TXStrong

I could have continued to fight it but after 6 years I know the BON was not going to let me walk away with nothing. The original complaint was unfounded but where I messed up during this fight was testing pos for THC. I had been on vaca for 2 weeks and was not subjected to call but my luck when I got home I had a letter stating I had to have a forensic eval within 30 days no exception from the date of the letter. After my eval before leaving they said last thing was I had to test same day. And that was how I ended up in the situation. I specifically asked what was involved in this eval and being tested was not mentioned. Mediation with the board was horrible and their attorney was going hard like I had literally killed someone. They also had a nurse during the meeting and she did not back me up when I was trying to explain to this attorney that the verbiage she was using was inaccurate. I would ask her to please help explain how things are done and she was silent. Long story short I signed out scheduled Ativan on the DEA she but while signing them out in my charting the computer went down for 4 hours and I failed to go back in when it came back up. When I got called in to discuss with Amins my drug test was completely negative. Just some BS but I just wanted to go on and not have this hanging over my head anymore. I took the deal for TPAPN for 2 years confidential no stips and a clear license while completing the program. It's wiped from my record now that I've completed my program. I figured it was the best I was going to get.

No and I was shocked that the last 2 weeks I wasn't tested at all. Could just be random I guess. I've only had UAs and it did vary on what options I was tested for through Affinity.

I was done day of. My employer received notice same day and that was that. No idea how long it will take the BON to do their thing but in my case I never had stips or anything show on my license because it was confidential and now that I've completed my program it's completely wiped. Not sure how long it will take them to reinstate my compact license though. You got this!!

I actually completed my program yesterday! I tested positive for TCH after a 2 week vaca. Paid for the expensive forensic eval 2x and both showed no substance abuse disorder but was told that it doesn't matter still have to do the program. Part of my requirements were to see a therapist and he also said there's no need but since I was there, I worked on personal issues. 2 NA meetings weekly, it was ridiculous!

I didn't even divert and got a 2 year monitoring program! During the mediation with the BON attorney, you would have thought I murdered someone. In fact she was going so hard the mediators had to step in and put us in break out rooms. It was the most uncomfortable position I'd ever been in and it wasn't even that serious!!

My thoughts exactly! The crazy part is that you could drink a 5th of vodka after every shift and that's OK as long as you don't report to work under the influence and clearly noticeable to others. It's mind boggling to me that the BON can control what you can and can't do from behind closed doors. I'm not saying there aren't situations that require them to intervene, but very minor things like my case, doesn't deserve a 2 year program for substance abuse. The cost alone is astronomical and I was lucky to not get stips on my license and could still work. I will say in the beginning I seriously considered voluntary surrender because I didn't know what to expect and if I could even do it. I knew if I did, the BON had won and got exactly what they wanted, another nurse's license. In my exit interview I was asked how TPAN affected my sobriety. I was honest and said the only thing this program has done is that I never want to be in this position ever again! Today is my official last day!!

I left bedside by choice and now do telephonic case management remotely. Those types of roles do not deal with handling narcotics so would be an easy transition.

If this is your first offense you will most like be given a diversion program. Usually you have stips on your license and won't be able to pass narcotics for a certain amount of time. Which for some, means finding a different specialty. I've only had positive responses from employers when discussing the monitoring program and they did not treat me any differently. It all sounds horrifying to you right now, I was the same way. I have almost completed my 2 years in the program, 7 days in fact! Looking back it wasn't bad, very expensive and inconvenient, but doable. BTW it took a year to receive the first letter from the BON. I responded with my answers the accusations and did not hear from them again for 2 more years. Work as much as you can and do not discuss the pending board action with anyone. You are not required to mention anything until your case has been determined or stips placed against your license. Hang in there, this does not define you!

I am in my last 30 days of a 2 year program, 18 days in fact, not that I'm counting. I wonder if they drug test through Affinity until the final day or if they give good time exceptions? LOL I doubt it, this is TPAPN after all. Also I wanted to say to those just entering this program that your career is not over! I was so ashamed of this entire situation but was determined to not let it define me. My case was not about diversion but tested positive for THC after a 2 week vacation. There was so much completely wrong on how this played out, but after fighting it for 5 years, I just played their game so I could move forward with my life. I was so pessimistic about this, thinking it's such a long time to have to contemplate every single thing you put in your body. Vacation had to be scheduled around places with testing sites and the cost was just crazy.!! I have reached the finish line and this will be wiped from my record completely. Please know, you can and you will get through this! If you truly struggle with addiction, take this time to really evaluate what's important to you and your life and be prepared to do whatever it takes. All cases are different and this has just been my experience here in Texas. I'm happy to answer any questions I can if it will ease your mind about starting the journey! This does not define YOU!

No, absolutely you're right. I was just being honest.

So Texas uses affinity spectrum. There is many approved sites to choose. Just in my area I have 6 different ones within 25 miles. You will have an app on your phone to check in everyday from 4am-2pm So you will be able to plan your day around it. I work remote at home so I don't use a whole lot of hand sanitizer. It is something that is more of an inconvenience than anything else but it doesn't show on my license and as long as I don't have any issues it never will be. I agreed to TPAPN because after 7 years of fighting it I just wanted to move on with my life. At first they tried to make it where I couldn't pass Narc's for 6months but I told my case worker my current employer would not accommodate and she was nice enough to lift that stip .It's all a bunch of BS and as we all know in Texas nobody has nurses backs.

