I KANDO

Nurses Recovery

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I've taken the first step and did self reporting. Next is the KANDO program. Any words of advice about the beginnings of this stage and about programs like this or this in particular. My hopes are up. I can finally stop living a lie. But the road i know will be rocky. I hope I can keep my Hope up.

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First of all, you made a very important step in your life and its to be commendable!!! Your journey is just beginning for you.

Let me share briefly my story with you... I first self reported in November.........then had some complications/issues with therapist resulting in me being removed from the monitoring program indefinately. I thought my world had "stopped" at that moment I found out from my case worker that regardless of my reasons, what I had to say, all that would take a back seat because what mattered was what "therapist" felt. To make this as short as I can...After hiring an atty to help me re-enter the program and after 6 longgg and painful months, I finally received a phone call letting me know that a decision has been made and that was they were going to allow me to re-enter and start fresh!!!!! I felt I could breathe again. So I am in the transition of returning to the program. Reason I share that w/you.... because unfortunately we are at their mercy. Do What They Say, Dont look back, keep moving forward and follow the program to a T !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Otherwise,, the alternative is you lose your license.

And If I sound harsh, its certainly not intended that way...its just seeing what I have personally gone through, I dont wish it on anyone and If I can share what I went through with someone to shed some light on how faithful you must be to your program, then Great.

I wish you the best of luck in your Journey.... you will succeed.....keep moving forward.....DONT LOOK BACK!

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Specializes in ICU,CCU,Med/Surg,LTC.

Congratulations on getting yourself on the road to recovery!! I self reported to the Indiana program(ISNAP) in January of this year. The same day I called my boss and told her that I reported myself and told her of my drinking problem of the last few years. It was an emormous secret burden that I was carrying and I could no longer live that way.

ISNAP directed me to a substance abuse counselor who did my initial evaluation. I was diagnosed with early alcohol dependence. Based on that I was given a 3yr recovery monitoring agreement which includes seeing a counselor regularly, attending 3 recovery meetings per week,getting a sponsor, seeing an addictionist every 3 months, and calling in 7 days a week for random urine drug screens. I am down to seeing my counselor every other week now.

I am blessed that I have a fantastic employer who supports my recovery and am still a working nurse, though this early recovery business is harder and more time consuming than I originally thought it would be. I've had to take some medical leave time just so I could spend more time focusing on my recovery.

My suggestion would be to get a strong support team around you. Your program will mandate some of that. Don't be afraid to ask others for help. Talk to other nurses in the same situation. Talk to other alcoholic/addicts. Don't isolate yourself and don't forget that you will still have bad days but they will pass and you can get through them sober. I'm so grateful for every night that I go to bed sober and every morning that I wak up clear headed!

Best Wishes!

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Thankyou for your replies. And Hugs it's nice to see an employer who is willing to work with someone. My middle management is all pulling for me and hope to see me back but i'm worried that it won't be left up to them. Just nice to see that out of all the bad stories around that there is one that goes against the grain and shows that there are employer out there that understand and support rather then just cut ties.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Intermed, Neuro, LTC, Psych.

Well, I was going to write out my whole experience, but I live in Indiana (ISNAP) and mine is basically the same as RN4HUGS was :). I self-reported in December, had an intake assessment by an addiction therapist in January and signed my RMA (contract) at the end of February. I was diagnosed with opiate dependence and given a 3 year contract. My mandatory narcotic restriction time was just recently over and I just began working as an RN again.

For six months, I could not find RN job with the narc restriction, so I waiting tables and working as a phlebotomist. Ihave to call an 800 number everyday and enter an ID code and it will tell me if I need to report for UDS testing or not. The minimum amount of tests per year is 12, usually for nurses that aren't working as nurses; For nurses working as nurses, the max UDS/yr is 42. Mine is currently at 32/yr. You are limited to working no more than 12 hrs/day and 40 hrs/wk. You need ISNAP approval to work nights, overtime, or in home health/agency/hospice.

Different BONs have different processes and requirements they tack.. I live on the border of Kentucky, and most nurses in the area are licensed in both states., IN's max program is 3 years and KY's program (KARE) has a max program of 5 years. I haven't dealt with kARE, but other persons in my meetings have and say that it is more rigid. For example, they require incoming nurses to go to an inpatient detox/drug treatment center.

However, all nurse recovery programs provide some kind of contract that you must sign and return, detailing all the steps you will need to do be in compliance. ISNAP requires to see an addictionist every three months; a counselor (frequency determined individually); attend AA/NA/Nurse Suport Group meetings,. I have to attend three meetings a week, and the NSG has to be one of them. You also must find an AA sponsor within 60 days We have to submit our self assessment and meeting log every month.; the addictiionist, counselor, sponsor, and your work-site monitor have to fill out an assessment form and mail them in to ISNAP quaerly.

