IPN evaluation

[metnaj23]

I just recently went before the Florida board of nursing and they approved me to take my exam. The only condition being that I undergoe an evaluation by IPN. I have been sober for 4 years next month. I attend AA meetings 3-4 days a week. I have an AA sponsor and I sponsor others. THe 12 steps of recovery have transformed my life. I am still somewhat nervous about the evaluation. I realize I have no choice but to accept their findings. The thought of having to sign a contract isnt to appealing.I would think that anyone in recovery knows about the obstacles we face to repair the damage of our past. Stay sober anyway:D

Has anyone had an evaluation with 4 years or over of Honest sobriety.

How long does it take for the BON to send you an ATT after they approve you

Thanks

[SouthernPoint]

Hello everyone. I am beginning my journey with IPN. I am in the Fort Myers area. I have been clean for 6 months, I attend AA/NA meetings everyday. I am looking forward to attending meetings with others in healthcare. Any advice would be appreciated. By advice, I just mean anything positive based on recovery. Im not looking to manipulate the system. Thank you.

Welcome to the madness and Congratulations on being clean. I travel into Central Fort Myers for my weekly meetings. I do not attend any AA or NA meets.

Everyone will tell you different things on how to deal with IPN. Honestly, it's not as easy as at. Some people have no issue's with IPN, some people do.

My biggest advice. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING YOU DO.

1 - Every time you talk with your IPN caseworker.

2 - Write down the UDS colors.

3 - Evaluations (Get them done 2 weeks before due date).

4 - If you are working. Be careful of everything and anything you do. (Send a message for more info).

5 - Do Not Let ANYONE make you Double Doubt Yourself. No Matter WHAT!!!

I could go on, but Im thinking you have a picture.

[jackstem]

If you are facing an investigation by the board of nursing, especially if the charges include diversion or practicing impaired, hire an attorney. The board of nursing has attorneys advising them, you should have the same. Yes attorneys are expensive. If you represent yourself there is a greater possibility of a less than desirable outcome. If you have your own professional Liability Insurance with a license defense clause, that should cover your legal fees. The American Nurses Association states:

"Every nurse today should carry their own professional liability insurance to protect themselves from the costs of legal and board of nursing action -- even if they have insurance from their employer."

If you are a nurse reading this post and you don't have your own policy, consider obtaining nursing liability insurance with appropriate clauses to cover legal representation should you find yourself facing those types of situations.

Contact the American Association of Nurse Attorneys (referral hotline [phone]) for information on nurse attorneys in your state with experience before the board of nursing. Their fee for representation will be worthwhile if you compare it to the lost income as a result of making mistakes trying to represent yourself.

Good luck and keep us posted!

jack

[ariel7777]

Also in my experience with IPN I found that if you are friendly, courteous and honest, they can be a great friend.

When you try to short cut the system, they will find out!

Remember, they have been dealing with addiction for a long.....long time!

They know every trick in the book!

Honesty is the best policy...to them and to yourself!

God bless

Ariel

[lsfaithstar]

Has anyone been able to find employment while on IPN's watch?

[O.R. baby]

Don't know where you are in the process of getting your evaluation but I can share my expierence, strength and hope with ya...

I reported myself to IPN voluntarily after I got my RN licence in August (07)I believe. If I remember right I had my evaluation about a month later. That evaluation is going to determine what contract you are offered (two year or five year, initial narc restriction or not). My advice for you is two-fold. The first I am sure you know: Be honest and forthcoming with the evaluator. If you contact me privately I can give you some suggestions with different evaluators. The second is to bring every single piece of paper that you can find that documents and proves your 4 years of sobriety. I would think that period of time would weigh heavily in your favor for your recommendations.

I have had a very positive expierence with IPN. When I started I was two months clean and sober and I have built my nursing career with the support I found in IPN. My higher power seems to give me just what I need, and no more than I can handle. In my expierence I have found the people that have the hardest time are those that can't drop the resentments and let them snowball and snowball. Basically if you do what you are supposed to you will have no problem.

Congrats on your time in recovery!

