IPN evaluation

Nurses Recovery

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I just recently went before the Florida board of nursing and they approved me to take my exam. The only condition being that I undergoe an evaluation by IPN. I have been sober for 4 years next month. I attend AA meetings 3-4 days a week. I have an AA sponsor and I sponsor others. THe 12 steps of recovery have transformed my life. I am still somewhat nervous about the evaluation. I realize I have no choice but to accept their findings. The thought of having to sign a contract isnt to appealing.I would think that anyone in recovery knows about the obstacles we face to repair the damage of our past. Stay sober anyway:D

Has anyone had an evaluation with 4 years or over of Honest sobriety.

How long does it take for the BON to send you an ATT after they approve you

Thanks

Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.
These 'evaluations' consist of pyschological tests that are scored, and can be not what they appear. To get an idea of what they involve, and how your answers can be interpreted, or misinterpreted, check out CAGE (alcohol self eval exam), MAST, and DAST. They are typical tests used in an interview. There are others also, (more sinister) that ask the same question in varying nuanced ways, that attempt to trip you up. Much like a lie detector though, the results are open to debate, and again- if you use a for profit organization, be prepared to be labeled high risk and in need of the maximum 'counseling'. Also, sad fact is that most of those 'counselors' are prior addicts or alcoholics, so that in itself is something to be wary of, when you are being judged, and the results can affect your record for life. Former addicts sometimes feel that everybody else is also an addict, and they they have an obligation to 'save the world', since they themselves fell prey to their own lack of restraint.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE YOU WHERE YOU WERE EVALUATED BUT.........for the IPN

I beg to differ. The evaluation I had was with a Board certified Psychiatrist...an MD far from a "counselor"...he was never an addict or alcoholic, he is the medical director of a large well respected treatment center, however, he makes no recommendations that anyone seek treatment there due to conflict of interest. His main profession is that of private practice where he does specialize in addiction, however he treats the entire spectrum of mental illness....AT NO TIME WAS I GIVEN A PSYCHOLOGICAL TEST during the IPN evaluation. He spent 2 hours with me on 2 separate occasions. He was fair and unbiased.

You are so far off the mark it's amazing. You are either still in denial about your own situation...or we are talking about entirely separate organizations.

I have many friends and aquaintances in the IPN....NONE of us have been given any so called Psychological tests...MAST...DAST or any other letters you can think of....during the evaluations...I am curious as to where you were evaluated and when...also, in the IPN, you MUST be evaluated by one of the MD's on their list....and they are all psychiatrists....not counselors....!!!!!!! So I have NO idea where you are getting your information....please don't spout off about things like that when they are so untrue.

Specializes in LTC, MDS, plasmapheresis.

I'm in AZ, there is a huge addiction business here, by counselors and psychologists. I wasn't referring specifically to IPN, since they don't have that here, they have their own thing. And they use psychological tests with weird scoring in an attempt to determine if you are being honest, or just trying to pass the test. That is always the first step in AZ. The same thing as DUI evaluations and education and counseling. IPN just sounds sort of like what AZ does.

Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.
I'm in AZ, there is a huge addiction business here, by counselors and psychologists. I wasn't referring specifically to IPN, since they don't have that here, they have their own thing. And they use psychological tests with weird scoring in an attempt to determine if you are being honest, or just trying to pass the test. That is always the first step in AZ. The same thing as DUI evaluations and education and counseling. IPN just sounds sort of like what AZ does.

NO, it's not...and since the OP asked about the IPN specifically, please don't assume....

I think IPN is much more formal if you will. Like I said, the evaluation is done by a Board certified Psychiatrist who is on the list of sanctioned providers for the IPN. The evaluation lasts anywhere from 3-4 hours. There is no testing involved. It's an intense interview by the doctor. These doctor's know what they are doing..they have all been involved with the IPN and addictions and mental health treatment for years. They do not have any hidden agendas. The evaluation I got took him several weeks to compile and was 8 pages long. Extremely in depth. He went way back into a past history..not just substance..but sort of every thing on how you got to where you are at that moment in time...He then proposes a treatment plan and sends his recommendations to the IPN. Treatment can be anything from..none...to inpatient...to outpatient..and the contract time can be from 2-5 years. The IPN usually follows the MDs recommendations--sometimes they impose a stricter contract. They have the option.

I have posted an explaination of the rest of the program several times in this forum...if you look you can find it, as far as the uds (random about every 4 weeks) and the weekly peer meetings...quarterly employer reports...job restraints...I can not post anymore right now, but it's a well structured program..Florida had one of the first intervention programs in place and many of the others that came along are structured on Fls...called Intervention Project for Nurses...many think it's called the Impaired Practitioner Program and rumor has it that it used to be ...but not any more.....

anyway....that's the eval in a brief nutshell...

and addictions are a big business here in FLorida too....just not in the IPN...that is far too structured and too controlled to be messed up by any pseudo counsellors...

Specializes in LTC, MDS, plasmapheresis.

You seem to be awfully angry. Every addiction, substance abuse, DUI charge, domestic violence, drug diversion, or related charge or offense absolutely does entail some sort of professional mental health evaluation, and those evaluations absolutely contain one or more types of standardized tests, at a minimum.

Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.
You seem to be awfully angry. Every addiction, substance abuse, DUI charge, domestic violence, drug diversion, or related charge or offense absolutely does entail some sort of professional mental health evaluation, and those evaluations absolutely contain one or more types of standardized tests, at a minimum.

Me angry?? Seriously, what gave you that idea? No, actually I'm not. I am really really tired tho, bear of a day at work.

Well, Back to your statement, there were absolutely not one or more type of standardized test at a minimum in my or my friends IPN evaluations .... how can you make that broad statement?

I guess I am frustrated because you keep on insisting you know what the IPN evaluation consisted of here...you do not. Unless you are a credentialed substance abuse counselor, Lcpc, MSW, PSYD,or Psychiatrist please don't make those absolute statements. By the way, I happen to have worked psych and CD...have you?

Remember, I am talking about the IPN evaluation specifically, so how can you say what it consists of?

Specializes in LTC, MDS, plasmapheresis.

You are an angry soul. IPN is a voluntary program for impaired nurses, I do know that. If you opt out, you will face the heat of the BON. In that respect it is similar to every state's program. And once you are accused of, convicted of, or even threatened with any possible mental health, mental illness, psychological, or psychiatric issue, you will absolutely face testing. But, since you continue to insist that all is well and good, I will exit this post by wishing you well, in whatever program, diversion, issue, or whatnot you have got yourself into.

Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.
You are an angry soul. IPN is a voluntary program for impaired nurses, I do know that. If you opt out, you will face the heat of the BON. In that respect it is similar to every state's program. And once you are accused of, convicted of, or even threatened with any possible mental health, mental illness, psychological, or psychiatric issue, you will absolutely face testing. But, since you continue to insist that all is well and good, I will exit this post by wishing you well, in whatever program, diversion, issue, or whatnot you have got yourself into.

I have "gotten" myself into a life of happy and peaceful serenity, thank you. And all is well and good. I am seldom angry. Occasionally, I am merely frustrated when people fail to listen to a point I am trying to a make, then continue to ignore what I am saying, or will deflect the topic by then turning aroung and saying I am angry?

There is no basis what so ever for that assumption.

Namaste

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Since this thread is specifically labelled regarding IPN evaluation, lets keep to the facts of IPN, not generalizations.

Thanks everyone.

We encourage debating the topic, not the poster.

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