Last 8 weeks testing

Nurses Recovery

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The end is almost near and it seems like I'm getting more and more test. Crazy part is that I have never had one slip up during my whole 2 years of monitoring.  Not one missed check in or positive test. They say affinity testing is random but dang. This month alone I have had about 3 Peth test which are 120$ a piece. I'm wondering if I will have to do a hair or nail as the end is near I'll be sure to let you guys know. I can say that being monitored has only taught me resilience nothing else. First year I was very better as I do not have a substance abuse issue. This served as a lengthy lesson only and did build character. I do want to say keep pushing everyone! 

Nursinggirl17 said:

I understand increased test but not in tested path test I would said in my case etg.. its pointless to take weekly peth giving how long it goes back and the characteristics of it. 

But the older tests don't 

 

JB C said:

Highest risk for relapse for nurses who have a SUD is between 6 months before graduation of a monitoring program and 6 months after completion. Even for nurses who don't have a true SUD and were falsely labeled or diagnosed as having one, about 6 months before graduation until finish is the highest risk for slip ups or failed tests. This is why many monitoring programs increase testing towards the end.

I can see people using anything under the sun when it's over but to blow it 6 months from completion is mind boggling 

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JB C said:

Highest risk for relapse for nurses who have a SUD is between 6 months before graduation of a monitoring program and 6 months after completion. Even for nurses who don't have a true SUD and were falsely labeled or diagnosed as having one, about 6 months before graduation until finish is the highest risk for slip ups or failed tests. This is why many monitoring programs increase testing towards the end.

But this doesn't help the "monitoring participant" adapt to how they should be living their life.  The monitoring contract is to help the individual abstain from alcohol or substances and learn other healthy ways of living, meetings, exercise, hobbies or whatever helps the person.  So naturally, the testing should decrease as the monitoring contract goes on and as individuals learn different ways of coping -because eventually, the monitoring people won't be around and you have to do it alone.  The highest risk of relapse is during the 1st year of monitoring.  

The testing non-stop 6 months before the end date then is just a money grab and to see if you F'ED up.  Therefore, monitoring programs don't care about our health or us long-term.  BIG SURPRISE!

I'll be doing whatever the hell I want once the contract is done.

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Universe93B said:

But this doesn't help the "monitoring participant" adapt to how they should be living their life.  The monitoring contract is to help the individual abstain from alcohol or substances and learn other healthy ways of living, meetings, exercise, hobbies or whatever helps the person.  So naturally, the testing should decrease as the monitoring contract goes on and as individuals learn different ways of coping -because eventually, the monitoring people won't be around and you have to do it alone.  The highest risk of relapse is during the 1st year of monitoring.  

The testing non-stop 6 months before the end date then is just a money grab and to see if you F'ED up.  Therefore, monitoring programs don't care about our health or us long-term.  BIG SURPRISE!

I'll be doing whatever the hell I want once the contract is done.

I'll be doing whatever I want when this is over as well 

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Specializes in Psych.
Universe93B said:

But this doesn't help the "monitoring participant" adapt to how they should be living their life.  The monitoring contract is to help the individual abstain from alcohol or substances and learn other healthy ways of living, meetings, exercise, hobbies or whatever helps the person.  So naturally, the testing should decrease as the monitoring contract goes on and as individuals learn different ways of coping -because eventually, the monitoring people won't be around and you have to do it alone.  The highest risk of relapse is during the 1st year of monitoring.  

The testing non-stop 6 months before the end date then is just a money grab and to see if you F'ED up.  Therefore, monitoring programs don't care about our health or us long-term.  BIG SURPRISE!

I'll be doing whatever the hell I want once the contract is done.

Right I will be definitely continuing my life as it was before I when this is over in 7 weeks. It is a money grab peth goes back a whole month so it's pointless to have two in a two week period! 

Healer555 said:

I'll be doing whatever I want when this is over as well 

Me too LOL ! 

