I need some help

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Hi all, I just signed my contract a couple weeks ago. I have since lost my job. now they want me to see therapist after therapist i have lost my insurance. And I cant afford it. I have been a LPN for almost 20 years. I was accused of Diverting Hydrocodone from a patients home. At the time I didn't do this, but I did have a problem with them. I was addicted. The home I was in at the time lets say was less than sketchy. In a pretty bad neighborhood. Anyway when I was confronted with this from my supervisor at the time I was shocked to say the least. But I did admit to being on them at the time, so i guess they couldn't drug test me. but they didn't offer either. I never head anything from them regarding this until about a month later then i lost my job. 1 year later i heard from the state of Michigan and I was going to be investigated. Mind you I had started with another homecare company. I met with the investigator explained the whole situation and admitted to have a problem with them. I went to my PCP who prescribed them to me and was up front and honest and told him i needed off from them. I was put on suboxone and i am on it still. I feel so alone in all this and don't know what to do or where to turn. I am actually thinking about giving up my nursing lic. But what would I do? I'm to old to go back to school, but I also thought about starting my own home caregiving company. I don't know what to do I am at a loss. I do have support from my family. If i did go back to school I would go for medical billing and coding. My head has been spinning I have lost 2 jobs over this now. I just can't afford all of this! I just don't get how they can do this to people and expect them to live. Okay my rant is over. But I really would like some feedback on this. Thank you!!!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Addiction, Peer Support.

I am so sorry to hear about all of this. Just know, although it seems bleak right now, it will get better. You have taken the right steps and admitted you have a problem. As far as nursing, I am not sure what the state of Michigan does, but I know that most of the time, once you enter into a contract/consent, home health is out of the question. Keep going, one day at a time, you will get better and figure this out. It is a long process though, so get strapped in for the ride.

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For sure you can't go back in time and take back what has already been said. So you say that one month after the so called theft they fired you over it? I would have sought out a lawyer. In any case, so what now?

I would not give up my license, they would have to pry it out of my cold dead hands. Why don't you try to find out how exactly this affects your license now? Has it been suspended? If you have someone look up your license on line what flags are there? People sue government agencies all the time. Can you petition the board to get this over with. And it sucks that you have lost your livelihood. Why don't you try some private duty? There are people out there who need their toenails trimmed and B12 shots that are willing to pay someone to come to their home( private pay) and do those things for them. You could also see if there possibilities for sitting for people who have dementia or have disabilities and can't be left alone. Caregivers need vacations too so maybe there is some sort of work like that available. If your license is in good standing I don't see why not. Just some thoughts to put out there for you. Good luck.

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Specializes in RNC-OB,L&D,Antenatal testing, Oncology.

“just signed my contract a couple weeks ago. “

I am sorry you are going through this, I am too an “old” nurse caught in a nursing monitoring program. My advice is to do what your contract says if you want to keep your license, find a job allowed in your contract, perhaps a nursing home. Do not give up, there is light at the end of this tunnel, you just don’t see it yet.

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I was a nurse for 17 years when I was reported. I don't know your finances, but I'll tell you how I survived initially. For insurance, I couldn't afford Cobra, so I went on the government marketplace website (aka Obamacare) and got a policy there. Having little income (my hauband's), I was able to to get a tax write off and get the policy for a little over a hundred a month. That allowed me to stay compliant with my program's requirement for therapy and psych. Next, I wasn't allowed to work anywhere in healthcare (not even moping the floors) until my program cleared me, so I got quick work as a local substitute teacher for the school system and eventually got a job as a daycare worker until I was cleared to work as a nurse. Yes, this was a massive hit to our income. We sold what possessions we could, used food banks, utility assistance programs, cut out anything possible in the budget, etc. I was able to find a job in psych once I was cleared to work, but I did have to compromise for a job that had a very lengthy commute, because local jobs were hard to find that would agree to my restrictions. I too considered coding, but I ended up not going that route, because if my license had been suspended or revoked, it would have put me on the OIG exclusion list, which would have banned me from working anyplace that accepts Medicaid or Medicare, which pretty much ruled out the possibility of any coding work. I signed up for monitoring before the Board investigation was over, so my license ended up without discipline if I finish the 5 years, which made life infinitely easier for me for job hunting. Personally, I would try to just get really creative and push thru. It's a rough first year, but now I'm over 2 years in, and I'm glad I put up with the proverbial hemmorhage at the beginning, because we are doing much better now. Best wishes.

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Ok. I'm in Missouri. How do I find monitoring programs? I've been to detox & in an intensive outpatient program with monitoring. Is that sufficient?

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Thank you everyone for the support and best wishes. I will get through this just like everyone else. Good Ideas on here! As far as my lic. goes its still in good standing. And i was granted a saftey to practice again. Now the Hunt is on for a place that is HPRP friendly. Any Ideas for that in the State of MIchigan? And I like the Obama care Idea as well! Thank you all so Much!!

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I am being offered a monitoring agreement right now. I'm completely devastated. I do not agree but I'm quickly realizing I have no choice. Does anyone know what really happens to your licence if you refuse? Who would hire me in Michigan if I come along with HPRP? Should I just work non medical for 2 years?

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Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.
4 hours ago, Vanessa48 said:

Ok. I'm in Missouri. How do I find monitoring programs? I've been to detox & in an intensive outpatient program with monitoring. Is that sufficient?

Missouri doesn't offer a confidential monitoring program. Everything is public and through the BON -- you will deal directly with them.

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9 hours ago, RN162009 said:

I am being offered a monitoring agreement right now. I'm completely devastated. I do not agree but I'm quickly realizing I have no choice. Does anyone know what really happens to your licence if you refuse? Who would hire me in Michigan if I come along with HPRP? Should I just work non medical for 2 years?

Can you afford an attorney, if so get one before you sign. If you can't afford one but you want to keep your license, no choice but monitoring.

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To OP, hang in there. One thing to get used to is that whether or not you can afford anything they request is of no concern to them. It's pointless to even bring up finances. Their standpoint is if you want to remain a nurse, make it happen.

You've been given some good advice about the insurance thing, with the government. There's no shame in asking for help when you've worked hard all your life.

If you hadn't had a previous accusation, then a subsequent admission of having a problem, I would suggest quietly getting yourself some help. But, since you do have a problem and you were accused, you have no choice but to face this.

No matter what, getting clean is never a mistake you'll regret. Deep breath, you aren't alone. Come back for support!

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I am meeting with an attorney on Tuesday. My evaluator diagnosed me with substance abuse:mild and social anxiety... I would like a second opinion but worry it will be even worse. I spoke with a different lawyer on the phone who said often causing a stir by demanding a 2nd opinion will give me worse terms in the contract.

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