1964RNfromTX

Hello, You say that you let your license go delinquent for 11 years? Were they suspended, revoked, etc. at that time? or did you just fail to renew them? If your license were in good standing in Texas when you let them go delinquent, then you may be better off going on to Alaska, and bypassing TPAPN. I don't know if you are familiar with TPAPN, but here's a link to the Handbook, just in case: http://www.texasnurses.org/tpapn/pdf/TPAPN-13.pdf Good Luck

NNOC is the organization that is responsible for getting unions started for nurses in CA, IL, and other states. They are also organizing Texas nurses to try to get a union started, as well as getting a House Bill passed that would set appropriate nurse to patient ratios into law. In :angryfireTPAPN, you are required to work for 64 Hrs. a month, for a MINIMUM OF 12 CONSECUTIVE MONTHS, to complete the program.

I have recently found that I was sent to TPAPN illegally. According to my Declaratory Order. Texas Administrative Code RULE 213.29. (a) A person desiring to obtain or retain a license to practice professional or vocational nursing shall provide evidence of current sobriety and fitness consistent with this rule. (b) Such person shall provide a sworn certificate to the Board stating that he/she has read and understands the requirements for licensure as a registered or vocational nurse and that he/she has not: (1) within the past five years, become addicted to or treated for the use of alcohol or any other drug; or (2) within the past five years, been diagnosed with, treated or hospitalized for schizophrenia and/or other psychotic disorders, bi-polar disorder, paranoid personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder or borderline personality disorder. © If a registered or vocational nurse is reported to the Board for intemperate use, abuse of drugs or alcohol, or diagnosis of or treatment for chemical dependency; or if a person is unable to sign the certification in subsection (b) of this section, the following restrictions and requirements apply: (1) Any matter before the Board that involves an allegation of chemical dependency, or misuse or abuse of drugs or alcohol, will require at a minimum that such person obtain for Board review a chemical dependency evaluation performed by a licensed chemical dependency evaluator or other professional approved by the executive director; (2) Those persons who have become addicted to or treated for alcohol or chemical dependency will not be eligible to obtain or retain a license to practice as a nurse unless such person can demonstrate sobriety and abstinence for the preceding twelve consecutive months through verifiable and reliable evidence, or can establish eligibility to participate in a peer assistance program created pursuant to Chapter 467 of the Health and Safety Code; (3) Those persons who have become addicted to or treated for alcohol or chemical dependency will not be eligible to obtain or retain an unencumbered license to practice nursing until the individual has attained a five-year term of sobriety and abstinence or until such person has successfully completed participation in a board-approved peer assistance program created pursuant to Chapter 467 of the Health and Safety Code. (4) Those persons who have been diagnosed with, treated, or hospitalized for the disorders mentioned in subsection (b) of this section shall execute an authorization for release of medical, psychiatric, and treatment records. (d) It shall be the responsibility of those persons subject to this rule to submit to and pay for an evaluation by a professional approved by the executive director to determine current sobriety and fitness. The evaluation shall be limited to the conditions mentioned in subsection (b) of this section. (e) Prior intemperate use or mental illness is relevant only so far as it may indicate current intemperate use or lack of fitness. (f) With respect to chemical dependency in eligibility and disciplinary matters, the executive director is authorized to: (1) review submissions from a movant, materials and information gathered or prepared by staff, and identify any deficiencies in file information necessary to determine the movant's request; (2) close any eligibility file in which the movant has failed to respond to a request for information or to a proposal for denial of eligibility within 60 days thereof; (3) approve eligibility, enter eligibility orders and approve renewals, without Board ratification, when the evidence is clearly insufficient to prove a ground for denial of licensure; and (4) propose conditional orders in eligibility, disciplinary and renewal matters for individuals who have experienced chemical/alcohol dependency within the past five years provided: (A) the individual presents reliable and verifiable evidence of having functioned in a sober/abstinent manner for the previous twelve consecutive months; and (B) licensure limitations/stipulations and/or peer assistance program participation can be implemented which will ensure that patients and the public are protected until the individual has attained a five-year term of sobriety/abstinence. (g) With respect to mental illness in eligibility, disciplinary, and renewal matters, the executive director is authorized to propose conditional orders for individuals who have experienced mental illness within the past five years provided: (1) the individual presents reliable and verifiable evidence of having functioned in a manner consistent with the behaviors required of nurses under the Nursing Practice Act and Board rules for at least the previous twelve consecutive months; and (2) licensure limitations/stipulations and/or peer assistance program participation can be implemented which will ensure that patients and the public are protected until the individual has attained a five-year term of controlled behavior and consistent compliance with the requirements of the Nursing Practice Act and Board rules. (h) In renewal matters involving chemical dependency or mental illness, the executive director shall consider the following information from the preceding renewal period: (1) evidence of the licensee's safe practice; (2) compliance with the NPA and Board rules; and (3) written verification of compliance with any treatment. (i) Upon receipt of items (h)(1)-(3) of this section, the executive director may renew the license. Also, from my Declaratory Order: The Board may, in it's discretion, order a Petitioner, upon initial licensure as a Registered nurse, to participate in a Peer Assistance Program approved by the Board if the nurse would otherwise been eligible for referral to peer assistance persuant to section 301.410, Texas occupation Code. Texas Occupations Code 301.410 301.410. REPORT REGARDING IMPAIRMENT BY CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY OR MENTAL ILLNESS. A person who is required to report a nurse under this subchapter because the nurse is impaired or suspected of being impaired by chemical dependency or mental illness may report to a peer assistance program approved by the board under Chapter 467, Health and Safety Code, instead of reporting to the board or requesting review by a nursing peer review committee. The law works for you when the government requires you to attend AA, since a series of cases at the State Supreme Court and Federal Appeals Court levels (with no diverging opinions) have held that a government body cannot require a person to attend AA because of its religious content (this violates the 1st Amendment's separation of church and state, called the "establishment"--no establishment of religion by the government--clause). The same does not apply with private employers, since the idea is you can go to another employer. A state agency with sole power for medical licensure parallels the government enacting requirements.TPAPN requires you to attend AA to remain in compliance, so it seems to be unconstitutional for the boards to make you join TPAPN, since by doing so is making you attend AA. I am currently working as a Home Health RN. I intend to take this fight to the highest court possible. I am even considering a civil suit. Good Luck to all of you TPAPers, David P.S. Maybe we need to form our own program to fight the injustice of TPAPN and the BNE making them rich.

