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Specializes in Hospice.

Hi everybody, I’m new to this site and looking for support. I am in the monitoring program, just started my 5 year sentence in October. I have the spectrum app and check in every morning to see if I’ve been “randomly selected” for drug testing. This program is all about $$$! I’ve been chosen for urine testing 3 times within the last 10 days (at $70 a pop). All results have come back negative, of course. I am following my stipulations completely and am 100% compliant. I am so discouraged and I feel so isolated. I have a small but solid support group made of family and friends, but they don’t truly understand what I’m going through. I know what I did was wrong and these are consequences of my actions l, but damn...I need a break. I just need one thing to go right. Feeling really low right now.....

Specializes in RNC-OB,L&D,Antenatal testing, Oncology.

Please know you are not alone, in this site you will find many other nurses going through your same situation. You are right, our disciplinary program is about money and they will manage our lives for the length of our sentence, but they also allow us to keep our licenses and keep practicing in our profession and at the same time they force us to learn how to stay clean and in my situation learn how to be happy without drugs. I have learned not to go against the flow and accept that I got myself in this situation and as the time goes by things get easier. I feel at peace with myself and my actions.
Wish you well.

Well I just started the program after a decade long revoke. It would have been half as short if I knew of all the options I had being out of state. But that’s not my problem now a days.

I finally got accepted into an online law school so I feel better about possibly having a career outside of nursing if something should happen. Board willing I assume. However I want to be a nurse practitioner also. However I have not read a nursing book in ten years. I did do a state approved nursing refresher course that had a textbook question side of about 150 questions and I was able to pass it however I do not have any idea how. However I just took a medical doctor practice test online and out of 30 questions I only got 3 right. They were very in-depth however I took an NCLEX practice test and got a 33%. I kinda think not too bad since I haven’t seen any questions in ten years however I also know on the NCLEX it says you only have to get a 50% so if that’s true and I’m at roughly 33 percent I feel a little better. That’s what I found in the research on the NCLEX.

I do not know if I should try to relearn this to get to the next level as rn. I have all but like 2 classes completed for excelsior adn. Then proceeded with the skills check off and however else they do. But I am happy being at the lvn level. I do not want to go to work at a hospital cause I know I would know nothing in those charts and reading all those labs and I don’t want to be called stupid. That’s my biggest fear and also going back into a nursing home. I worry about my level of knowledge but I do think I could relearn it but to be a nurse practitioner? I would love to prescribe medications however it would be for The job and for the money. Not so much of a dream for it. I dreamt of being the nurse and I was able to get that accomplished being the lvn. I dunno I guess since the board is allowing me to proceed I should go ahead and interview at the nursing homes and get back into it. But being a nurse practitioner I don’t know if I would like er work or working at an express clinic and I really can’t imagine trying to run a building myself with my own people and stuff. I dunno. I just feel not very smart but I know I could re learn all this. Any ideas on what I should do.... I am bipolar also.

I just know I can pass the refresher course for it... I’m just a little old fat 34yo bald guy.... I’m thinking Smart supermodel is what I need to be

Specializes in Hospice.
14 hours ago, Rosa09 said:

Please know you are not alone, in this site you will find many other nurses going through your same situation. You are right, our disciplinary program is about money and they will manage our lives for the length of our sentence, but they also allow us to keep our licenses and keep practicing in our profession and at the same time they force us to learn how to stay clean and in my situation learn how to be happy without drugs. I have learned not to go against the flow and accept that I got myself in this situation and as the time goes by things get easier. I feel at peace with myself and my actions.
Wish you well.

Thank you Rosa09, I’m trying my best to do exactly what is required of me. I actually cleaned myself up, on my own accord, before any of this came to a head. I’ve been drug free for 6 months and it’s the best feeling ever!

I’m having a really difficult time trying to find a job. Nobody will hire me because of my restricted license and the stipulations. Were you employed as a nurse while in the monitoring program?

Specializes in RNC-OB,L&D,Antenatal testing, Oncology.

I left my job when I was caught diverting and I found myself unemployed and under investigation by the state. I self reported to my state’s disciplinary agency and the Board gave me a slap on the hand and dismissed my investigation with no marks on my license as long as I finished my contract with the disciplinary agency.
I was able to take a break from nursing while I completed my mandatory inpatient rehabilitation, I have always been one to save my money for a rainy day and it served me well.

After a few months of rest I looked for a nursing position that could accommodate my restrictions and got a job as a Case Manager. The pay is much left than what I used to make, but it has allowed me to keep working in my profession and have time to recover from my addiction. I have less than two years to go and I can honestly say that I’m happy where I’m right now

I hope my story gives you hope and please feel free to reach out anytime

Specializes in 18 years in a hospital.

Anyone still on this page?I am in Ipn and I would like to get help because I wasn't give a help group and after 1 year being in this *** my credit has gone from 800 to 500 and thing bankruptcy. My situation was I work night *** for 15 years and my husband died . Urine test was positive for ambien I had prescription from MD.

Specializes in Hospice.

If you had a prescription from your doctor then you will be fine. Are you in the monitoring program from the board of nursing?

Specializes in 18 years in a hospital.

Yes, I am sorry to say I am being monitored for a 1 and no Narcotic pass for 6 months. I wasn't well and grieving for my husband death and my boss said I was having behavioral problems and a patient complain so I voluntarily resigned. I was told to call IPN and no being well I called them the say day. I didn't know who IPN was. My evaluator did all drug test and found high levels of ambien which I was taking prescribed by my MD for years.

Specializes in 18 years in a hospital.

I have had 14 interviews and try to explain IPN to them before hand and it doesn't work. I have tried dialysis facility and jails and long term care nothing. After 23 years as RN.

Specializes in ED RN and Case Manager.

I’m in Kentucky’s monitoring program. After being terminated for diversion in 2014 & enrolling in my state’s nursing monitoring program, I found a job in Case Management. I just completed the 5 year ATD program this October. My previous supervisor (ED) was aware that I successfully completed & recently offered to allow me to return to the ED. However, I’ve grown to enjoy the Case Management / Utilization Management field & opted to remain in Case Management. In fact, I’m getting ready to take my CM certification in a few months.
With 23 years RN experience, this may be a great option for you, as well. In fact, I started CM as an RN with 22 years (ED) experience (no CM experience) & they trained me in the CM / UM role.

Specializes in 18 years in a hospital.

Hi, I have applied for CM position at a near by hospital. I had the interview but at the end of interview they said the new software was to complicated for anyone new to this software to understand. I asked after the rejection if their was a software class to take and the interviewer said no. No job after 18 years at NCH.

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