I have a lot of info from my personal experience in TX. It may be different depending on location. Do not surrender your license. I went into it thinking the same but it's just been an inconvenience than everything. If you have a positive drug screen and you are not dirty they will send it out for further testing. Honestly it hasn't been that bad and I was constantly considering the worst case scenario. I just play their game and they leave me alone. Also where I'm at they do not random on the weekends so if I want a drink at dinner it will be out of my system before I'm tested again.

I'm not sure where you are from but I have a lot of info based off my experience. It says you can only send a PM when you have posted 15 times. Kinda odd. But anyway not sure how I can talk to you privately, it's entirely too much info to make a post. Maybe [email protected]??

No doubt! Absolutely will get an attorney just until now I felt like I could handle it.

Exactly!! In Texas we do not have a union for nurses. There is absolutely no one to turn to for help except an expensive lawyer. For the last 5 years I have lived with thought "is today the day they take away my ability to provide for my family?". I get emails showing what mail pieces I have coming and my heart just stops when I see letters from the bon. Usually it's just a letter to inform me that that it's become necessary to extend the time frame for my case. Talk about stress!!

Up until this point I wasn't anything I couldn't handle and years have gone by in between correspondence from the BON. I couldn't even begin to imagine what the retainer fee would be!

I was contacted by the bon to schedule mediation in regards to case I currently have and wonder what I should expect? Here's a little bit of back story... Back in 2014 I was working as a LVN behavioral health hospital specializing in geriatric behavior issues. So at this point I had only had my license for 7months. We use both EMR and hard copy charts. And one day I was in the middle of signing meds out when the computer network was completely off line. At the same time the patients all started to have increased agitation and our MHTs needed help with redirection and since I couldn't chart or anything I stayed helping them and assisting with meals. Around 4 hours later the computers came back online so I went to finish charting . They next day I was called to the DONs office because one scheduled Ativan 0.5mg. Was not signed out . I explained that I just must have missed as I was focused on charting the behaviors but it was signed for on the DEA log.. I was told at that point I would need to take a drug test. Which I personally think was overly aggressive but OK no problem. I was irritated by the whole situation and I said" can't believe I'm being drug tested when over half of their employees would fail for weed". Gave my sample with HR as a witness. I was then told I would be suspended until my result came back. Because this is a locked unit I gave my keys so there was no way I was there or been there .Days go by and I call for result, and when could I work. . I was told at that point that because I gave them my keys they hey assumed I quit. The test were negative btw, but they said they already filled my spot and the paperwork was processed. A couple months later I received my first letter from the bon. In the this letter they list 2 issues, the 1st being misappropriation of one 0.5mg ativan and the 2nd said I stated I would fail the test due to smoking weed! I responded back explaining what actually happened and waited for a response....for 2 years I got nothing. Then out of the blue I got a letter with many more added issues such as misappropriation of Ativan 1mg on 2 different people but the date was months prior to the original issue. Now I don't know every facilities policy but at this place as soon as it is suspected you are pulled from the floor to test. I find it very hard to believe they actually thought I had diverted 2 months earlier but allowed me to continue to work unrestricted and never called in the office to discuss the other missing meds. The letter said I had 20 days to have psychological testing done at my cost. I called to talk the bon because I had no knowledge of any other issues with medication until that letter. They basically said too bad you have to do it. So I did and hadn't heard anything from them for almost 2 years when I get a letter with proposed order that basically was anything and everything they could make me do. TPAPN, NA meetings, fines, remediation etc. I could agree and sign it or not and they would file formal charges against me. I had gotten copies of everything my employer sent to them and basically there was one verbal warning about documentation issue and the rest was hand written medical records numbers with dates and descriptions of what they claim I did and that was it. No actual evidence other than a person writing it down on regular paper! Heck for all I know a kid could have wrote it but needless to say I didn't sign. A couple months later it was add to my license that formal charges filed but no restrictions and have always been able to renew with no problem. Now another year and a half later I get a request for mediation. I would also like to mention every time I answered to charges I asked to do the EEP program which is random drug testing but none oth the other restrictions that usually accompany TPAPN, but was denied. It has been 5 years since this first happened and I have worked the entire time with no issues. My employers all have given me wonderful reviews and I haven't had any write up. At this point I don't think it would be fair to impose all those restrictions when I have been a perfect employee. Also, the employer that reported me was closed by the state and had lost multi million dollar lawsuits from patients and families. I'm ready to get this over but I afraid they are going to make me do all the things that just won't be possible for me to be successful. Any advice or thoughts about mediation?

I have had my intial psychological evaluation and he recommended TPAPN. I'm sure the BON will agree, I've accepted that it is what it is but my concern is the 90 meetings in 90 days. I am currently employed full-time and my employer is aware of the possibility that I may have stipulations and are supportive and willing to accommodate. However I'm not sure how the program works and from what I've read I've seen people say that had to be approved by their caseworker to work and that it's been 6 weeks or months for that to happen. Just stressing about being able to meet their requirements and keep my job any advice for someone just getting started would be much appreciated!