Jaybird82

In case anyone is still following this or in hopes that it may help someone in the future. After 2 1/2 years of fighting and being referred to my monitoring program, I WON the battle. I was referred to my monitoring program initially and I went through their intake process and did everything that was requested of me including going to get a CD assessment, which as expected, there were no recommendations. HPSP (monitoring program in MN) also requested all prescriptions from the pharmacy and saw that I take Ativan-I did report this during the intake process as well. Eventually they also requested my psychiatry records, which again, was no problem for me to sign the release. It took them 3 months to review my case and they decided that there was no evidence of ANY drug use, but that since I see a psychiatrist, I had a mental health problem and needed to do their monitoring for 12 months of random testing, get a therapist, and follow all recommendations from psychiatry. The lady who I did my intake with at HPSP was a huge *** and no matter what questions I asked, she threatened to turn me into the board. All I was trying to do was get clarification. Personally, I think that me and her just did not agree personality wise. She even tried to tell me what medications I should and should not be taking. Mind you, this lady is not a nurse or a doctor and I felt it was not her right to determine what medications-psych meds or not-were OK for her to decide what was right and wrong. At that time, I hired a lawyer because I felt like they decided I did not have a drug problem or any reason to ever believe so, but because I take Ativan it turned into a psychiatric problem. I went in front of the board with my lawyer (who really did not do much) and the board referred me back to HPSP for a new intake assessment. I had MULTIPLE letters of recommendation as well as a lengthy letter that I wrote to address the board. I did a second intake and ended up with a very nice lady who actually listened to every thing that I had to say. By this time, I had even more letters of recommendation including one from my psychiatrist, stating that there has never been any suggestion of CD use, that I follow all of their recommendations, and I had completed 3 drug test with them all of which were negative. I also forgot to add that I did have a hair follicle test done, which was negative. 2 months later, I got the letter from HPSP stating that there are no recommendations and monitoring is not necessary and my file was closed. So I did beat this, and it can be done! Like I said, it was A LOT of fighting for myself and what I believed in. I knew that I was right and I had to stand up for myself. It was a lot of work and I was constantly putting things together and writing letters and having people write letters for me, which everyone gladly did including all of my supervisors past and present. For those of you that believed me-I can't thank you enough because all of your stories and inspiration only led me to fight harder for myself. For those of you that doubted me or said not so nice things, I proved you wrong. If there is anyone else that is in a situation like mine, remember to stay strong and fight for yourself. If you are or were using, get the help that you need. It's very unfortunate that these programs are "one size fits all," because they most definitely should not be.

Thought I would respond to this message again. I completed a hair test and tested NEGATIVE. Thanks to those of you who believed me. So NO I DO NOT USE DRUGS, never have, and never will. And I found out that my sister was using all kinds of drugs and that her house was turned into a "trap house," which is apparently a house that people go to and do all of their drugs. Personally, I think the lab made a huge mixup or something caused a false positive. I have not hired a lawyer because I don't have the money and have no means of pulling money out of my ass. I have not been contacted by the BON yet, and maybe by some slim chance, it won't even get reported. Regardless, I'm going in with guns blazing and plan to fight this with all my heart.

Do I believe the lab? Yes. I spoke with 2 people including the manager

I called the lab and there is no video at all in their "lab." I'm at a loss. I'm completely destroyed even just thinking about all of this. I'm not even sure where to get a job because I'm so afraid that the BON is just going to come back with some ridiculous stipulations no matter what I say or do, including a hair follicle test. I got a call back from another staffing agency today and they are interested in me, but from everything I have read regarding stipulations, I won't be allowed to work in home care, group home, assisted living, or through a temporary agency. I get it that some of you don't believe me and feel that I shouldn't be so upset or worried about what if... But I don't need to get a job just to be told that I can't work there because of some stipulations for something I didn't do. The whole point to my original message is that, I don't think the BON is going to give 2 hoots about my defense. Just like Kallie3006 writer, they still threw her into a monitoring program and I'm certain that is what is going to happen regardless. I don't have the money for an attorney. Hell right now, I barely have enough for my own rent. And now, I have fell into this complete mess of anxiety and depression.

Thank you for sharing this

Here's something else I found out this weekend. At the lab they are usually supposed to watch you pee. Well that did t happen. The only told me to not flush the toilet and the toilet water was blue. I was also supposed to verify my information on a sticker to make sure it was me. The lady there just typed my information into a computer. Then, I initialed it, which you are supposed to do AFTER you hand in your sample. And finally you are supposed to get to watch them pour it into their testing tube . None of this happened. I have her my pee and she said ok thanks, made some comment about my pretty necklace and then told me to go out the door. So again, I feel like if they didn't follow the steps like they are supposed to, there is a possibility for an error. Especially since there were 2 people who went in ahead of me. I will be calling that lab tomorrow to see if they have video footage of this as well.

I HAVE to say this to you TinyRn,I question your integrity and compassion as a nurses. If this is how you talk to people how do you talk to your patients. Get it?

The only thing I left out is that I take Ativan a few times a week for anxiety and sleep. It's is prescribed by my psychiatrist who I see every 2 months. This last season I had a huge burst of allegies and some major breathing problems which resulted in prednisone, Advair, Zyrtec and Singulair. I have never taken Ativan during the day. And it has never been a problem for me. I'm in therapy a few times a month because I was involved in an abusive relationship awhile ago. I'm sure a few of you are going to jump all over the fact that I take Ativan, but there are millions of people in the world who have mental illness and take medications INCLUDING nurses. I have worked in mental health for 14 years and many people that I worked with suffered from their own mental illness. Stop the stigma.

Thank you LisaCar for all of your help. So my plan is to get a hair follicle test this week and I will definitely be calling an attorney to at least get an estimate of prices. It looks like this hair test might cost me $650 too! But I would rather pay $650 than lose my career.

Just a questions, but why is the monitoring program so expensive? Were you not able to use insurance at all? Or did you not have insurance because you lost your job? I'm so sorry all of this happened to you. I believe that I found a lab here that will test hair and I plan on getting in there this week and then showing the results to the board whenever they contact me.

I'm not sure if I can afford a lawyer out of pocket right now. I am looking into where I can get a hair follicle test done. Do you think that I should do the test (from a legit lab) and bring it with me if/when the board contacts me or should I wait until they say something? How long does it take before the BON usually contacts people? The jobs I am applying to are for case management and allergy testing, both of which I am interested in, not just because I am trying to avoid anything. Plus they are both close to my house, which is HUGE considering I live in a state where there is heavy snow frequently in the winter. And it will be absolutely no problem at all to prove that my sister is in jail for drugs or that she was evicted. I can easily get this from her landlord and he, my husband, my dad and his girlfriend can all testify that there were loads of drug paraphernalia in the house.

Got it! Thanks everyone. Hair follicle test it is! I'm going to find a lab where I can get this done.

First of all Neats, it's not fair for you to days that I'm superficial. I'm more trying to think that of course the BON is probably not going to believe me. I'm sure they have heard every excuse in the book before. I'm not an addict and I don't use drugs. I was simply making the comment wondering if it would just be easier. I have no idea how this works nor did I have any idea about the cost.

What if I say, fine I'll go into your monitoring program just to prove that I don't use drugs. Ideally, I would like to avoid going into it at all, but what if I just said fine I'll do your program and it will be no problem at all