the information that no one knew. There would be no point in going through an IPN contract for marijuana, only to be faced with his addiction to opiates and risk relapsing directly after. We know that him being honest will give him the tools he needs to be and remain sober throughout the rest of his career.

Thanks for your info and best of luck to you in your recovery!

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Thanks for the advice, HappyWife77. But we feel it's best to be completely honest. I've read multiple accounts of people having their hair tested, and the last thing we need is for him to lie about the opiates by omission and get caught in it.

At this point, we definitely plan to go to meetings. Not only is my husband a drug addict, but I grew up with both of my parents being addicted to opiates. My dad died 5 years ago due to complications from his addiction. We both plan on going to meetings to address our issues with drugs, him for his addiction, and me for the affects drugs have had on my life.

Again, thanks for your advice! I definitely agree on the importance of the meetings!

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I am just in awe of you, congratulations to the first steps towards BOTH of your recoveries. I got a lawyer for advice- he looked at the evidence and said he could get me off on charting errors. Like your husband though- I knew that if I wanted to have a chance at being well I would have to be honest. My lawyer was not happy.

I breath a little sigh of relief each time I come into contact with the board, investigators, and treatment because I don't have to worry about what lie I might get caught up in- which story is the right one. In the end, this is my life- nursing license be damned if that what it takes.

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Rigorous honesty has never hurt me with when working with my BON. Lying, however, has.

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Twoyearnurse, thank you so much for your kind words. It's a tough situation, but we've decided that we might as well face it head on, versus fighting it and making it worse. We actually never considered hiring an attorney. He knew he was wrong, and there was just no point in fighting it. And if we had a moment where we thought about it, we quickly changed our thinking after seeing so many nurses waste time and money on lawyer fees with little, if any, success.

I could be naive for thinking this way, but I'm ready for the process to begin. I can't say the same for my husband. I know he's dreading it. But for me, I feel clarity coming on, as well as progress. I'm ready for this to be behind us.

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UnsavoryCharacter, thank you for advice. I think you pretty much answered my question right there. As I've said in my previous comments, we never considered lying. However, I was worried about the outcome of sharing the addictions that no one knew about. Thank you for your info. It's much appreciated.

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Specializes in Cardiology, ICU.

A drug is a drug is a drug, meaning his contract with this monitoring program will not change just because he also used morphine nor will it be any less stringent because he "only" used marijuana. Always be honest, that way he will get the most appropriate treatment possible. You husband has a problem ( just as I did) and starting out a program like this, by lying, is not a good start for anyone's soberity!

Good Luck and keep us posted!

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