bebe1138

I was reading some of your posts and felt like sharing. I was in TNPAP and I left before my contract was done. I was a complete f-up. I always seemed to make decisions that leave me at the mercy of fate or destined to fail from the get- go. I quit after facing another positive drug test. Does it really matter that it was for alcohol and my drug of choice was dilaudid. (I purposefully did not capitalize) I had to face that the reason I was diverting dilaudid was deeper than just getting high. For me, it was a combination of my ADD and issues from being molested as a child. I'm still working through it, but finally as I approach my 50's I can finally name the beast so to speak. I do not have my RN license anymore. I am working on becoming a happy healthy human, then mother, then wife, then nurse. I still have a calling to care for others. For the time being, I am the one most in need, so there my focus lies. For me, my drug use/ abuse/ diversion was a symptom. I am still considering coming back to nursing but I have found a job that has few demands and pays the bills. It gives me time and space to work on me. I don't want to sound somber but I'm a little bipolar and even keel is a good thing in my world. I'm a healthier person now, than when I was using. My journey was long and very personal. I would never want to tell someone how their recovery should go. I just wanted to say something since I have the experience and things are going OK.

TN PAP is the program for nurses in recovery and they will not allow the use of any opiates while in the monitoring program. But, before you get to that point you need to be evaluated to see if you are abusing meds or what. Your situation sounds like it would end there. Or, if the investigator doesn't find any evidence of a safety issue that could end the situation. What ever the case I can assure you it will take longer than you expect. The system at work is in no hurry. If you are disciplined it can be a 1-3 year monitoring contract. It sounds like crap, but it's not the end of the world. There is a certain financial sacrifice involved, but weigh that against losing your license. You don't have to help the investigator by talking to them. My personal opinion is that eventually you will end up with a board order to go to TN PAP. If you get a lawyer that may change things, but then there is that financial sacrifice. You have a few options and lots of time. From report to board order could take months or years. I wish you luck. This type of limbo is no fun, but there is always a way to work through it.

I can't believe no one has commented yet. I was reading an old post with a related topic and there were over 20 pages of posts. I suppose you have already turned in your paperwork by now. My husband is applying for Spring 2016 too. I am concerned that he has not completed all the science courses yet, however when I was in the Spring 2005 class we had more than 1 student who did not have all their sciences. 2 of them even graduated. Have you heard anything about the class size? I read in a post that since they are in the new building they would accept larger classes. Of course I haven't read any such thing on the school website.

My husband and I are thinking about moving to northern Colorado. I have a feeling to afford the housing there, I'll need to find a job in Denver. I have 4 yrs ER experience 1 of those in a level 1 trauma center. Prior to being an RN I was a paramedic for 12 years. As you can imagine I won't fit anywhere but an ER, preferably another level 1 trauma center. I am a little fuzzy on where those level 1's are. I see Denver Health, and St. Anthony's, but I heard there are 4 in the state. Can anyone tell me the whole story?

I worked as a Nurse Intern/Extern/Tech at three different hospitals in their ED's when I was a nursing student. I liked the fact that I could come in on any day or night and not worry about a set schedule. I also liked learning the operating procedures of the different hospitals. I made friends at each facility and when it came time to choose where I wanted to work as an RN I had plenty of folks willing to write letters of recommendation for me. When I finally picked were I wanted to work, there was no wondering if I picked the best place to work.

St. Francis starts new grads at 20.80 with benefits, shift diff is 4.25 that's for 3-11, 11- 7a, and week-ends, bedside is 1.00.

I couldn't figure out how to send you an email so I'll just post here. STCC was difficult, but so are all schools. Even with hind sight I still think it was the best choice for me. You can't beat the price in the Memphis area. I thought it would be a breeze since I had all this experience. Well, it was really difficult. Not just the tests, but being a 24 hour nursing student takes a toll on your state of mind. The instructors are very willing to help, but I promise that won't be the issue. You are being trained to think like a nurse, to look at a problem and see a nursing solution. Forget about common sense or what you always do at your facility. Thinking like a nurse is something I only grasped tenuously as I took the NCLEX, and almost a year later I'm still working on it. In most facilities there is barely a difference in pay from ASN to BSN. We had counselors from U of M come talk to us about the RN to BSN program and it sounds like a vacation compared to getting my ASN. I would rather do 2 years of mental anguish and follow up with a BSN later, than have 4 years of nursing school hell. A huge plus is that now I can pay for all those bills that began to slide during school and still afford to go back to school. Good luck with your decision, I hope some of this is helpful.

I also used to be very suspicious of people who come to the ER with Migraines demanding narcs, until I also started to get them. My neurologist tried ever Migraine med he could (Midrin, Caffergot, Maxalt, Imitrex, etc.) but nothing touched it. Ended up with an Rx for Mepergan and Ultram. Honestly nothing takes my Migraines away but time. The meds just help me to make it through what may take up to 4 days to go away. I asked my Dr. to swap the Mepergan for Percocet because it was really too much ( I thought so anyway). I guess my point (if there really is one) is that your Mom's Migraines might be legit, but how she handles them sounds like she has given up trying to live a normal life and decided to stay stoned as a way to alleviate the pain. I'm not one to judge, but if it were my Momma I would be concerned too! Good Luck.

Has anyone ever got their NCLEX results after one day because I think the wait is gonna make me crazy!

Just took boards this am. Shut off after 75 questions. Does anyone know of someone failing after only 75 questions? :uhoh21:

I take my NCLEX tomorrow and in between studying I am looking for reassurance on the internet. Your thread sounds just like what will be going through my head tomorrow, I just hope it ends the same way. BTW, congratulations!:ancong!:

I just finished the nursing program at STCC. It was rough, but then again everyone seems to feel that way about their nursing school experience. There is a lot about the program that seemed like a self learn experience. The resources are there, but you need to use them. (computer lab, notes, web sites, etc.) I relied heavily on family and friends for notes and study sessions. It all turned out ok in the end, but I am so very happy to have the whole thing behind me.

Check out Southwest Tennessee Community College. :balloons:Glenn Faught is the Paramedic instructor there. I think he has an IV course.

Have you considered Uncle Sam? I was an Active Duty Army Medic and really enjoyed myself. My GI bill is paying for school and also helped me buy my first house. Maybe you would prefer Army Reserve or National Guard so you can come home after Basic Training and AIT. Either way, you can get some initial medical training, and have help paying for college. I finish Nursing School in December and I feel that my experience as an Army Medic has put me way ahead of my classmates. It just so happens I come from a family of Army Medics turned RN's (Mom, Dad, Uncle). Let me know if you want any more info.

I'm currently a Paramedic and I'll be finishing RN school in December. I have have been licensened in CA, MO, TN, and MS. As far as I know there is no challenge test for EMTP if you are an RN. Having said that I must admit that after 12 years as a Medic I still struggle in the classroom for Nursing school. The hands-on clinical portion however is a breeze since I already have many years of dealing with the "ill or injured". Here in TN the Flight Nurses only need their EMT -Basic ( among other certifications), they don't need to be Paramedics. You might be better off taking a 2- year RN program, then a month long EMT- Basic course. The didactic is just as difficult, there will just be less of it. When I went to Paramedic school in CA it was 5 days a week and 8 hours a day, and you still didn't even come out of it with any kind of college degree. Is that still the case?