sharklady

Your situation sounds so very, very similar to mine. Last week I had to go in to my old hospital for a procedure. When it was done I went up to my old manager's office and told her how sorry I was and I thanked her for literally saving my life. It was a tearful and emotional thing for both of us but in a good way I am so glad I did this. She was an amazing manager, I miss her and I now have some peace of mind because I owned my mistake.

I checked my email for dates of contact. It was actually Aug 22, 2020 that I replied to the Investigator who had sent a written letter from DCA. Her reply came on Aug 25,2020. So it was a little more like 4 months from the day the event occurred (4/27) , 2 months from the day I entered CA Intervention program (6/24). As you can see it moved kind of fast. One thing I have learned about BRN through all this though is that things are NOT consistent. There are a bunch of us in a program mandated support group and we all compare notes on how long various steps/paperwork etc take and it was surprising how much variation there was. I hope this all turns out for the best for you and hang in there. Lots of info and support here for you too ?

I heard from an investigator within a month of entering CA Intervention Program which was 2 months after the event that started this whole thing occurred. Got a letter asking me to call. I did this. Investigator explained that yes, she must do investigation but it gets tossed when I successfully complete Intervention. This makes sense as not everyone completes the program successfully and they need to get info while it is still "fresh" in peoples recollection I guess. I have 2 years in now and look forward to completion.

Very well said!

As a person in CA Diversion I can tell you it is intense and not cheap, but, in time it becomes totally livable. Part of being in this program requires attending a board assigned weekly nurse support group and mine includes nurses both in Diversion and on Probation. It seems both have areas where things are more restrictive or complicated than the other. I am glad to know that at the end of this, I will have no strike on my license and even now while in the program, nothing comes up on it. Both programs require worksite monitors at your place of employment. Both require daily random drug screen check in. Probation seems a bit more permissive in respect to travel but the drug testing in itself is always part of things to consider when leaving your home area. Diversion seems like less of a headache in regard to asking for changes and lesser restriction after you have some time in or for asking for early release at the 2 year mark from what I have seen so far. I'd definitely read up on both CA programs too, just so you know exactly what you are getting yourself into. I will send you a pm if you want to talk further OK? Hang in there you will get through this.

Here in the CA Recovery program, blood testing seems to be used to test for peth level to see if you have been drinking in last month or so.

I was not permitted to work for those 9 months as it was recovery time. SDI made it more livable as the drug tests and fees for the programs get expensive and I had my usual life expenses. After getting cleared to return to work, getting interviews was not a problem and I got a job within 1 week of applying for anything. It will work out.

9 months out for me but just got hired at major hospital in acute care setting and honesty is the way to go for sure. I should also add that I got interviews and then a job within 1 week of sending out applications. This is now a demand side market for nurses apparently! Just be up front about your situation and any current restrictions and hopefully you will find someone who will work with you on accommodating the monitoring requirements. Best of luck ?

In CA, they assign you to one as the nurse support group facilitator does quarterly reports to the board and intervention agency (Maximus). I would check and see with your case manager if this is the case for you. Good luck ?

You should be fine!

I won't kid you, the alternative to discipline/intervention program here in CA is hard and expensive. At first it seems so overwhelming, but you do kind of get into a groove and it becomes annoying but bearable. I am a little over a year in and I am now clear to return to work with some restrictions but not as many as one would think. During the time you do not work, SDI is available and made it doable. If you want to talk further, I'd be happy to email or pm or something. Hang in there OK?

I'd be up front about it. I am in the same situation. You need to get a lot of things in place and will need to submit paperwork to your program and board to be approved for this job first. You need to be sure there is a worksite monitor, if you are in same program as me then you can only work certain hours, no floating and other such conditions. I wouldn't go and get hired then Spring all this after the fact, it would seem a bad foot to start off on. Just my 2 cents.... Wishing you the best on your interview and I hope you get it ?

I got 2 out of range for having low creatinine...was like "um what???" Avoid caffeine before you test and try drinking a protein shake or having some type of protein based snack too. Has never happened again since I started doing this. Also, this sounds weird but it works for me and others, putting a few drops of peppermint oil on my mask and taking a deep breath literally makes me pee on demand so I keep some in my purse. I still hate testing but it's become livable. I got lucky and get along well with the staff at my center and am comfortable now with my usual "observers." My pee soulmates as I call them LOL ?