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Specializes in Psych.
Healer555 said:

But the older tests don't 

 

I can see people using anything under the sun when it's over but to blow it 6 months from completion is mind boggling 

Right I sure wouldn't and 6 weeks before completion I would never LOL

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National Council of State Boards of Nursing | NCSBN
https://www.NCSBN.org › Ou...PDF
Outcomes of Substance Use Disorder Monitoring Programs for Nurses

 

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Universe93B said:

But this doesn't help the "monitoring participant" adapt to how they should be living their life.  The monitoring contract is to help the individual abstain from alcohol or substances and learn other healthy ways of living, meetings, exercise, hobbies or whatever helps the person.  So naturally, the testing should decrease as the monitoring contract goes on and as individuals learn different ways of coping -because eventually, the monitoring people won't be around and you have to do it alone.  The highest risk of relapse is during the 1st year of monitoring.  

The testing non-stop 6 months before the end date then is just a money grab and to see if you F'ED up.  Therefore, monitoring programs don't care about our health or us long-term.  BIG SURPRISE!

I'll be doing whatever the hell I want once the contract is done.

I have no idea if helps or hurts the monitoring participant or whether it's a money grapping, etc? I'm just telling you the rationale as to why some monitoring programs increase testing in the last 6 months. The poster asked Why monitoring programs do this. Monitoring Programs and data will tell you that their internal data and external data has shown that the highest risk for relapse other than when a nurse enters the program (obviously) is at the 6 month until completion until 6 months after completion time frame. One may disagree with the reasons as to WHY many programs increase testing. I'm just giving you their textbook answer or the WHY that they present when asked this question. One could argue, debate and discussion for years as to whether it helps, hurts, does nothing is good, is bad, or whatever. But their reason (the monitoring program) at to Why they do it has been answered and they have data to support it.

National Council of State Boards of Nursing | NCSBN
https://www.NCSBN.org › Ou...PDF
Outcomes of Substance Use Disorder Monitoring Programs for Nurses

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Specializes in Psych.

And another peth today.. 3 in a row! 

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Nursinggirl17 said:

And another peth today.. 3 in a row! 

that is a little insane LOL what state, if you don't mind sharing?

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Increased testing in the last 6 months is evidenced based or at least there is some evidence to support it, but continuous Peth Tests are no evidenced based.  I can see one Peth Test per month in the last 6 months and maybe.......maybe 2 per month, but just crazy to have that many Peth Tests in that short of a timeframe.  Makes no sense and it sounds wrong.  It sounds like the person in charge of your testing (either the case manager or the monitoring contractor (Affinity, Recovery Trek, etc) is doing wrong and not doing the right thing.  Persevere Nursinggirl17.  It's painful and not always fair, but you got this and you are almost done.  All the best for you.

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Specializes in Psych.
JB C said:

Increased testing in the last 6 months is evidenced based or at least there is some evidence to support it, but continuous Peth Tests are no evidenced based.  I can see one Peth Test per month in the last 6 months and maybe.......maybe 2 per month, but just crazy to have that many Peth Tests in that short of a timeframe.  Makes no sense and it sounds wrong.  It sounds like the person in charge of your testing (either the case manager or the monitoring contractor (Affinity, Recovery Trek, etc) is doing wrong and not doing the right thing.  Persevere Nursinggirl17.  It's painful and not always fair, but you got this and you are almost done.  All the best for you.

Yes it's wrong at this point it does not pay to even say anything I have contacted both in the past and they always told me it was nothing they could do about it as it is random. 

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Anyone with a medical background, like us, can tell this is not random.  There is no point to doing a peth test every week.  Total robbery of money here.  After you're done with the program, I would send a nice letter and point that out.  Say you know how the peth test works also.  

"It's random" is a BS excuse.  They can change things into the algorithm so that the same "long-detection" tests don't show up in the decision tree that frequently.  For example, program the algorithm so that it doesn't select someone for a hair/nail ETG 2 weeks in a row.  

Again they're all lying.  Point it out when you're done.  It's up to us to change these things for the nursing world, dental world, doctor world, vet world, or whatever field you're in.

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