I, too, was forced into TPAPN for having DWI'S on my criminal record. The last DWI was in 1991, and when I agreed to TPAPN, had been sober for over 10 years. I have recently found that I was sent to TPAPN illegally. According to my Declaratory Order. Texas Administrative Code RULE 213.29. (a) A person desiring to obtain or retain a license to practice professional or vocational nursing shall provide evidence of current sobriety and fitness consistent with this rule. (b) Such person shall provide a sworn certificate to the Board stating that he/she has read and understands the requirements for licensure as a registered or vocational nurse and that he/she has not: (1) within the past five years, become addicted to or treated for the use of alcohol or any other drug; or (2) within the past five years, been diagnosed with, treated or hospitalized for schizophrenia and/or other psychotic disorders, bi-polar disorder, paranoid personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder or borderline personality disorder. © If a registered or vocational nurse is reported to the Board for intemperate use, abuse of drugs or alcohol, or diagnosis of or treatment for chemical dependency; or if a person is unable to sign the certification in subsection (b) of this section, the following restrictions and requirements apply: (1) Any matter before the Board that involves an allegation of chemical dependency, or misuse or abuse of drugs or alcohol, will require at a minimum that such person obtain for Board review a chemical dependency evaluation performed by a licensed chemical dependency evaluator or other professional approved by the executive director; (2) Those persons who have become addicted to or treated for alcohol or chemical dependency will not be eligible to obtain or retain a license to practice as a nurse unless such person can demonstrate sobriety and abstinence for the preceding twelve consecutive months through verifiable and reliable evidence, or can establish eligibility to participate in a peer assistance program created pursuant to Chapter 467 of the Health and Safety Code; (3) Those persons who have become addicted to or treated for alcohol or chemical dependency will not be eligible to obtain or retain an unencumbered license to practice nursing until the individual has attained a five-year term of sobriety and abstinence or until such person has successfully completed participation in a board-approved peer assistance program created pursuant to Chapter 467 of the Health and Safety Code. (4) Those persons who have been diagnosed with, treated, or hospitalized for the disorders mentioned in subsection (b) of this section shall execute an authorization for release of medical, psychiatric, and treatment records. (d) It shall be the responsibility of those persons subject to this rule to submit to and pay for an evaluation by a professional approved by the executive director to determine current sobriety and fitness. The evaluation shall be limited to the conditions mentioned in subsection (b) of this section. (e) Prior intemperate use or mental illness is relevant only so far as it may indicate current intemperate use or lack of fitness. (f) With respect to chemical dependency in eligibility and disciplinary matters, the executive director is authorized to: (1) review submissions from a movant, materials and information gathered or prepared by staff, and identify any deficiencies in file information necessary to determine the movant's request; (2) close any eligibility file in which the movant has failed to respond to a request for information or to a proposal for denial of eligibility within 60 days thereof; (3) approve eligibility, enter eligibility orders and approve renewals, without Board ratification, when the evidence is clearly insufficient to prove a ground for denial of licensure; and (4) propose conditional orders in eligibility, disciplinary and renewal matters for individuals who have experienced chemical/alcohol dependency within the past five years provided: (A) the individual presents reliable and verifiable evidence of having functioned in a sober/abstinent manner for the previous twelve consecutive months; and (B) licensure limitations/stipulations and/or peer assistance program participation can be implemented which will ensure that patients and the public are protected until the individual has attained a five-year term of sobriety/abstinence. (g) With respect to mental illness in eligibility, disciplinary, and renewal matters, the executive director is authorized to propose conditional orders for individuals who have experienced mental illness within the past five years provided: (1) the individual presents reliable and verifiable evidence of having functioned in a manner consistent with the behaviors required of nurses under the Nursing Practice Act and Board rules for at least the previous twelve consecutive months; and (2) licensure limitations/stipulations and/or peer assistance program participation can be implemented which will ensure that patients and the public are protected until the individual has attained a five-year term of controlled behavior and consistent compliance with the requirements of the Nursing Practice Act and Board rules. (h) In renewal matters involving chemical dependency or mental illness, the executive director shall consider the following information from the preceding renewal period: (1) evidence of the licensee's safe practice; (2) compliance with the NPA and Board rules; and (3) written verification of compliance with any treatment. (i) Upon receipt of items (h)(1)-(3) of this section, the executive director may renew the license. Also, from my Declaratory Order: The Board may, in it's discretion, order a Petitioner, upon initial licensure as a Registered nurse, to participate in a Peer Assistance Program approved by the Board if the nurse would otherwise been eligible for referral to peer assistance persuant to section 301.410, Texas occupation Code. Texas Occupations Code 301.410 301.410. REPORT REGARDING IMPAIRMENT BY CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY OR MENTAL ILLNESS. A person who is required to report a nurse under this subchapter because the nurse is impaired or suspected of being impaired by chemical dependency or mental illness may report to a peer assistance program approved by the board under Chapter 467, Health and Safety Code, instead of reporting to the board or requesting review by a nursing peer review committee. The law works for you when the government requires you to attend AA, since a series of cases at the State Supreme Court and Federal Appeals Court levels (with no diverging opinions) have held that a government body cannot require a person to attend AA because of its religious content (this violates the 1st Amendment's separation of church and state, called the "establishment"--no establishment of religion by the government--clause). The same does not apply with private employers, since the idea is you can go to another employer. A state agency with sole power for medical licensure parallels the government enacting requirements.TPAPN requires you to attend AA to remain in compliance, so it seems to be unconstitutional for the boards to make you join TPAPN, since by doing so is making you attend AA. I am currently working as a Home Health RN. I intend to take this fight to the highest court possible. I am even considering a civil suit. Good Luck to all of you TPAPers, David P.S. Maybe we need to form our own program to fight the injustice of TPAPN and the BNE making them rich.