I know what you are going through and I understand the anxiety you feel. I had an interview with a recruiter which was going great but then I had to discuss certain restrictions I came with regarding the monitoring program I am in here in CA. It was due to the fact that I could not work night shifts or overtime that was going to be the problem and she was glad I told her as acute dialysis in hospital was not going to be a good fit at this point due to these restrictions. She passed my name on to 2 other recruiters in a different part of dialysis care and its working out great. I wish you the best of luck in your interview and the advice from Tigerlily8 above is perfect!

I wore a set of red scrubs to work and got floated to Psych Unit that night' I was greeted by first patient with, "Get the hell out, you fiery bag of mouse ***!!" Red scrubs never had been a problem down on cardiac telemetry...

I had similar experience early on in my program as I was learning the ropes. Coffee and energy drinks are a big no for me on test days. Cutting out caffeine and adding a protein shake prior to going in to test has resolved the problem and I still have to drink a ton of water to be able to pee on demand it seems. Peppermint tea prior to and peppermint oil on my mask at test center also make it easier to go.

I started as a New grad on the Acute Rehab Unit. Our patient population was largely comprised of post stroke patients but also included SCI, TBI, those recovering from amputations, joint replacements, massive trauma, degenerative diseases like Guillaine-Barre, Myasthenia Gravis, even Leprosy! What the common factor among all these different cases was the fact that they all had to participate in a minimum of 3 hours of active therapy per day if not more. Many disciplines work together PT, OT, SLP, Hospitalists and Physiatrists and of course nursing. On my unit they would stay usually from a week to a month. These patients are complex and the program is grueling for many of them but you get to see some truly amazing progress sometimes.

Take care of yourself first and foremost. Take advantage of the services and personal time to get yourself into a better place physically, emotionally and all that. I'd be pissed too about people bringing my personal time into question but now is not the time to deal with that. You are being given a chance to get help, give it a try and work on you ?

I remember the stress I felt when waiting for that call, it was just awful. Like yourself I was expecting to hear back very soon BUT this didn't happen. It took in fact about 2 weeks for the drug screen to process and after that is when I started hearing back from people. It would have been nice to know that ahead of time, the not knowing what was up for weeks was really hard. I wanted so badly to make my own calls but at the same time, I realized it was better to not draw attention. You will get through this but try not to let the uncertainty right now consume you. Some employers have what we called an EAP (Employee Assistance Program). You call and they offer a lot of services that might be helpful and that you are entitled to. It also looks good to see that you reached out on your own. Right now, be strong and take care of yourself OK?

I understand your position all too well and can tell you the following things: 1) Monitoring program is not easy but it saved me. Sometimes it takes getting caught to realize how bad of a problem one has and to do something about it. 2) It is expensive to be in monitoring because at some points you cannot work and drug tests are pricey and frequent but I qualified for SDI while in treatment so it worked out. 3) Maybe you could talk to your job about going to treatment and work out an agreement before committing to a state monitoring program. I wish I had before it went too far. Know you are in a safe place here and a lot of us are in similar situations and can offer support, guidance and a place to let it all out when needed. Please fell free to message me if you want more specifics. You will get through this /hug

There is a site called InTheRooms.com which hosts a multitude of online 12 step and recovery meetings. All hours of the day and all sorts of choices. I believe there is a Nurse Support group that runs Tuesdays at 5pm PST. I am in a state monitoring program which requires me to attend daily 12 step meetings and this has made it doable during these crazy times! Good Luck! Oh and btw, I am also in CA ?

I had this happen twice. They said my creatinine levels were too low which constituted the OOR. I found drinking a protein shake and having no coffee/caffeinated anything prior to testing fixed this. Has not happened since. Also another tip, drinking peppermint tea and a whiff of the peppermint oil I keep I my purse before going in to actually pee makes me go more easily for those with stage fright issues like me ?

I can't even imagine what that must have felt like. Stay strong and so sorry you had to go through that /hug

I wonder what California's position on this option is? It sounds like an extra layer of safeguarding for all involved.