Monitoring agencies and “professional programs"

[Universe93B]

I've searched on Allnurses.com and seems like quite a large variety of occupations have posted on here over the heads - mostly nurses, but also NPs, PAs, CRNAs, physicians, optometrists, pharmacists and even found a few pilot posts!

That means a lot of us out there are looking for answers to questions, but also some support.

Do mostly all health professionals start at a "Professionals program" for their particular state?   (For example, it's SCRPP for SC, SC Recovering Professional Program).  And then that program refers people to those annoying 96 hour evaluations?  Then the agency and Board together follows the recommendations of the evaluation?   For example, if you have to do a 12 week rehab followed by 5 years of monitoring, 4 AA/NA meetings  week, etc etc .

Is this process standardized for most of the health professionals?   In SC, nurses have the same monitoring program as physicians - automatic 5 years that decreases in severity as you go along.  A positive test results in maybe a confirmatory test or maybe another 96 hour eval that costs $4k. If positive, you are sent to a 3-4 week residential rehab again.   Seems like pilots are the same the but they have even more Peth tests than us.  
 

 

[Healer555]

Some states are different. My evaluation was virtual and the standard is a three year monitoring agreement for a substance use disorder I don't have. 

[Universe93B]

Spoke with a few more rehab alumni at this past meeting, and seems like pilots have an extremely strict monitoring program, but the most lenient in terms of getting people back to work.

We in healthcare don't have that.  Actually, even physicians don't have it too bad compared to nurses.  Is it due to a doctor shortage or their monitoring and board programs are slightly better.  Not saying they're good, but still better - nurses have it the worse.  Don't know about dentist programs 

[Yellowbird68]

My eval was in person, had a urine and a hair test at eval. I took an expired RX of mine a day or 2 before then had a medical emergency at work. I was recommended a 2 yr contract. No rehab of any sort for me. If you have any questions let me know. 

[Sam_0896]

My state (Nnj) starts with a 90 day evaluation period during which you have to get a very expensive SUD evaluation (~$900). It is a regular meeting with a professional and they send a report to the board outlining your treatment recommendations. I've heard they are tricky because the counselors are almost looking for a reason to place you in monitoring.

Only thing is they have a criteria for automatic 5 year contract (I.e. diversion) so you skip the evaluation. I have an auto 5 years, so I went straight to intensive therapy and they allowed me to go to a facility that was covered by my insurance. 

I know in Washington state, they give you contract based on the severity of the SUD, or if you have mental health illness without SUD. It is not automatic 5 years. In Wisconsin, you can petition to end monitoring early. IDK if they actually do allow for nurses to do that but I remember looking into some states because I was intending to move for work. 

[Jean80]

Has anyone been negatively discharged from the IPN/PRN program from an evaluation? I just had an evaluation from the biggest narcissist ever to walk this plabet. He has so far up his own *** it was almost funny. I have been in the program for one year and have been clean for two. My hair tests keep showing up positive.  Although they are trending down, they are positive. For the same thing over and over. All my other tests come back clean every time. But of course that doesn't matter. Say whatever but I'm telling the truth about being clean. Anywho- just curious if this is they can discharge me due to the doctors recommendation or is it always in house treatment. 

Thanks!