Cgritz77

Hello, I am in PNAP for the same thing. First time DUI. This is definitely not fair at all. I've been in it since mid-September. It really does suck. I have not worked for almost a whole year. Sorry I can't help you on the non nursing job front. I was also thrown out of my BSN program when I only had 2 classes left and told to return once I finished with PNAP, which may not be until another almost 3 years. 3 years is the standard amount of time you will be placed in a program in PA. The board requested all my medical records, which I had to send or else my license would be suspended. I have a history of anxiety and depression and those things were used against me in determining that I would need to be in a program. I am not an alcoholic either, but I had to succumb to attending 3 AA meetings a week and also checking in with RecoveryTrek M-F to see if I have a random urine test. The initial shock of being placed into a program is the most disheartening thing and most of your dignity is stripped away from you. My advice is to spare no expense on a good attorney, who I can give you the name of. I didn't use him, but I wish I had. Join the Facebook group "Nurses in Assistance Programs" for help and support. It has truly helped me. Once you are there, you can talk openly without judgment about what's going on and get the support you need. Mention you are from Pa or mention my allnurses.com username on there so I can send you a message or something. I can't put names on here. Best of luck! ?

Hello all, I am interested in possibly obtaining a certificate in medical coding/billing in addition to my RN license. There is a community college near me that offers online courses and prepares students to take the coding exam. I would like to continue gaining knowledge in the profession and would like a role that focuses more on auditing type work rather than nursing care. What are some options for RNs to become certified medical coders? Is online community college the best route? Will this be beneficial to my career? Will this open up more positions for me nonclinically? Do medical coders/billers need to complete an internship? Thank you so much for your help!

Through my state board. I was board ordered to do the program, so that's what I am doing. I actually ended my search, however, because I figure it's better to just wait to finish at Grand Canyon since I only have 2 courses left, rather than spend a ton of time and money at another school.

TravelingRN21 I'm also in Pa. You will most likely get Dr. ****** ******** for your eval from the board since you're from Pittsburgh. I'm about 2 hours from there, and that's where they told me to go. I hired two separate attorneys. One for the DUI and one to face the board. Your psych history will be a problem, because mine was. Your attorney should coach you about how to answer Dr. ******** questions. If it is possible, your attorney could also hire a separate psychiatrist to evaluate you to put you in a more positive light for the board. Also to answer your other question, I was contacted by PNAP when I first got a DUI then I self reported when I went to apply for my license renewal, shortly after that I received a letter from the board that I needed to answer to their allegations and submit to an eval by their psychiatrist providing him the last 5 years of all my medical records. If anything was found to be missing, I could have my license suspended. Hope this helps answer your questions and give you some direction. You can add Valerie Arens on Facebook to join a nursing support group to get more advice. Good luck! ?

EXACTLY! Don't try to tell me these "approved" psychiatrists don't get some kind of financial incentive by referring people to the program. Absolute bullsh!t.

Hello! I responded back to you on my post about the online RN-BSN programs! I hope that helps! I am still researching and will make a more conclusive list on the recovery forum I am finished. Best of luck!

Hello, So far I have found 3 that will definitely accept me, they are: Pacific College in CA California State University in Diego Hills Central Michigan University Here are some possibles: Liberty University Walden University These few are checking: Mount Aloysius Wilson College La College Brookline College Here are the ones I need to call back: Purdue Global Fitchburg State University Franklin University Quinnipiac University Moravian College Hope this helps! ?

No problem! We face enough judgment with this crap. Ugh yeah just keep your head down and push through. I actually had a DUI in April 2017. So they got me for that. A first time DUI with no prior issues, but what can you do? I had a lawyer, tried to fight it, but I had to send the board's psychiatrist my medical records from 5 years back, and I have a history of depression and anxiety, so they used that stuff against me to make their decision. I think psych stuff should be private either way, but I had to sign the permission to get it or they could suspend my license. To me this is a money thing. But I'm doing alright. Trying to focus on the positive. Oh and I'm in PA.

Oh yeah definitely do NOT trust them!!! If you can get an attorney do it! They are not your friend. They will pretend they are, but they aren't! The best policy for the evaluation is to say as little as possible and make everything sound super positive about your life. They ask questions about substances, alcohol use, mental health, suicidal thoughts, support, your relationships, medications, etc. I hate to tell someone to lie, but do what you gotta do! Ie "I only drink on special occasions" "oh I only have 4 beers maybe" "My family/significant other/friends are very supportive" "I don't use any substances" "I think completing this program will be easy" Show them that you are a stable, functioning adult, even if you have to fake it! I'm not entirely sure on all the forbidden stuff. I don't drink or use drugs and I do read ingredient lists. I haven't worried too much about other products, but proceed with caution. I feel you on the it sucks part. I think everyone has to fully go through all the stages of grief to deal with these programs. I've just come to an acceptance of it like this is just what it is and what I have to do to get my life together. I made it through nursing school, I can make it through this. I think it helps for me to think of it as a personal challenge to myself, too, instead of something I'm being forced into. But when I found out I had to be in the program I was very very angry. I truly went through all the Kubler-Ross stages of grief. If you want you can add Valerie Arens on Facebook and ask her to add you to the Nurses in Assistance Programs group, because comiserating with others also helps and you can ask questions there too.

