Just signed Contract with KARE, Tested 3x this last week!

SouthernPoint · Mar 31, 2010

I signed the contract with KY Kare and was SELECTED to give three urines in one week! I am very concerned about the frequency and cost of these urines. I can not afford this program at this rate. I'm not sure what to do, I have been so discouraged this last week with this whole process. One day at a time and my sobriety is number one. Some days are so frustrating, I know I put myself and my family in this predicament and that causes guilt. Coming up on 7mos and I don't want to lose my focus. I still have my license intact and I am grateful. I currently am not working and a bit fearful of finding of job. Does anyone know the average number of urine test a month? Thanks for letting me vent.

I am in Florida. Those of us in Florida are in the program called IPN (Intervention Project for Nurses). Each person's contract is different (it all depends on what the Evaluations say's and what the IPN Counsel says).

My contract requires that I call a 800# Sunday - Thursday (to see if my color has been called). I have gone as long as 8 weeks without being called for a UDS. I have also gone as little as 1 week for a UDS. The color system is somewhat random. We do have some in IPN who are called weekly.

So I am going to go with it's the way your contract is written. You might want to give your case manager a call and explain to them that you have been called 3 times in the past week and was just wondering if this is normal. There could be a problem within the Program that they are not aware of.

Wishing you the best of luck

SWS RN, ASN, RN · Mar 31, 2010

Hi there,

I am also in the Fl IPN. I think the colors are assigned according to your history and the evaluation that the addictionologist sent to the IPN. I know that there are colors that come up weekly on no particular day of the week. My nursing support group facilitator said that the frequent colors are assigned to people who had relapsed and also the CRNA's.

I have averaged once a month so far never more frequently and sometimes around 6 weeks.

Did you recieve a copy of your evaluation? There may be a clue in that as to why they are having you tested so much.

I would be soooo frustrated to be tested that frequently. Not because i am afraid of the result- or even the cost- but it is so inconvienent to try to run in and do it before work.

ANyway,

Good Luck!

s

lifeistweet · Apr 3, 2010

In Michigan the program is HPRP and we drop 4X's/month for the first year, then it drops to 2 and if you request it you can get low frequency which I think is about 1X/mo. Usually you get low frequency if you are near done or not working.

Magsulfate, BSN, RN · Apr 3, 2010

You just began the program. They are testing you more frequently right now because you are at a vulnerable stage in your recovery. Think about how important recovery and regaining the life you once had along with your nursing career means to you and then compare that to the price of recovery.

I know that it is tough to pay for things when you're not working, but to remain a nurse, you must go through the program. From what I have read and the stories I've been told by other nurses, if you drop out of the program now, the board of nurses will have no sympathy with you. This is your chance right now and you really gotta understand this.

It doesn't matter what state you're in , or which program you're going through, it has to be completed, and the uds must be passed each and every time or bye bye license and hellooo looking for a job at McDonalds. Then, where would your recovery be sitting at when this happens. ?

Keep up the good work... and go to your inbox, I continued this message over there .. message me anytime.

incodebrown · Apr 9, 2010

Wow! 3 times in one week! Now I'm nervous. I'm new to the CA Diversion program and this is my 10th day logging in for random testing & so far I have not been selected to test. I've been trying to really watch what I eat and touch because I've heard of a lot of nurses getting false postives with the etg test for alcohol.

WORRIED!!!

Good Luck to you, hang in there and keep posting so we can hear what happens!

Magsulfate, BSN, RN · Apr 10, 2010

They can test you as often as they want, but more than likely it will be a regular number of tests each month.

A little simple advice to get through this: Don't rock the boat. Do the tests, however often they come up, don't forget to call in and check everyday! If you forget, that could be considered positive, I'm not sure if it's after one missed or two, but they can do it when they want.

