MFTinRN

You make some excellent points. Simply because I would not be nursing any more doesn't mean I wouldn't be a worth-while, productive member of society. I struggled with that a lot while deciding what path to take. I had convinced myself I would be purposeless if I was no longer a nurse. And then as I began working in my new job (working with animals, something I've always been passionate about) I realized that I did have a service I could provide and I could be a contributing member of a team where I make a difference. It isn't nursing, but it matters and I feel like I'm able to make a difference in some way and that's given me the purpose I was so afraid to lose when I decided to walk away from nursing.

I forgot to mention, as someone above had asked, the supposed failed alcohol test was a non-issue when my treatment facility was able to provide documentation of a negative test upon immediately returning to the facility after my evaluation. I requested and paid for a blood test in addition to the breathalyzer that the facility required immediately upon returning to the property. All results were provided to IPN and I never heard another word about it.

No benzo's. I truly think they want nurses to enter into programs under their facilitators care and get you locked in so that they can manage you and keep your money in their pocket. So they think by telling you they'll take your meds away it will force you into following their recommendations out of fear of being without your meds. I can't see any other reason IPN would limit my choices to 3 specific facilities that their facilitators happen to be on staff at. I truly feel as if this is some form of punishment for not using one of the recommended facilities to begin with.

Thank you very much.

I agree 100%. Depression was certainly not a choice and yes therapy helped immensely, but that doesn't "cure" me. I believe the ultimate goal for them would be for me to attend their facility and take me off meds then put me back on meds after all this claiming I didn't need them and monitor me under the idea that I did In fact require meds, then keep me in the program for an undetermined amount of time. That's just speculation of course. My facilitator was upset I was on any medications at all, they stated at my evaluation prior to discharging from treatment that they anticipated I would leave treatment med free, although that was never discussed in my previous evaluation or recommendations they sent to IPN the first time before I admitted myself for treatment. And my IPN case manager spoke with my therapist weekly regarding my progress and they received a med list with each up date. It was no secret or surprise I was on medication. Never once was taking me off my antidepressants discussed or a goal. In fact my therapist and psychiatrist at treatment felt my antidepressant wasn't enough and added an adjunct med, and I finally, for the first time in years, felt improvement in my own mental health. This entire experience is disheartening and has only pushed me further away from nursing.

Exactly, the money

Hey guys, I haven't posted in some time. Short version: I got caught diverting and had a positive urine screen. Admitted diversion and entered IPN. I saw my facilitator and complied with their recommendations for treatment. I have a history of PTSD, major depression with anxiety and panic disorder, for which became the major focus of my therapy. And I needed that, I have to say getting caught was the best thing that could have happened for me. I agreed to 3 months in rehab once I reached the recommended 30 days because I was making major progress with my PTSD. IPN is getting weekly updates from my therapy team. I am on medications which IPN has been aware of throughout the entirety of my progress. I go see my facilitator while still at my treatment facility prior to my discharge. My facilitators office tells me I am positive for alcohol, which is absolutely impossible and I had a negative test immediately upon returning to my treatment facility. My facilitator determines he is pleased with my progress but wants me to go to one of his facilities to be taken off of all of my medications, including antidepressants, under his care, since I originally chose to go to a facility outside the ones recommended by IPN specifically. IPN approved the facility after telling me I was not limited to the ones on the list they provided me. My insurance covered my entire 90 day treatment and is now refusing to cover more treatment (understandably). I have been home, not practicing, and clean since November. IPN has given me several opportunities to comply with my facilitators recommendations to repeat 6 weeks of treatment at one of 3 facilities "recommended" by my facilitator. I, however, have come to resent this process, sadly, and realize how much happier I am now that I'm not practicing. Sad because at one point I was incredibly passionate about this career. But at this point in time I am choosing to nurture my mental health and do what makes me happy. So my question is, what happens when I tell IPN I am voluntarily forfeiting my license? What are the reprocucsions from the DOH and BON? Can they legally come after you if I'm willingly giving up my license? I have no desire to fight for it, as sad as that sounds. I'm just wondering what to expect. Has anyone else walked away? Thanks everyone! I appreciate your advice. You were all very helpful when I was terrified after awaiting my "sentence". I have just lost all the desire to fight when I know that even if I do exactly as they ask (again) it may not be enough and then I will be punished for choosing to pursue what therapy suits me best at a facility that isn't affiliated.

