Who, at your job, knows about your monitoring status?

[TexasMel]

So, I recently got a job in dialysis. I had the work agreement meeting with them and my TPAPN advocate where we signed all the necessary paperwork and such. (My case manager couldn't do it for some reason.). Anyways, my advocate made it sound as if ANYONE who works with me should know about my participation in TPAPN... that why they could notify management if 'I seem off'. She told this to my new employer. This doesn't seem right to me. I completely understand letting the other RN know who would be working with me. But telling everyone seems drastic and uncalled for. I've reached out to my case manager, but I have not heard back yet.

So, how was this handled at your job? I need advice asap as my manager has already told a fellow employee that I don't believe needed to know. (Non clinical staff member)

Thank you

[noctanol]

If it's fresenius then everyone knows. They keep it "family" in there. I did three months with them and everyone from the manager to the CNA''s knew I was a "drug addict," it didn't bother me much but then I couldn't get a needle stick that some of the Techs who had been there for decades couldn't get either, one of them asked when "I had used last" infront of the patient and family. Things went downhill from there. I quit. My other job has 2 other "addicts" and so I'm not the only one. Still looking for a better place but apart from passing narcs, all the other nurses and staff really don't give a rats behind what your history is, as long as you show up on time, do your part and clock out on time. They know most board order nurses are gone as soon as they get a better place so they don't act like we will be there forever. Also, the pay sucks, went from making 42/hr + diff at a hospital to 24/hr flat. I have lvns making more than I do. Enough of the rant.

[SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN]

I feel your pain!!!! My pay also got cut in half. Apparently the control freaks that run these program have added a 13th step to the recovery process. Bankruptcy

[TKsprivatenurse]

My manager actually held a meeting to tell everyone about my participation in TPAPN because it was required in the contract and because people were griping about having to pull and give my narcotics for me all the time. It was difficult at first and some coworkers voiced their opinions about how I shouldn't have been hired, etc. Some came up to me and asked me what I was addicted to. I have been honest and open about everything with all of them and today they are very supportive of me. One coworker even pulled me aside a year later and said, "I didn't understand why they would hire someone with a drug problem, but now that I know your story I just wanted to say I'm so sorry for the things I said."

It's definitely not easy. Someone even told me 3 years later- a few days ago- that if I told her now that I once had a problem with addiction she would have never believed it. Work has promoted me twice and I am now their supervisor while in TPAPN.

It sucks, but you can do it.

[catsmeow1972, BSN, RN]

My program does not do the advocate bit but my first job was so horrid. It was the type of place that you had to do some serious gymnastics to NOT tell people all about your personal life. Quite like if someone asked a prying question and you did not give them a satisfying answer they'd make something up and the gossip train was off and running. Imagine trying to keep this bit confidential. My scarlet letter was mental health related so on top not wanting to broadcast the contract, i really did not want to broadcast that i was needing the afternoon off to go see my therapist. After working in that place i needed a therapy session more than ever. Dang place was like a badly run combo of a fast food joint with rats and a day care center. Ugh.

My second job was the polar opposite. We had a management team of 3 people and they were the ONLY ones that knew anything about it. Really my department manager was the only one that ever saw the contract and knew the ugly details. The other two just knew it was there. i don't think they cared why. When i walked in late due to P testing, i had overslept and my manager took my patients until I got there. I rather suspect nobody else would have even cared. I only left that job because the mental health issue made it such that i could not handle the demands of the position (don't let anyone say that floor nursing is easy, because it ain't!!!)

[SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN]

WOW!!!! Your manager had a meeting to discuss the fact that you were in a treatment and assistance program r/t to the treatment of addiction?!?!? How in God's name is that not a violation of your privacy hot to mention the law? And afterwards your co-worker chimed in with their disapproval!!!! WOW!!!

I'm a Nurse and love my job but sometimes nursing "culture" amazes me with the total lack of boundaries, professionalism and outright casting judgments other nurses and patients. When I took my current position I told everybody I was transferred from the ER to Case Management because I got a DUI. I didn't do this because I thought it was everybody's business (it most certainly is not) but because I knew that any level of respecting another's privacy is impossible among any group of Nurses I have encountered in my long career. It usually works like this one chatty nurse tells another "she trusts" who tells another ... and by the end of the day everybody in the hospital knows your business and are discussing what they think they know of your life in detail. It's simply putrid.

[PixieRN1]

Honestly? Everyone knows. Seriously. Down to the CNAs. I get questions on it all the time.