please tell me when this is over this is over

Eris Discordia BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2018

If you are in monitoring, when your time is done, once you receive WRITTEN notification that you are done, and you can no longer check into your drug screening program, you are done. Finished. The only Board fees left should be regular Board fees, like license renewal fees.

Some people have said they got officially released at the end of the contract date, some say that their paperwork has dragged on past the official finish and had to keep going until it is finalized, maybe a month or so extra. Whatever the case may be, keep doing everything until you get written confirmation and you literally can't log in to screen anymore. Only then are you in the clear.

But yes, when you are released, you are done with the circus.

Best wishes.

SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN · Mar 14, 2018

Eris has most excellent advice. I'm in group with a nurse who thought she was done because her caseworker told her that her paperwork was in front of the board and she should get official notice within a week. She had some drinks in celebration (booze wasn't the reason she was in monitoring) and she got tested and had to start the program over again to include IOP and work restrictions. Follow the rules exactly until you get written notification and you can't check in for testing.

On the other hand. It is my understanding that once you have completed the program you are to be treated like any other nurse with no more intrusions from the monitoring board. Myself I plan on buying a bottle of my favorite adult beverage and opening it at the first possible moment I KNOW I have my freedom back. Look at this like a prison term. Serve your time and get on with your life

Babyj88, BSN · Mar 14, 2018

Thanks Eris for the reassurance. I will be so glad when this is over and will do what you suggested. Best wishes to you as well.

Babyj88, BSN · Mar 14, 2018

Spanked I'm with you I will be getting an adult beverage as well and I don't even drink. That is awful what happened to that girl. I would had fought having to do that all over again. These programs really not to help people just to get money and get over.

dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN · Mar 14, 2018

I got the email from my program director that I had "graduated" on Sunday, tried to log into Affinity on Monday and got the screen saying my account was closed. I think I tried on Tuesday just to make sure. :) Got a letter later that week stating I had been released. I've had absolutely no contact with anyone monitoring related since that email and was able to renew my RN license without a problem. It's basically like it never happened.

rn1965, ADN · Mar 14, 2018

I got the email from my program director that I had "graduated" on Sunday, tried to log into Affinity on Monday and got the screen saying my account was closed. I think I tried on Tuesday just to make sure. :) Got a letter later that week stating I had been released. I've had absolutely no contact with anyone monitoring related since that email and was able to renew my RN license without a problem. It's basically like it never happened.

Congratulations! So very happy for you!

Babyj88, BSN · Mar 14, 2018

Congrats on being finish with this! Glad that your process didn't drag on. That's what I'm afraid of that they will take all day since I had to call them a month after my contract had started to start the program.

dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN · Mar 14, 2018

I've been out of the program since June!! Sorry my wording makes it sound like it happened this week or something lol.

The board meeting to determine whether I was eligible for release DID get moved. So I was anticipating getting to know whether I had been approved, got an email later that day saying the meeting had been postponed for a freakin' month. I had a meltdown. It didnt technically extend my program thankfully but it did suck.

My state's program was pretty responsive, I think it's fairly small, so I got lucky there.

Babyj88, BSN · Mar 14, 2018

I think I would had a meltdown also. I don't think we get a shorter time just a request to lower the amount of drug screens after a year. I'll take that if it means less money to spend.

SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN · Mar 16, 2018

Honestly, I don't know is there is a way to survive this program without financial devastation. I'm back in the ER after more than a year and now can basically get unlimited OT. However even at an extra $4000 a month it will take me forever to dig myself out of this mess and my credit is wrecked after being excellent for 40 years. PNAP added a 13th step (besides sleeping with the newbie) to 12 step programs ... bankruptcy

Recovering_RN · Mar 16, 2018

Honestly, I don't know is there is a way to survive this program without financial devastation. I'm back in the ER after more than a year and now can basically get unlimited OT. However even at an extra $4000 a month it will take me forever to dig myself out of this mess and my credit is wrecked after being excellent for 40 years. PNAP added a 13th step (besides sleeping with the newbie) to 12 step programs ... bankruptcy

Are you sure you can do OT? In my program, OT is not allowed. I know yours is different, but I wouldn't want you to find out the hard way that allowing you to work in the ER again was a separate issue from allowing you to pick up overtime.

Update: I just went and double checked my TPAPN forms, and anything over 96 hours per two week pay period is not allowed. So, at least for me, I could do a little OT above my regular shifts, not unlimited, but something.