Hey guys. So my situation was diversion, caught, admitted to it and allowed to retain my employment and take time from work with an LOA if I reported myself to IPN. So I reported myself Jun 28th, the day after the occurrence. It took 3 weeks to get into an evaluator and another 2 weeks for IPN to get my recommendations. I got the call from my case manager yesterday informing me that the recommendations from my evaluation are for partial patient hospitalization. He also recommended Vivatrol injections monthly once I've been clean for 30 says and today makes day 34 (🙌) . Honestly I felt like I'd felt better having been clean for a month and in many ways I do. But I still have terrible insomnia, crazy dreams that involve looking for drugs (Percs and Norco were my DOC) that I think I lost, and I wake up sweating profusely and anxious. I got clean for about 6 months and relapsed, it wasn't near as bad as it was when I was using before. Honestly I needed tx back then. Withdrawal was horrible the first time I got clean, I quit at home on my own after quitting a job that was crushing my soul in hopes of getting clean and pursuing my dream of being a trauma nurse. I promised myself I'd never use again but if course that didn't happen. No physical withdrawal this time, thank God. I'm relieved to have my recommendations finally, although not too excited about doing going away for 4 weeks. From what I've been told you reside at the facility but aren't locked down basically as with detox and inpatient. It's in between inpatient and outpatient. Has any one done this type of program? Also, I'm Florida. Any information or tips you guys have would be helpful!!

This is an interesting thread, I know it's older but I just came across it. I do believe there's a big stigma attached to the use of Suboxone and Methadone, unfortunately. I have just completed my eval this week for FL IPN. I was placed on Hydrocodne 4 years ago after an accident in which I sustained multiple traumatic injuries. I have attempted to wean myself off of narcotics several times but the pain typically causes me to use them again. During my eval the physician asked several times if I've tried meds such as Suboxone and he mentioned I'd be a prime candidate for an opioid antagonist like Suboxone for pain management without the high of opiates. I'm wondering if this is a possible treatment he might recommend, and if so, how does the monitoring program approach that? Would it be acceptable? I can't imagine being told you must live in pain daily, after all our new priority as health care professionals has shifted to keeping patients comfortable and pain free. So how can they dictate that a medication like an opioid antagonist that could allow someone to live a more pain-free life and at the same time allow them to maintain the ability to function as a nurse without the dangers of opioid use is inappropriate? If they take it so far as to say you can't take Diphenhydramine for those in the monitoring program, then that should be across the board. No nurses should be allowed to take Diphenhydramine, period. No nurse should be allowed to get plastered after work and on their days off. It doesn't make sense. I mean, the statistics are based off of nurses IN the program, just think of all of the nurses that don't get caught or admit to having a problem. Almost every nurse on my unit smokes weed and drinks frequently. So if they want to be that technical then make it like nursing school and do random UDS's a couple of times a month for EVERY nurse. There's not much difference in someone who smokes a joint daily after work to "unwind" than in someone who takes prescription medications to manage life, is there? I don't think so. So if someone needs pain management that is monitored by an entity that gets to make the guidelines so be it, as long as you're safe to practice and monitored while taking prescribed meds then it shouldn't be a problem. I really don't understand how consuming alcohol to alter your mood is acceptable but managing pain isn't.

Thank you!

I am so relieved, and so glad you recommended Gainesville! I got a good feeling from them. I'm just relieved the eval is over, that took a huge weight off my shoulders!

Thank you! I actually feel a huge amount of relief now, it went a lot better than I was expecting. The physician was very kind, very encouraging, but didn't sugar coat things. They took a hair sample, blood sample and UDS and said those results will be back by Friday most likely. They said they will call my employer and ask them how my work performance has been and if they had any concerns about my practice, but they said that since they chose to retain me as an employee that speaks volumes because they never see that. They said the hospital system I work for typical calls the police and has the employee arrested and reports then immediately so they felt very positive about my ability to overcome this event. They said they aren't allowed to discuss recommendations per IPN but not to worry myself as much as I have been. I was very humble and honest, and they could see that. They did ask a few times if I've ever tried Suboxone and he informed the medical student that was present that I'd be an ideal candidate for a medication I'd never heard of before, so I'm wondering if they will be recommending that. I kind of got the impression that he felt that my pain and depression are tied together so if we can manage one the other will fix itself, and I completely agree. So now I just wait until they send their recommendations to IPN. He did say their will be a form of tx and monitoring but couldn't say what exactly. So, in 10-14 days I will know the outcome, but I have been able to breath a huge sigh of relief and am ready to move forward with whatever they feel is best.

Thank you! I am going to post below about how it went.

Thank you! My appt is at 2, I'll post afterwards. Happy thoughts! And thank you for the continued support!!

Ruby, I am thinking positive thoughts for you. Thank you for the kind words and thoughts. I will keep you in my prayers and pray that you receive the news you're hoping for.