I’ve been in HPRP for 7 weeks and have decided to quit this so-called non-disciplinary (per HPRP), free-of-charge (per LARA website...of course that doesn’t include all the testing fees and therapists’ fees) “program”. I got into it completely by mistake: in trying to find a therapist to help me thru many stressors in my life, I called the HPRP phone number, admitted I drank 4-5 times a week, and got sucked into the system. I’d never heard of HPRP before. I contacted a lawyer before signing the monitoring agreement, but he basically said to me, “Once HPRP has their claws in you, you can’t get out.” My life has been horrible since “joining”/being a “participant” in this “program”....stressed, angry and depressed over the cost, time, and feeling demoralized. I don’t need this, and it’s not worth it to me to retain my license. So, I’m getting out of HPRP. I’m a new nurse but I’m older, and I know my license will be suspended. So my question is...Does anyone know or have suggestions on what kind of work I will be able to do? Will I be able to be a caregiver or a nursing assistant? Thanks for your replies.
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
7 hours ago, LaylaR said:
Abbey—Thx for your message. I resigned after a year and a half of nursing this past March because of illness in the family—I was trying to work full time and be a full time caregiver and decided work had to come 2nd. COVID was ramping up at the same time. I was stressed and depressed. I will take my nursing experience off my resume, good idea. My HPRP monitoring agreement is 3 years, which is standard in MI. As far as I’m concerned, tho, it’s over. I’ve stopped checking in every morning to see if I have to drug test (and I’m sure I missed one this week because I was “randomly” being chosen to test every week, and historically it’s been urine, blood, urine, blood, urine...this week would have been blood) and I purposefully did not attend a therapy session. I haven’t called the case manager yet to tell her HPRP can go to you know where. Figured I’d let her do her job—she can call me. Anyway, thx to you and everyone for letting me vent!
Long time graduate of one of the most Draconian programs out there. If I were you I would rethink just dropping out of the progarm. They (The BON ) can and willhold it against you and as another Poster has said . It's called an alternative to discipline for a reason meaning that you will not have a permenent stike on your liscense. If they suspend or revoke your licene now. You will have a very difficult time getting it reinstated if you decide to do so. It would be better to ask if you can be released from the program as you simply do not have the funds and are looking into other career options. When and if you decide to return to nursing. You need only pick up that cross again. If there is no actual action against you license you could request to go before the BON and explain your circumstances. They might decide to put you on probation which is typically shorter that alternatives to disciplne and will allow you to continue working while you sort out this part of your life. You spent a lot of time effort and money to become a nurse - don't just throw it away!
Thank you Hppy...your message has many words of wisdom. When I talk with the case manager, I’ll definitely choose a non-confrontational, passive-aggressive tone...that’s just me in a nutshell anyway. I will absolutely consider all you’ve said, and at the same time, expect and be prepared for the worse case scenario. I’m not willing to put up with the system unless the system shows me it has exceptions and tolerances. At this point, I don’t believe it has either, but I’d be willing to believe that it does and consider alternatives. Thx again ?
Don't walk away from this program just yet. Everyone is miserable in the beginning. Take the time to go on the LARA website and look at all of the jobs that require state certification. If you leave now, you may not be able to get another patient care job in any capacity. You are shooting yourself in the foot by setting yourself up to make half the pay you make as an RN. Why did you even call them for help in the first place if you didn't think that you might have a problem. If you thought you MIGHT have a problem, you DO have a problem. It made me nuts to read Bravo's post about being tormented over a drug test. Someone is extending confusing strict with cruel. The more negative panels that come back for you will mean less testing in the future and decreasing costs. EVERYONE feels demoralized, humiliated and violated by peeing in a cup. You will get through that if you have your job to distract you. But do take a look at all the jobs in Michigan that might be affected by this permanent mark on your license.
Specializes in ER, ICU/CCU, Open Heart OR Recovery, Etc.
On 8/20/2020 at 9:22 PM, AbbeyR said:
There’s a really good law firm in Troy. Chapman law all they do is represent licensed medical professionals. They even brought a class action lawsuit again HPRP. They could tell you more to determine if you could get out early. Do not just quit. They’ll deem you non-compliant are will ? report you to LARA. I’m assuming you took your intake eval and signed a contract.
On 8/21/2020 at 9:36 PM, hppygr8ful said:
Long time graduate of one of the most Draconian programs out there. If I were you I would rethink just dropping out of the progarm. They (The BON ) can and willhold it against you and as another Poster has said . It's called an alternative to discipline for a reason meaning that you will not have a permenent stike on your liscense. If they suspend or revoke your licene now. You will have a very difficult time getting it reinstated if you decide to do so. It would be better to ask if you can be released from the program as you simply do not have the funds and are looking into other career options. When and if you decide to return to nursing. You need only pick up that cross again. If there is no actual action against you license you could request to go before the BON and explain your circumstances. They might decide to put you on probation which is typically shorter that alternatives to disciplne and will allow you to continue working while you sort out this part of your life. You spent a lot of time effort and money to become a nurse - don't just throw it away!
Hppy
Seconded. It is harder than you think to just walk away. I learned that the hard way. You can't.
I did some research on trying to find other healthcare certifications that my nursing degree would qualify for and I was successful in finding one national board certification company. American allied health
It does not matter if you are revoked or not. They offer certification in medical assisting, surgical technology, pharmacy technician and a few others including vetinary assistant.
your nursing degree satisfies all the requirements for all of the offered certifications.