1.) I'm in Pa, and my state works with PNAP. You should find out what your state's monitoring program is and give them a call as a new referral. They can assign you a case manager from there. They may send you a letter, but I recommend being proactive, because the board and the programs take forever to get things done. 2.) This is weird, because the board ordered me to go to a specific psychiatrist of their choosing, but honestly I would call the board and ask them where you need to go. If you don't have an attorney you may want to get one to help you extend the timeline you have to be evaluated. 3.) I haven't actually gone to any nurse support groups. Only AA. I have to do 3/week based off my "remission" status. It's just required, and I don't look much into it than that. 4.) I'm not actually sure about false positives. I haven't had one being in the program for 2 months, but I don't worry much about it. 5.) As far as I know, they test you for the entirety of your program. I've heard 2-3 times a month average. I've had 5 in 2 months so far. 6.) Your case manager will help you with the job aspect. They have to clear you for work, which is extremely annoying, so you can't work as a nurse until that happens. I haven't gotten a job yet so I don't know much about that. 7.) How did you cope with all of this??! Ugh. It's very frustrating. I go to the AA meetings, and I check in with my RecoveryTrek app M-F. I'm not back to work yet, so I'm relying on my boyfriend and family for money. It's hard. I also had a first time DUI 2 years ago, but I was already a nurse. The best way I handle it is to just face it head on. Best to just do what they want and then one day you'll be free. I try to help others going through the same stuff. There's a facebook group I joined for support called "Nurses in Assistance Programs." You can find it by adding Valerie Arens. Talking to people on here and on there is helpful. Otherwise I try not to think about it too much. Hope this helped! Best of luck! ?

Hello, Who is doing the chemical dependency evaluation? A caseworker or a psychiatrist? Also, sadly, it is difficult to further your education. I have been reaching out to colleges like crazy over the last few days to finish my BSN. There are only a few that said they would accept an encumbered license. Are you just starting in this process? Could you give some backstory? I just started the PNAP 2 months ago, but I'd like to try to help! ?

Hello, You made it through nursing school and passed the NCLEX and started working as a nurse!! That's something to be proud of! I had bad anxiety when I first started out too. Nursing is not easy, but it does get easier the more experience you gain. My suggestion would be to keep at it. The first year is expected to be pretty difficult. Don't be afraid to ask for help or for clarification when you don't know something. I always did, even if it sounded stupid, it's better than making a big mistake. You have to build your confidence in this career, and it takes awhile, but it does come. Find something slower paced if you want to continue. A doctor's office, clinic, a slower floor like palliative care, certain nursing homes where you're not the supervisor, etc. It gets better! Best of luck! ?

Hello, I am very sorry to read your situation. Unfortunately, these programs seem for most to be a lot of crap that finances them and the boards. I had a DUI two years and a half years ago and my program just got started 2 months ago. I think it depends on what state you live in as to how the monitoring will go. I attempted to fight the process with my lawyer, but due to my medical records and things I said in therapy years ago, they were able to force me into a monitoring program and now I have a mark on my license. I think it is best to listen to your lawyer and enter into a program, because it may save you from getting a mark on your license, which makes it hard to find a job. It is hard financially, but thankfully I have my family for support. The program involves signing a bunch of release forms to allow your case manager to speak to all of your providers and a few additional people like a significant other, sponsor, etc. Once you do that then you will need to sign up with a monitoring service that your case manager refers to you such as RecoveryTrek. You download an app that allows you to check in every day (mine is M-F) to see if you have a random urine test. Depending on the test and the approved provider you go to, you will pay a fee. So far each one for me has been $25. I have only had 5 tests so far. The program itself is $300/year for me. Your case manager will refer you to an approved provider that may be covered by your insurance to get an evaluation. You go to the evaluation and answer their questions as positively as you can. That's what I did, and after a month they will give your case manager the results of your evaluation. They will not let you work in a nursing position until they give you stipulations for return to work as a nurse and also tell you what your plan of treatment is. They determined that I was in remission so I just have to go to three AA meetings a week. It is honestly not that terrible once you get into it. I still have not gotten my stipulations for return to work yet, so that's frustrating. I recommend being proactive about the process and calling your case manager to make sure they are on top of things. The programs operate under the PHMP, which will also assign you a case manager. The PNAP case manager's job is to "advocate" for you to the PHMP case manager, however I have taken it upon myself to call the PHMP case manager when I need answers. You should keep all records of your testing and receipts. They also need to know all your prescriptions and when you get a new one you must notify them and send them the prescription and a release form for them to be able to communicate with your physician. Not being able to drink is annoying when you really don't have a problem, but it's not the end of the world. I was very disgusted and disheartened when I knew I had to begin this process, but I just look at it as a stepping stone on the path to success. Recovery isn't even a factor to me in this process, because it doesn't feel like I need to recover from anything. Unfortunately, it feels like a way for power hungry people to exert control over others. It does suck, but you just gotta look at it like something that needs to be done to continue in the nursing profession. You can do it. It's just a bump in the road. When you feel lost or need support, come back to this forum and talk to people who understand. Best of luck to you ?

Thank you for the kind words! I contacted Chamberlain through a live chat and only asked if they would accept nurses with a restricted license and they said no, but I didn't get a chance to explain my situation so maybe if I do that they will consider me.

Ugh yeah they really are. All about their reputation. Like I got a DUI 2 years ago and I'm the scum of the earth now even though I'm in full compliance with my program and a very good student.