Matt

Hi all. I just recently have begun to deal with IPN. I have not yet had my evaluation, waiting for the info to arrive to pick an MD. ANY HELPFUL INFO will be soooooo greatly appreciated! Matt, it sounds like you had a good experience with them. I am hoping I do too. I am devastated! I cannot PM yet, not enough posts on the site or something, but please post back if you think you can give me any helpful experiences you or anyone else has had when getting evaluated.

thanks a million

[diva rn, BSN, RN]

O R--I left you an answer on the other thread re:thc..on page 7 I think..

diva

[all_over_again]

hey everyone,i'm new to all this so bare with me please.i'm kinda discouraged right now because i too have an ipn contract for 5 years! i recently had to appear before the bon for an etoh issue that happened 5 years ago.i was ordered to have an evaluation which i gladly did. the evaluation was 10 mins long and 350.00. short version, had to sign contract. i realize i put myself behind the 8 ball and have to pay my dues,but i paid them all or so i thought. i hope there is people out there who understand how difficult this program can be. i am a single mom of 2 teenage alien daughters and am studying to take the nclex-pn. i know it can be done. i think i'm having a bad day. thank you for letting me vent:cry:

big, fat, obvious conflict of interest. it is in the evaluator's best interest to keep you in the program. you pay his/her bills. i would get an attorney if there was any way i could possibly afford it and keep fighting.

[anfran1972]

It is a big deal! Its alot of time and money for someone who has been clean for 4 years. How redundant and ridiculous. To me it racketeering and strong arm tactics for a "for profit" organization, and your license is used as a weapon against you. It appears that even if you have made one mistake you are labeled an addict and given a "voluntary" contract. The cost is astounding and so above and beyond what one would expect from an organization that "helps" nurses. 400 for a 10 min eval by a psychiatrist that has a personal interest in a detox facility! UGH. SICK.

[REGISTEREDNUTCASE]

congratulations on both your sobriety and graduating nursing school! I'm sure it was a task in itself not replapsing during the stresses of nursing school!

[diva rn, BSN, RN]

It is a big deal! Its alot of time and money for someone who has been clean for 4 years. How redundant and ridiculous. To me it racketeering and strong arm tactics for a "for profit" organization, and your license is used as a weapon against you. It appears that even if you have made one mistake you are labeled an addict and given a "voluntary" contract. The cost is astounding and so above and beyond what one would expect from an organization that "helps" nurses. 400 for a 10 min eval by a psychiatrist that has a personal interest in a detox facility! UGH. SICK.

I'm sorry to hear that. You sound very angry and I guess if I found out the MD owned the facility I'd be mad, too. The evaluation I had two years ago was 2 hours long. The psychiatrist did not have any personal or business interest in a detox facility and I felt that he was totally unbiased. He recommended IOP--which I completed and was "underwhelmed" by, but finished it in order to be compliant...I just feel that they hold all of the cards for the rest of the contract, so I'm just going to finish this..being upset over it is not going to make it go by any faster, it only makes for more resentment. I don't know. To me there is a difference between being clean and being in recovery. Recovery means acceptance...of everything, when I finally grasped that, I sort of "relaxed" and it made everything a little easier.

I can sleep better that way.

[Karl Farmer]

Hey nutcase- dig the handle! My advice for any type of evaluation is to find a NON PROFIT organization. They are less likely to report you as worse off than you may be, since they are not motivated by fees, but by their mission to really help people with addiction, abuse, violence, and other issues. And be VERY carefull how you answer questions! They are NOT your friend...

[Karl Farmer]

These 'evaluations' consist of pyschological tests that are scored, and can be not what they appear. To get an idea of what they involve, and how your answers can be interpreted, or misinterpreted, check out CAGE (alcohol self eval exam), MAST, and DAST. They are typical tests used in an interview. There are others also, (more sinister) that ask the same question in varying nuanced ways, that attempt to trip you up. Much like a lie detector though, the results are open to debate, and again- if you use a for profit organization, be prepared to be labeled high risk and in need of the maximum 'counseling'. Also, sad fact is that most of those 'counselors' are prior addicts or alcoholics, so that in itself is something to be wary of, when you are being judged, and the results can affect your record for life. Former addicts sometimes feel that everybody else is also an addict, and they they have an obligation to 'save the world', since they themselves fell prey to their own lack of restraint.