I got the surgical Technician certification and put together a resume
I just want to share a word of caution. If your nursing license is actually revoked, you have a much higher likelihood of being placed on the OIG’s exclusionary database. If that happens, a certificate in another healthcare related field would be worthless. You wouldn’t be able to work in any facility that accepts reimbursement from Medicare or any state Medicaid programs- In any capacity. Even if you left the clinical aspect of healthcare, you wouldn’t be able to work in any job field (administrative assistant, secretary or even housekeeping), much less any with a certification, in a facility that accepts federal payments. That will knock out any hospitals, skilled care facilities, home health, clinics, MD offices, etc.
I was in an ATD program but in a different state (KY). The threat of the OIG alone was enough to ensure that I followed every aspect of my 5 year program to the letter. After working in the nursing field for > 20+ years, I was to the point that healthcare seemed to be all that I knew. I had shopped around for a different job in the few months leading up to signing my agreement. During this time I realized that the alternative jobs that I felt that I qualified for, were still in healthcare-related fields.
If you’re new to nursing & have interests in other fields outside healthcare, you may have more options than I felt that I did. However, as an ATD Program graduate that’s back working FT in nursing, I’m very grateful that I stuck it out. Yes, it was very costly & definitely anxiety-ridden, for sure! But I’m back to the pay grade that I should be earning with my years of Nsg experience in hospital nursing.
I was not put on an OIG list. And I was not excluded on any other list including if a facility that accepts medicare. I asked the Texas Board of Nursing actually about working as an administrative assistant and they explained it was up to the facility themself. From what I understand is different states may have different rules. But I’m not here looking for information from others about this subject.
Today they told me I am lucky to get a 6 month extension because my car broke down at work and I missed my test... the place I go closes at 5:30 due to covid... I had a receipt that my car was towed and tested negative the next morning.... you think they give a ***... nope. 6 months!
This is heartbreaking for me to read - yet I’ve read enough discouraging stories on here to know that this is all to common.
I was an a 5yr ATD program because I needed to be. I never had any issues about being in one because I knew that’s exactly where I needed to be. In fact, I was very grateful to the KY BON for a second chance. I had actually known NOTHING about their ATD program for addiction until I screwed up, threatened my own license, & desperately needed the program.
I was fortunate to have the same Case Manager for the entire 5 years. If I had the same experience as @Bravo-rn47 during my first year, I have no idea what the repercussions would have been (besides me likely having a meltdown from anxiety). However, in my 2nd - 5th year, I really don’t believe I would have even been given a 6 month extension. By then, I had an excellent rapport with my CM, she knew I always emailed with questions/concerns. I DO believe that I would have probably seen an increase in testing, as I would still have to PROVE that missing a test was legit. However, I don’t believe I would have faced such a drastic consequence as Bravo.
I know that this may vary state-by-state & also by Case Manager. And I completely believe Bravo when he/she was told how “lucky” he/she was to only get a 6 month extension! I’ve seen stories by nurses would would have been discharged from the program after missing a test.
For me- someone who benefited from KY’s program & successfully “graduated”, it’s heartbreaking to hear about someone that’s playing by all the rules, yet is penalized for an occurrence out of their control (even with detailed receipts & subsequent negative testing).
Hang in there, Bravo. Even though it can absolutely suck at times, the grass is still greener after you’ve completed! And there’s always lots of support on this site!
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
On 8/20/2020 at 11:16 PM, Direct said:
I did some research on trying to find other healthcare certifications that my nursing degree would qualify for and I was successful in finding one national board certification company. American allied health
It does not matter if you are revoked or not. They offer certification in medical assisting, surgical technology, pharmacy technician and a few others including vetinary assistant.
your nursing degree satisfies all the requirements for all of the offered certifications.
I got the surgical Technician certification and put together a resume That I was trained on the job and applied on indeed. I applied at about 5 agency’s and 3 of them called back.
I don’t know how strong the certification is with employers but I’m going to try to find out more about it.
I’m trying to research and learn about the surg tech job duties incase I get hired so I might know a little. I should probably go with the medical assistant but the surgical technician pays more.
I just wanted to share this about American allied health in case it might help someone else out with getting a job.
I'm late to this party but would caution you about allied health care jobs/certifications. In some cases when you are dropped or drop out of a program the BON can bar you from doing any direct patient care (Even CNA) As far as Pharm tech the pharmacy board and the BON comunicate with each other and you may not be able to sit for the Pharm boards. Please check these out carefully before you spend a lot of money on one of these programs only to find out that you can't take the test.
Does anyone have any experience with losing their medical license and getting another one?? I lost my rad tech lisence and I am interested in becoming a nurse. A lawyer said I have a chance this could work.
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
That would depend what you lost your previous license for. I would call the BON in your state and ask. You may be denied an RN license or you may be permitted to test and work under discipline.
hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I
4 Articles; 5,212 Posts
Long time graduate of one of the most Draconian programs out there. If I were you I would rethink just dropping out of the progarm. They (The BON ) can and willhold it against you and as another Poster has said . It's called an alternative to discipline for a reason meaning that you will not have a permenent stike on your liscense. If they suspend or revoke your licene now. You will have a very difficult time getting it reinstated if you decide to do so. It would be better to ask if you can be released from the program as you simply do not have the funds and are looking into other career options. When and if you decide to return to nursing. You need only pick up that cross again. If there is no actual action against you license you could request to go before the BON and explain your circumstances. They might decide to put you on probation which is typically shorter that alternatives to disciplne and will allow you to continue working while you sort out this part of your life. You spent a lot of time effort and money to become a nurse - don't just throw it away!
Hppy