In Professional Healthcare Monitoring Program

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Specializes in Psychiatric.

Hi, I am an RN enrolled in my state's (PA) monitoring program (PNAP). I totally get the program. It helps nurses involved in an addiction to get back on track. I have a mobike app called Recovery Trek that I need to check in daily to find out if I need a drug screening that day. I have to pay $60 a pop for this 'privilege'. I had a blood draw done on 9/16, and now a week later (9/23) I have another "random" test scheduled. I lost my job 5 months ago, and have not been cleared yet to work as an RN. They're killing me with these drug screenings! What a freaking positive way for a company to make money. Just venting, I guess.

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Yep, that’s what I’ve felt like for the last almost-5 yrs. Hang in there....it’s gonna get better eventually!!! And that mobile app? I used to check in via a telephone recording with this man saying (mostly), “you have NOT been selected to test today.” I could always tell when he was abt to say “you have been selected...” ugh such dread!!!! Thank goodness for the app! ?

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Yep,

I've been in PNAP for 3 years now. Life will get better when you can go back to work. This program is financially crushing there is simply no two ways about that. However, I'm getting there and so can you!!!

Hang in there

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You’ll get there!!!!!! Just keep pushing. I completed PNAP as of last Thursday!!!! It’s possible. Good luck!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Women's Health, LTC.
9 hours ago, PrincessCarolyn said:

You’ll get there!!!!!! Just keep pushing. I completed PNAP as of last Thursday!!!! It’s possible. Good luck!

Congratulations!

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

Hang in there. You can always vent with us, most of us are here to offer support and remind each other that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

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Specializes in Oncology; Psychiatry..

Hey! Yes, these programs are becoming very costly. I am in the NJ program which is 5 years and the cost has become crippling. I have 9 months left, and I will have spent 17-20k. Is PA still 3 years? It does get easier...and you can learn a lot about yourself as you overcome various challenges along the way.

Anyone else in the NJ program?

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Pa is still three years but in reality it usually works out to about four as time doesn’t start until the board signs the contract upon entry and then when your time is up you have to wait for them to sign it again. I’m past three years now and still have months to go

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Specializes in Oncology; Psychiatry..

uhoh, I hope that is not the case for NJ--as far as I know, they do a final test, which is usually a hair test and discharge you around the time you signed your contract, ...assuming everything goes as planned. I hope to publicize the ridiculousness of this program following completion. They are in bed with so many people/companies--they recently pocketed 25k to sign on with a new third party drug screening site that is so disorganized and dysfunctional. Ironically, the head of business development was previously the director of RAMP (nj monitoring program). They also force nurses to go to this one guy for psychiatric evals, costing 400-500 out of pocket. He's not even an MD/psychiatrist. He has an MSW -_-

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Specializes in OR.
2 hours ago, sunxfire said:

uhoh, I hope that is not the case for NJ--as far as I know, they do a final test, which is usually a hair test and discharge you around the time you signed your contract, ...assuming everything goes as planned. I hope to publicize the ridiculousness of this program following completion. They are in bed with so many people/companies--they recently pocketed 25k to sign on with a new third party drug screening site that is so disorganized and dysfunctional. Ironically, the head of business development was previously the director of RAMP (nj monitoring program). They also force nurses to go to this one guy for psychiatric evals, costing 400-500 out of pocket. He's not even an MD/psychiatrist. He has an MSW -_-

That’s pretty much how these things work. Florida, definitely. Obscenely expensive, minimal choices for so-called ‘required’ evaluations which are nothing more than a firehose of cash into the pockets of the person doing the evaluation ($1000 for a little chat with some creep and a bunch of toxicology testing, really?) Those choices of evaluators also seem to have a financial interest or some affiliation with treatment programs, which of course they recommend/force/require, what have you. Those evaluations are even more of a complete farce when one figures out that it doesn’t matter what got you in there, you aren’t getting out without a contract. Why bother with the evaluation when the outcome is already known? Oh yeah....cha-Ching!!
I think, out in the real world, there’s some legal requirement that says the patient is to be informed when the doctor that is sending them for a procedure or test is going to be making money off of said test, and give them the option to go elsewhere. Not so with this. As you say, they are all in bed with each other.
I totally get the idea of monitoring but It seems that in many states the program has become such a corrupt cash cow for the very few, while ruining lives and careers with out oversight. There’s nothing about recovery in these things. IMO, it’s extortion, plain and simple...with your license and ability to earn a living held hostage.

If you read through the threads here, there’s not too many that have a positive opinion of this. Some do, and they are probably of the sector that needed such a thing. I maintain, in a non corrupt form, a monitoring program can be a life and career saver. Most of us, however view this experience as one to be survived. The ridiculousness is no great secret but because there is so much shadowy money flow behind the scenes and by the time most of us either make it out of the meat grinder alive or give up and find something else to do with our lives, we are so burnt and tired we just want to put it in the past and move on. Understandably so and that’s why I’m not sure there will be any change anytime soon. The most seminal case is a class action against the Michigan program but it hasn’t moved a whit in a few years so that tells you when change will come for the rest of the country....the 5th of god only knows when.

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Specializes in Oncology; Psychiatry..

@catsmeow1972 I completely agree, extortion operating behind the facade of it being a "voluntary" program. That's interesting to hear that there is actually a lawsuit against the Michigan program, I will have to look into that further.

S_ue_Kink_le was the director of the Florida program at one point actually, not sure if you were there during her reign--she is now the head of business development for FSS (third part drug testing site). She was the director of the nj program when I first started and upon completion of my psychiatric eval. she decided she didn't like the "results" and forced me to go to a 4 night specialized evaluation at a place out in Ben Salem PA (a known facility that they are in cahoots with). I had excellent insurance at the time, but this "specialized eval" was not covered and I had to pay 2500 dollars out of pocket.

They use defamation, slander/libel, and other corrupt and unethical tactics to smear our name during these evals to make us more well-suited on paper for their program. They also like to change our participant agreement contract as they please, forcing us to sign it each time they choose to enforce a new change or risk a contract extension ?! Seems legal right?...

I would love to hear from someone with a legal background or an understanding of contract law. The rules change day to day, and as far as I can see, it is only getting worse. They increase requirements, costs, and seem to have become more and more punitive when one gets a false positive or abnormal urine. I guess we must just submit to their autocratic rule. I truly think the only reason they are getting away with all this illegal and unethical nonsense is because they view program participation as a choice... and if we don't like how they play ...we can forfeit.

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Sunx,

i agree calling this voluntary is a little incredible. If you are given the choice of program participation or losing your career that you worked for years to obtain is that really voluntary participation? If a guy points a gun at you and says your money or your life did you voluntarily fork over the cash? I don’t think so at any rate. I agreed to the terms and conditions of my monitoring program and have completly complied and will continue to do so but gratitude for saving my life? No way. Not yesterday, today or tomorrow. I’m just doing what I have to do to keep working and paying my bills.

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