As a nurse, you will ALSO be a teacher. You will spend a good part of your time teaching. You will teach about diagnoses, about medications, about treatments, and so forth and so on. So you see, you'll still be a teacher, it's just that the subject has changed. Good luck to you!

LVN's are allowed by the state, but your hospital policy may not allow it. LVN's used to be able to access central lines at our hospital, but our hospital changed it's policy, and now they can't access any central lines, including mediports, PICCs, etc. You need to check the Policy where you work.:monkeydance:

You should not have to "sign away your liability". If you are hired as an RN, then you work under your license. If you are hired as a Nanny, then your license should not be involved, any more than if you hire in somewhere as a waitress, sales clerk, etc. They are different jobs, with different requirements. As far as I know, you are not required to have an RN license to be a Nanny?

Make up a contract stating that you will be providing Nanny care only, and that any medical care must be performed at their PCP. Have them sign the contract and stick to it. If they truly are freinds, they will understand your concerns.

You cannot take any pain meds in TPAPN. Period. If you have to have pain meds, then TPAPN won't even accept you. Good Luck.:monkeydance:

I used mine all through Nursing School and still use it. It comes in very handy, although i don't work ER. I like Epocrates Drug guide better, though. They are up-to-date, and it updates your PDA every time you sync up. :monkeydance:

I'm having to go through TPAPN for a past hoistory of 4 DWI's. The last one was in 1991. I have been sober for for ten years, but that doesn't seem to count. My alcohol dependancy assessment that I had performed for the boards revealed that I didn't have a problem (and was verified with a polygraph), but the BNE required me to go through TPAPN anyway. TPAPN, wanted a new assessment done stating "the other one was too far in the past"(the previous one was done in Oct. '05). After finishing this new assessment, the counselor told me that he "didn't see a problem" and he "wasn't going to recommend any treatment". However, after talking to the TPAPN case manager the following day, he changed his assessment to read that I need Intensive Outpatient Treatment, 3 nights a week for 20 sessions. I was allowed 45 days from my initial licensure date to enroll in TPAPN. In the mean time, I obtained a job and have been working. I made my employer aware of my TPAPN stipulation before I was hired, and thus far, they haven't had a problem with any of this. This past week I was told by my case manager that I could not work until I got my assessment done and started the treatment that I need (she has never even met me and has only spoken to me on the telephone twice, but she can tell I have a seriuos problem???).I have a case manager that can only be reached maybe once a week. She will not respond to messages that I have left, nor will she answer her telephone. I have all of my paperwork completed, and have complied with everything I am supposed to do, and I'm ready to go back to work. Now I have to play the waiting game with the case manager, trying to get her to answer her telephone, or at least return my call. Thanks for letting me vent. Have a nice Labor Day Weekend! :monkeydance: (Walking the Tightrope Here)