dkalang

Do not ask your employer for assistance!!! I did & after 2 yrs of being in TPAPN, I just rcvd an order from the TX Board ordering me to enroll in TPAPN.??? It took 2 yrs to investigate? I would be done with TPAPN on 11/4 (today) had I been able to find employment after being terminated after self-reporting. It took me 17 months to find a job & my TPAPN was extended 6 months so I can fulfill the number of hrs employment stipulations. Just get into treatment & document everything you do! I wish you the best!

I too am in TPAPN, since November 2009. I self-reported and then 1 month later got fired by the DON. Although I got unemployment (now I'm on the Emergency Unemployment Insurance that congress finally passed), it's been a challenging 9 months. I never in my wildest dreams thought it would be so difficult to find employment with my TPAPN status. I thought healthcare was more informed but I was 180 degrees wrong. In Texas, ignorance is bliss in the eyes of healthcare toward the disease of addiction among their own. I did, however, have an empowering experience about a week ago. I applied for a part-time LVN program Teacher's Assistant position. I had to give a short 15 minute lecture on a "topic" to demonstrate my ability to teach. Right when I got off of the phone, I thought, "what better subject to teach than TPAPN!" So I gave a talk on the disease of addiction among nurses and the profession's response. There were 3 instructors and the Dean who were involved in my interview and they responded very positively when I completed my talk. They commented on the fact that, although they had heard of some kind of program for impaired nurses, they had no idea as to what TPAPN stood for or how prolific this disease is in the field of healthcare. I got alot of compliments. Then the Dean asked me if I was a TPAPN Advocate. I replied that "no, I am a TPAPN participant". I thought she was going to swallow her teeth! The other instructors were very supportive and all of them even talked about how they needed to incorporate the subject of "impairment" in their curriculum. I haven't heard back from them and I probably won't get it since I cannot accompany the students to clinicals without another nurse accompanying me. But this experience was one of the most empowering moments in my life! I really felt like I made a difference! Anyway, I'm still looking and have alot of irons in the fire. Even though what I am experiencing is "life on life's terms", recovery has been both one of the most difficult things I've ever had to do and also one of the most fulfilling experiences in my life. I am a grateful, recovering addict today and PROUD OF IT!!!

I had mine revoked back in 1983 after getting caught diverting. Back then, there were no peer assistance programs in Texas. I was able to get it reinstated 2 years later. I had to drive to Austin and appear before the board which was one of the scariest days in my life but I had the courage to do it. Just do it. I feel very strongly that you will get it back. Good luck and congratulations!

I have no sanctions and am not being monitored by the board of nursing. But you are right. I am under no illusions; home health patients do have alot of meds laying around. That's why I am on TPAPN. It makes me accountable. I have 7 months clean and I need accountability. I had 13 years clean previously and I know that I have a disease that is trying to kill me. I have to work the steps, go to meetings, read the literature, call my sponsor, and most importantly, stay in constant contact with my God. I prefer working in case management, utilization management, but at this point, I am getting pretty anxious to get a job. I do have faith that I will get something soon. Thanks for your reply.

Sorry I didn't read your last question. I've been in TPAPN since Nov. 4, 2009. I voluntarily admitted substance abuse to my employer on Oct 19, 2009 and asked for help. (I did this voluntarily because I had been clean since 1987 and relapsed and I knew what was going to happen if I did not act. My first experience was in 1983 when TPAPN did not exist. I was caught diverting, fired from my job, report to and lost my license, and arrested and charged with theft. I did get my license back and luckily had many wonderful years of recovery. Needless to say, I stopped doing what I needed to do (meetings, sponsor, literature, steps) I thought I had overcome addiction. The last 2 weeks before asking for help was a nightmare! This disease progresses despite clean time. It was as if I never stopped using. It was very frightening and surprising to me. (This disease is insidious and deadly) I was in outpatient treatment and attending my 90 in 90 when I was terminated from my job on Nov 23, 2009. That's a long story. I did end up qualifying for unemployment, which is about to run out. And I filed a complaint with the EEOC just days ago for wrongful termination due to discrimination based on disability. Like I said it is a very convoluted, twisting, long story. I've been meaning to post it on this forum, just don't feel like doing that much typing. I need to go to bed. I will post more later.

:)Thank you for the info. I will call my cm. I've already talked to my advocate about it and she doesn't know. In fact, she doesn't know a whole lot for an advocate. I'm thinking about requesting a new advocate. The one I have does all of the talking... about herself, and not recovery related. I haven't called her much because she has yet to know the answers to any of my questions. My cm is great. The one I had at first reminded me of nurse managers and supervisors who are very narrow-minded, opinionated, and stiff. She was an RN but the new one I have is an LCDC and she has been great. Takes her time in answering questions and is willing to work with you. She wasn't very good at explaining the home health thing to a potential employer when they talked to her on the phone. And I had a hard time understanding specific stipulations that I would have if I worked home health. I guess she was vague because, being new to the job, she wasn't sure herself but didn't want to admit. I will ask her about it again. Maybe with more experience, she knows more now. Thank you so much. I will post when I find out something.

I am also in TPAPN in Texas. I was terminated one month after starting TPAPN and that was in November 2009. I am still unemployed. I was told that I couldn't work Home Health unless someone went with me. I'm confused. Do they decide on a case by case basis. I think I will give my case manager a call tomorrow and ask about this again.

I Accepted My First Travel Assignment With Intelistaf And Started Orientation Yesterday. First Thing We Did Was Take The Pbds Test After A Brief Review Of The Technical Aspects Of The Test. I Took The Test With 2 New Grads And 2 Other Rn's With Experience. I Was Never Told By Intelistaf Nor The Hospital Where My Assignment Was That This Was A Pass/fail Thing For Me Only, Not The Other Nurses Taking The Test. All That Was Communicated To Me Was That It Was To Benchmark A Nurses Skill Level That Need To Be Concentrated On In Orientation. To My Complete Surprise, I Received A Call From Intelistaf During My Break At 10:00 Am Letting Me Know That My Assignment Was Cancelled Because I Did Not Pass The Pbds! I Was Never More Humiliated In My Entire Life! If I Had Know That This Test Would Determine Whether I Continued Working At This Facility, I Feel That I Would Have Had A Completely Different Mindset Going In. I Am So Hurt And Angry Over This. I Feel Like I Have Been Deceived By Both Intelistaf And This Hospital But I Put Most Of The Blame On Intelistaf For Their Complete Lack Of Communication. I Feel That I Should Be Able To Retake This Test At Intelistaf's Expense. What Do Others Think Of This And What Other Suggestions Does Anyone Else Have?