Michigan HPRP newbie

[Bravo-rn47]

Advice please! All the info on here so far looks like it’s from 9 yrs ago.

I Self reported to my work and then to HPRP for norco. Went into Rehab for a week. Resigned my position due to home care, I was told from my company I am leaving in good standing and they would re hire in another capacity. Initial intake with HPRP completed. HPRP evaluation completed.... told to wait 3 weeks for my results or monitoring program. I was told BON would not be notified if I was 100% compliant, and that I can look for a job and they would not know (?) as long as I was compliant... however that looks like it’s not true because you need a work site monitor. I am applying to mental health RN positions hoping that they would be more understanding and that I won’t be passing narcotics, to avoid having all my new co workers know I am being monitored.

The evaluator stated she would recommend I can work ASAP, that midnight shifts will not be a problem, and that many people to get hired when employers know you are in the program because you are being drug screened often.

Should I get a lawyer before signing anything ? What should I expect? Are they full of *** with these promises? How long are we looking here.. I know Michigan has a 3 yr max monitor program??

I had 18 yrs of excellence on my job... I admitted to taking norco 15 tablets from 1 patient over the last year and have had 2 Vivitrol injections to to prove non addiction issues.

thanks in advance!!!

[Bravo-rn47]

Not true for me...diversion once... self reported... screwed 3 yrs with hprp

[chadprepton, ADN]

Hi Bravo-rn47!

I looked at the HPRP handbook. If you self reported this is exactly what your hand book states....

"...the names of individuals who voluntarily self-report and participate in the HPRP may not be given to the public, or reported to the allegations section of the department as long as they meet program requirements. Furthermore, participant information may not be obtained by subpoena or Freedom of Information Act requests. These individuals participate in a monitored recovery program, and can return to work without regulatory action on their license."

To be clear: Your name is not going to be public while in this program? And you are allowed to work? So as long as you do what they ask for 3 years this will never show up on you license? Honestly thats amazing! Many states require a *5* years of monitoring. Some states force you to stop working for a period of time even if you self-report. I think you are far from being screwed. You won't have any action taken on your license. You are getting a chance to prove to them what you are saying in that it was just a mistake. These programs are known to require a monitor. So really a lot of programs and contracts require exactly what you are doing. (Thats Info that nots 9 years old either, lol) And I know you can this! ?

I'm confused about your story. "I admitted to taking norco 15 tablets from 1 patient over the last year and have had 2 Vivitrol injections to to prove non addiction issues"

So you took only 15 pills from one pt over the course or a year? Any reason why this one pt? I'm not judging just trying to understand. When I diverted it was waste IV from any patient I could find lol. After that year of taking 15 pills you thought it was a good idea to tell your employer? I was confronted and had the chance to self-report, very grateful they allowed me to do that.

Same thing with the Vivitrol shots. Why two? They are a monthly shots so when/who made you get them?

We are totally in your corner if you need support. I was just trying to understand. Try to keep a positive attitude! It be an easy 3 years or a miserable 3 years. Either way if you follow the rules this could be the best outcome you can hope for! ?

[Bravo-rn47]

Thx chad... !!! I think I was anger rambling when I wasn’t making sense... thx for your response:)

I did homecare.. and to be clear I had been taking the norco a couple of tabs like 3 x week for a year...that I had gotten from a friend that had oodles and gave them to me.. then I did take the 15 tabs from a patient... totally stupid and wrong.. diverted. I went to my boss stupidly and self reported. Of course I should have just checked into a rehab and told no one instead!!!

Then I was was asked to resign in good standing..and got wrapped into hprp. I have had monthly Vivitrol for 2 months because this all occurred in the last 2 months... I was going to continue the monthly injections but they don’t seem to count it so I may not.

I am 100% acknowledging I had a problem..! but now I have to look for a job and say I am in the program at the interview... why would they take that on?? And the closest A.A. meetings are 30mins away, and the hprp meetings are an hour away. So basically leave and come home 430pm to 8pm q week... Tuesday is the only day offered .So if I even got an offer I have to say I need every Tuesday off for this meeting. Any job I could possibly get is over 30 mins away... but more likely an hour.

I just felt 3 years was a lot being that I had 18 yrs of top notch nursing and 1 year of addiction. I had patients with dilaudid, oxy, morphine etc... never touched it... and I absolutely could have!

i have never drank and drove, gotten into arguments etc with alcohol. Never missed a kids game... etc and yet I can’t have a beer when I mow the lawn... or a glass of wine with dinner.

They are also saying I cannot work anywhere with narcotics. Nursing wise... where I live... that seems impossible. That means no hospital floor, hospice... etc

The only jobs I can find that don’t have narcs are full time days...like dialysis... I can’t see how I can hit all the meetings and still raise a family...

so even though it’s not public... and I actually got a job... the whole staff will know because I can’t pass the narcotic... and the supervisor will know... so to me that is public. People talk.

i can see why people just say forget it and give up their career and do something totally different... I appreciate you listening to my ranting... it’s just so new and I feel overwhelmed

[chadprepton, ADN]

Bravo-rn47,

Thank you so much for not taking my questions the wrong way! I have been in some of the spots you mentioned. My IOP was over an hour from my home and I to go 5 days a week at first, then taper down over the course of two months to 1 day a week for 2 years. 5-6 NA/AA meetings a week. I do have a couple of AA meeting in my town. But my NA meetings are 30min away. So I can surely relate to the travel. Please continue the vitriol. It shows you are serious about your recovery. Document all your meetings. It made a huge impact on how my board handled my case.