They can make you test EVERY SINGLE DAY if they want, but they won't, and thats because thye know you are having a hard time with paying for your bills, plus treatment and buying drug tests. ... AS LONG as you follow the rules, work the program like they want you to, and follow their directions just like they tell you,,, then you will be okay! And if you're clean and sober and are not spending your money on alcohol or drug anymores, then you should have plenty of money to send for the UDS. After all, they are much less expensive than any drug, street drug or alcohol in the long run :)

Mags.

imfree · Apr 12, 2010

When I was in the Peer Assistance Program, the individual contract specified the minimum number of times you would be called to test. The usual was "a minimum of 12 times per year." As the other poster said....those who had relapsed would be given an amended contract which normally stated that they would be called "a minimum of 4 times per month" for several months after the relapse. It was randomized, so I know of people who were called 2-3 times in one week and then not again for 6-8 weeks. Your contract should specify at the very least, how many times per year you should expect to be called to test. Don't ever let your guard down and forget to call either. In the program I was in, a missed test was considered 'positive'...no questions asked...no excuses....nada. There was also a policy in place that if you had a specimen come up dilute per their parameters, you would be notified to retest and if you did not show up to the lab within 2 hours it was counted as 'positive.' Further, if you had 2 dilutes without a physician verified reason during your time in the Program (up to 5 years), it was considered 'positive' and you would be required to restart the entire program. So yeah, very strict policies in place....You need to know exactly what your contract states and abide by it to the letter. If you do, you can finish the program and go on your way.

Best of luck! And remember that your recovery has to remain priority number one. Being an RN (or LPN) is secondary to having your life back. Take care and hope everything works out for you.

ehooper80 · Apr 13, 2010

Hi Debnky, I'm currently in the ISNAP (Indiana) program, and my healthcare support group has a few people enrolled in the KARE program. You will be ordered so many per year... not sure about KY, but Indiana has a minimum of 12 and max of 42 a year. How many you get should be in your contract and is determined by your individual case. It also depends on if you are working as a nurse or not (less testing if you're not, more testing if you are). It is expensive, but hang in there, it's worth it to get your license in order. If you are getting more tests than you think you should according to your agreement with KARE, call them and verify. The labs have been known to make mistakes.

Leigh37 · Oct 16, 2018

I feel the same!!!! I am about 3 weeks in and fav my first urine today. I have spoken to my case manager multiples times bc I am an anxious nervous wreck k!!! The foods, sprays, OTC meds etc etc to avoid is nuts!!!! It makes you feel like no matter what you have done you are going up test positive for something!!!! I was told not to even SMELL HAND SANITIZER!!!! Smell it!!!! Y'all, I am not even a month in and feel freaking defeated as hell and I am almost 1 year clean and sober!!! And to think this is for 5 years!! No matter where you are, what your plans st or even if you are in the middle of Disney world you may have to find a way to find somewhere to do a urine in the middle of your family vacation... and you know going somewhere in Orlando to try and pee in a dang cup will take up a good chunk of your children's day!!!! I feel defeated already.

Kel65, MSN, RN · Oct 18, 2018

You are in that high risk for relapse period. When I hit 7 months I felt like I was testing every other day.

willow14 · Oct 18, 2018

I am in a monitoring program in WI on a 5 year contract. Like many others have said, most contracts state the frequency of UDS per year. I was ordered to test "not less than 49 times" my first year, and boy, that was freaking expensive!!!! It averaged about 4 years per month----PLUS I had to do a hair test annually, which is around $300 a crack! I wasn't even working as a nurse for the first year of my contract because 1) I was at first advised "not to" by my "required" AODA counselor and 2) when I was cleared to return to nursing, NO ONE would hire me.....

I also learned after a year in that I 'could have' asked for a reduced amount of screens at the beginning because I wasn't working as a nurse.....that was SUPER frustrating to find out. Anyhow...

With time & adherence to the program I have been able to ask for a decrease in my screens and they were all granted. I am now into my final year of my 5 year contract and am now only required to test 14 per year, plus an annual hair test.

This has just been my experience. I know it's SO hard to wrap your head around ANY of this in the beginning, but know that this is Doable, despite the expense and frustration. Hang in there. READ your contract THOROUGHLY so you know what's expected of you. Stay under the radar, do what you need to get through this. I Know it sucks, but it is what it is, if you want to keep your license.

This site has a lot of support and has really helped me get through this. Good luck to you!