Your state could be totally different, but I hope that gives you a general idea of how it works. Some other words of advice that I can give is:

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Intermed, Neuro, LTC, Psych.

Your state could be totally different, but I hope that gives you a general idea of how it works. Some other words of advice that I can give is:

:redbeathe Keep a positive attitude about the whole experience. Yes, you will have to do things you don't want to do. Yes, meeting compliance on your recovery agreement with consume a lot of your time. Just remember that we are here because of our own actions, and the staff at the nurse recovery programs are ridiculously understaffed. (ISNAP has 900 nurses active in program and three case managers).

:nurse: If you can't go back to nursing right away for whatever reason or can't find a job, DON'T DESPAIR. This is part of your recovery and one day it will be over. I firmly believe that being forced to live on 1/4 of my regular income for 6 months was a good lesson in humility and that we should not take what we have for granted, as I so often did.

:smokin: Be honest with all your health care providers, and more importantly yourself. For example, lying about drugs/amounts used is pointless. You can't change your behavior until you are honest with yourself and with others about what you were doing.

:uhoh3: Don't stress out about what other people are thinking about you. This is time for you to help yourself and make yourself better. I thought I never knew any nurses who'd been in recovery until I got fired from a job for med diversion. Two nurses that I worked with every day were both recovering addicts and had gone through the same situation I was.

:jester: I'm not a fan of AA/NA, but if you can attend a nursing support group, I highly encourage it. They are also called Caduceus Meetings or Healthcare Professional Meetings. These meetings are targeted to nurses & other HCPs recovering from alcoholism/addiction. I felt so stupid and alone before I went to that meeting for the first time. It has been very comforting to know that I'm not the only RN that ever made a poor decision.

Anyway, Good luck with your dealings with the BON, and please keep us updated! :)

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Well I just had my meeting with my manager and director. I was terminated and told that I face possible felony charges of Theft. Any suggestions on how to deal with this? I would assume whether or not my nrsg license gets reinstated if I have a felony on my record any nursing job is basically out the door. Are my assumptions correct.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Intermed, Neuro, LTC, Psych.

:crying2: I'm sorry to hear that you lost your position. When you're employer said "possible felony charges", did they mention any specifics, like they were pressing charges, etc? I would guess the more information you had, the better.

I would suggest seeing a nursing attorney as soon as possible. With charges, that's about all you can do.

I personally don't have any experience with felonies, but if you search the topic on allnurses.com, there are lots of threads about it.

I wish you the best of luck with your recovery, and remember that your sobriety comes above all else!!!

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Thanks for your advice ehooper. My employers said that it's been reported to the PD and depending on the value of the amount diverted it would be classified as a misdemeanor or a felony. I have no Idea in which side ir would fall. Would they use a retail value or what the hospital pays? I don't know. Keeping my license wont mean anything if I have a felony and jail time on my record.

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Specializes in Impaired Nurse Advocate, CRNA, ER,.
Thanks for your advice ehooper. My employers said that it's been reported to the PD and depending on the value of the amount diverted it would be classified as a misdemeanor or a felony. I have no Idea in which side ir would fall. Would they use a retail value or what the hospital pays? I don't know. Keeping my license wont mean anything if I have a felony and jail time on my record.

Hire an attorney experienced in dealing with the BON where you are licensed. If you don't know the ins and outs of the Nurse Practice Act in your state, you could make a decision that seems appropriate and end up screwing yourself in the long run. Yes, attorneys cost money. But so do surgeons and other professionals who provide a service that can't be done by the average person. The board of nursing is not your friend. They will not advocate for you and your best interests. I have seen many a nurse think they are doing the right thing and then suddenly they receive a registered letter with a consent agreement that is exceptionally punitive. It's like, wait a minute! The investigator said this was no big deal and other nurses have done similar or worse and they got a slap on the wrist. Don't worry.

Their job is to get you to "confess". Once you "tell them everything" (another common comment I hear when I ask, so what did you tell them? EVERYTHING!) the consent agreement almost writes itself. Also, since their investigation isn't technically a police investigation, they aren't required to inform you of your rights. But I assure you, anything you tell them WILL be shared with the legal folks in your area (if it appears the law was broken...imagine that).

I'm not telling you to lie. I'm telling you to retain an attorney to protect your rights! The 5th amendment proects you against self incrimination. Exercise your right. Borrow the money if you have to. You don't do major surgery on yourself. If you face criminal charges are you going to represent yourself there? I hope not.

Contact the American Association of Nurse Attorneys to get information about attorneys in your area. If you choose to use a non-nurse attorney, be sure the attorney you do retain practices administrative law and has experience facing the BON. Uncle Joe, the family attorney who generally takes care of minor things isn't the person to hire.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Jack

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