Just a suggestion about finding a job: Think outside the box of normal nursing jobs. Dialysis is known to be accepting of our situation and many nurses love it. You're right when you say it seems impossible ....*SEEMS* impossible ? I found the best job of my life, telephonic nursing! I work from my home doing assessments on cancer pts for a pharmacy. Its amazing that my wife works as a stay at home mom and I'm one room away in my office. The best work-life balance job ever, and only found by thinking outside of not passing narcs.

I did 3 interviews for this job. Only one interview was with a nurse. Now mind you I had 2.5 years clean and just got my license back. I was embarrassed just like you to say anything, but I was upfront during each interview...Told them what I did, what I've done about it, and how I continue my recovery. You wouldn't believe the response.. I got the job because of how impressed they were with my honestly!!!!! ? The last interview was with the executive vp. "From what you have said I'm not worried about it. The fact that you didn't hide shows I can trust you, and I believe in 2nd chances" He's now my mentor and has be train all the other nurses within 3 months of being there.

Just saying, you might be surprised, you might just find your dream job in all of this! Don't worry about what someone MIGHT say to you. Don't assume everything is lost. Its not! You are an amazing nurse, don't forget that. Try to let got of the doubt. It takes time to be okay with all of this. Also everything you listed out with addiction: I call them 'not yet's'. All of those things addicts either have done, or could do those things in the future. But that doesn't have to be you!

I actually lost my license for over two years for diverting. And it wasn't the first time I stole drugs. A suspension order will be on my nursing license for the rest of my life. That doesn't have to be you. So coming out the other side of all this hell, please don't give up on 18 years of amazing nursing. We need you. If you need help and get overwhelmed let me/us know. There's online AA meetings too. You can do this. You can find a job that you will be proud of, you can raise kids that are proud of your recovery, you can still be a kick-butt nurse. Keep your chin up.

[Bravo-rn47]

Thank you! Very reassuring... I keep telling myself.. my kids are healthy, my husband and family/friends are supportive... I feel crappy for complaining. I should be grateful for all the GOOD in my life... some days are better than others. Some days I do say to myself... I am strong and can do it.

[chadprepton, ADN]

On 9/16/2019 at 1:10 PM, Bravo-rn47 said:

Thank you! Very reassuring... I keep telling myself.. my kids are healthy, my husband and family/friends are supportive... I feel crappy for complaining. I should be grateful for all the GOOD in my life... some days are better than others. Some days I do say to myself... I am strong and can do it.

Its okay to be upset. We are here for you

[Bravo-rn47]

Medic—

Psych nursing wasn’t understanding for you... for a job I mean? I have an interview coming up. You’re in Michigan right? I was in homecare... can’t go back to that... ?

[Subee2, BSN, MSN, CRNA]

Every employer is different. Board only wants you to have a job with no narcotic access until you are further along in the program. Geez, how did I get into boldface that I can't change?

[K. Everly, BSN, RN]

Does anybody know how much a qualified professional licensing lawyer can help you with making modifications or changes to a proposed HPRP contract?

I'm asking because, despite not being in the program yet, I will be a brand new RN and it may be next to impossible to find a job that will work with the stipulations of no night shifts and no more than two 12-hour shifts in a row.

[Bravo-rn47]

I asked other people in the program... about a lawyer.. they all said... don’t bother. It’s a standard contract for everyone regardless of the situation. People have lost their license because they couldn’t financially afford the hprp program and were deemed non compliant... therefore reported immediately. They don’t give a RIP if you can’t find a job?

[Subee2, BSN, MSN, CRNA]

I had checked the HPRP website a few years ago when I moved here, and there was absolutely no information available without a log-in. That struck me that it might be a punitive program since they were keeping who and what they are, such a big secret. Now I'm glad to see they have eventually pasted in a lousy brochure at least. What this program is missing, at least in print, are support groups . Being a monitoring program isn't providing all the services this type of agency should be offering. They don't even mention providing educational services to hospitals re: addictions. Through the support groups in the state I came from, I can't remember a single nurse who couldn't get a job. It may not be the job they wanted, but they had a paycheck from a nursing position. It's not that difficult to find a job without access to narcotics.

It's a big state and our nurses deserve better.

[Bravo-rn47]

Undercat... now that you say that... it occurs to me they haven’t given me any resources...lol. I investigated AA/NA meetings in my area ... and I had to call around for an Hprp therapist to see weekly for group... and I just texted her to confirm the time and she didn’t even know I was supposed to come. I spoke to a social worker for the first 2 months... she sounded 12 and kept forgetting to give me all the necessary info... I would ask questions and she would say “didn’t I tell you that?” Ah no! I just heard from new caseworker today, she sounds pleasant... but it’s all a do your own research. They give you a hprp password and that’s about it!

As for a job... I am in the country... I am on Indeed constantly. Narcs come with any hospital job, nursing home, residential hospice. Or what is advertised is 7pm to 7am... so far anyways!! I know for myself... I am being very cautious not to overwork... that was the root of my downfall..I am hoping for 3 days a week somewhere so I can make the 4 meetings a week and still be MOM..I will keep on a looking:) ?