Jammer52

Been there, done it. Please take encouragement from the information and support you find here. That feeling of waiting for the board to find out is the absolute worst. All of this is much easier to deal with, if you're sober/clean, so I would start there. I found support in AA meetings, but meetings are like churches, some are good, with good people, and others are weird, with weird people, you have to look around and find one that has kind, sober, non-judgemental people there with the right heart for others. As another commenter said, being in a monitoring program absolutely doesn't mean you can't work as a nurse, and as another said - lawyer up, wisely, making use of phone consultations and compare pricing to make your decision. I would just come back around to the fact that all of this is doable, and able to be dealt with, and find joy and happiness in life, even while in a program, IF, you are able to say goodbye to whatever substances you depended on or used recklessly or whatever. If you're not ready to say goodbye, get ready for more trouble - I've done it both ways, I know. I wish you all the very best, you will be in my prayers nursefailure, and by the way, change that, because failing once, or one hundred times, does NOT mean that you as a person, and as a licensed nurse, are a failure.

It's one of those tests that have to be ordered specifically, it's not on the routine panels, so I think the only way they would do it is if they suspected a nurse was taking that drug for some reason. I have read about physicians being tested for a long list of drugs, that included kratom, but I don't think its tested for very often. In my state, I made close friends in the program over time, that I became comfortable discussing things like this with, but the culture's sort of wierd, if you just come out and ask about specific panels and stuff like that, usually you'll get the sort of answers that you see above me in this thread. Good luck.

Thanks in advance to anyone who might have info on this. I am halfway through my contract in WA state. Two DUI charges from 2016, and a positive opiate test at the beginning of 2017, well documented sobriety since. After this is all done, are some states better than others for granting practice privileges? I got to thinking that once I'm able to practice without restrictions here in my home state, that's all well and good, but if we ever decided to move it would be a total crapshoot as to whether or not I could work in another state. Any guidance on the subject is much appreciated. Straight to the boards of nursing to ask? Not sure if they would be forthcoming with the truth. Thanks.

Hey, I wrote a reply and tried to PM you, but the system wouldn't let me, because I haven't been a member long enough or something? Anyways, I'm going to post it below, it doesn't have information specific to you so I figured you'd be ok with me posting it here, but this is a reply to the last PM you sent me. :) Hey, sorry about the delay, its been crazy days, holidays and all. It sounds like you're on the right track when it comes to things to avoid. ETG tests are really sensitive, to anything that contains alcohol, but I'm able to use hand sanitizer and stuff without issues, I just don't bathe in it. Meds, you're a lot better off if you don't require opiates or benzos of any kind, if you do, things become stickier, as they really don't like people in the program to be on those sorts of meds. I've found that being up front and communicating with your case manager go a really long way. Just remember that these people have heard it all, and see through bs very quickly, so if you're telling the truth, you'll be ok, whatever the topic. As far as jobs, honestly, nursing home type jobs seem to be where it's at for people in these programs, because most of the time they'll hire people with licensure issues without any hassle, because of the low pay and crappy working environments. There are certainly better jobs to be had, case management type stuff, or dialysis, which don't require access to meds, but you have to look around, and there's always the issue of bringing up the fact that you're in a monitoring program, like when to do it, before, during, or after the interview, etc. One piece of information that I didn't realize until I was in for about a year, is that your case manager can act as a resource for you. I was told face to face by a WHPS case manager that she is more than willing to call people that she knows in the health care business, and ask them personally about jobs for the nurses she is responsible for. So, if you're going to go that route, I would suggest having your ducks in a row, having your resume all put together, have a ready explanation for the reason you're in a monitoring program, that is professional, and doesn't get bogged down with personal unnecessary information that the interviewer doesn't want to hear, and that could potentially make them uncomfortable, leading to you not being offered the job. If your CM pulls some strings for you, he/she is going to want you to hold up your end and be ready to return calls, and show up for interviews when given them. The advantage to that is that if they set it up, or at least open the conversation, you won't have to broach them subject of being in a monitoring program without warning, because a lot of people get the door slammed in their faces that way. Anyways, I hope some of this was helpful, I wish you the best, and I'll be around if there's anything else I can help you with.

Hi all, This questions is for nurses who are in monitoring programs, as am I. I live and work in Washington state. I am about two years into a five year monitoring contract through WHPS, the professional recovery program for nurses here. As most of you have experienced, I also have had restrictions placed on the type of work I can do, and for whom. In order to supplement, a couple years ago I became a BLS instructor with the American Heart Association, and aligned with a training center in my area, in order to teach classes. I am now looking at expanding into teaching ACLS, but one of the requirements for doing so, is to hold a license or certification in a field where one would practice ACLS, which I do - with a legal order attached to it requiring me to be in and compliant with the monitoring program. Here's my questions, have any of you looked at doing this, because to my knowledge, my training center doesn't know about and couldn't care less about my licensure issues, as pertains to teaching BLS. I'm just wondering if when I apply to teach more advanced courses, this will come up, seeing as how licensure is a requirement to teach the more advanced stuff. I know this is a very specific question, but I thought it might be worth a shot. Thanks in advance anybody who chimes in.

Be aware of what you touch, (where they cultured MRSA from), wash your hands, and don't worry about it is my 2cents. Longtime ICU who cared for a ton of isolation patients here.

I personally used it all the time, and have passed many etg urine tests, and peth blood tests while using it frequently. It sounds like some others on this forum haven't been so fortunate however.

Hello, I have been in WHPS for a couple years now. I actually think pretty darn highly of them, they have dealt very compassionately with me, and if you're willing to follow the terms of your contract and submit your required reports, they pretty much leave you alone. It was a huge adjustment for me to life in a monitoring program, but for all the cost and hassle, I never would have been able to get sober unless it came down to the choice between my income or alcohol and drugs. I'm happy to answer other questions you might have regarding the program. All the best.