OSoStressed

It is my understanding you can have a second job outside of nursing as long as your not using your license. If you got a second job in nursing you wouldnt be in compliance and you would be lying about being in Ipn because they have to moniter you. I would not recommend it at all if you value your license. I would find a second non nursing license job until you can get a better paying nursing job.

Well it was in 2001 so my memory could be wrong but I think it was 13 weeks 4 days a week then it went down to once a week for a year. Hope im right.

I got a job in home health, I start tomorrow. Things are looking better, thanks for all your support

One more thing... Your nurse support group can be your biggest ally and is where you really find out what is expected of you. Everyone there is in the same situation and in my case helped me heal the most. I went in there crying and left smiling and proud. But when I got out I didnt work the program and I relapsed so file that where you will and again good luck.

When I was in Ipn as soon as I finished IOP i was given the okay to start work and in my case find a job. That is when they gave me the list of nurse support groups to attend you pick just one and go there every week for the 5 years you are in IPN. After care started after IOP and it was a year long once a week. You are required to attend 3 meetings a week while you are in IPN and expected to get a sponsor. Quarterly you have papers that your Support group facilitator, employer and any councelor you see fill out if you see one. Some groups require you to have a meeting sheet signed for a year but IPN stopped requiring it a few years ago. You call a number every day and see if your color comes up to drug test, it helps to call the same time every day so you dont forget but they only test monday thru friday. I lived in the Tampa Bay area as well but I have been out of IPN since 2006 so it may have changed since I left. Good luck and if you go with the flow and do what is expected you will do fine. It can be overwealming at first but it gets easier as you go along. It becomes a way of life and you make some good friends along the way. Take care and good luck...

Hi Rusty, I would like to share my experience and concerns. I have been a nurse for 13 years. In 2001 I was caught diverting narcotics and using them, it was not pretty. I entered IPN and all was well for the first 4 years of my 5 year contract. I did not even use when my father died which I would consider one of the most stressful times of my life. Somewhere in my 4th year I found my self using again and managed to make it through my last year without getting caught and graduated from IPN. In 2007 I moved to texas got my license there no problem since it wasnt on my florida license to begin with. Within 2 months of being here I was caught again and entered TPAPN which is only a 2 year contract. I have come to the conclusion that I am an addict and I am making every effort to find nursing employment that does not involve medications at all. I dont know what triggered my relapse it was something internal, it only took one and I was hooked again. I binged on narcotics and believe me it was slow at first and a gradual incline but when I was home I didnt think about it at all other than the shame of what I had done. After I was caught I was out of work for 3 months while getting treatment I didnt crave drugs as long as it wasnt around. I have never had an issue with alcohol but never say never right. I am not a fan of AA/NA it doesnt speak to me either but what I have learned is this, its the friends you make in recovery keep you sane and sober you find them in the most unusual places. Its a way of life that you can apply to just about anything. The main thing is to not tempt yourself by even occasionally drinking because it all adds up in the end. It is gradual addiction and it will kick you in the rump when you least expect it. Avoid being in my position and find what works for you but there is nothing wrong with "I dont drink" when someone offers you one they usually dont ask any questions and if they do just simply say it doesnt agree with me. If its the Alcoholic term that bothers you, dont use it, but know that you could be if you dont take steps to prevent it. Hopefully this makes some sense considering the different circumstances but it was just something I thought I had some input on. Hope it helps

The narc restriction in Texas is 6 months, only 2 to go. The contract here is only 2 years. I have experience with IPN and 5 years is a long time trust me. There was another TPAPN nurse working there that got to keep her job because she was "JUST" an alcoholic, however, they made her leave the floor and do medical records. I went there today to have my meeting sheet signed for last month and I found out that when the Administrator found out what Corporate did she actually fought to keep me. She was in Tennessee at the Corporate office learning about them so she had no idea what was going on. Unfortunately they did not change thier mind and I am still unemployed. I dont know if I would have gone back if they had called me maybe out of despiration until I found something else. I spoke with the other TPAPN nurse today and she gave me the name of a TPAPN friendly Home Health company who she just happens to know the owners. They just happen to have an ad in the paper today and I just happen to have an application. She is going out to eat tonight with that owner and she is going to put in the good word for me. Everyone is looking out for any job openings and the original owner of the nursing home kept one facility 20 minutes away and she sent me an email telling me that she was sorry and that she will keep me in mind if that position opens in her facility because she has heard such good things about me. I truely believe today that it was all for the best and that I would have been paranoid all the time if they hadnt fired me just because of the way they are. I feel sorry for the ones that still work there. I am hopeful that it will all work out quickly. Thanks for your support

UPDATE! I went to work this morning and was there for about an hour when I was called into the DON's office. A corporate person and the DON was present for the meeting and basically because my Drug of Choice was Demerol and I diverted they chose not to retain me as an employee. The jist of it was that in my position was 3rd in line to be responsible for the facility if the DON and ADON were not present I would have to have the narcotic keys or responsibility for them and they could not have that. I spoke to the head of TPAPN who spent a great amount of time on the phone with the new mgnt yesterday on my behalf (I was not aware of this until last night) and he said that legally I have no recourse because with the takeover everyone was within a probationary period. Texas is a Right to hire/fire state and they dont need a reason basically. Its unfortunate but I am again unemployed. I figured I would spend the day having my nervous breakdown and start fresh looking tomorrow for a new job. I did find out that I am able to work in areas that I thought were off limits before like home health. This will open the doors a little for me I hope. I also found out that even though I have had 2 different jobs totalling 4 months of employment that It counts toward my 6 months of narcotic restriction which will be a little more pleasing to a potential employer. I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason but I cant help but wonder WHY ME!! Oh and please dont say "This too shall pass!"

Hi I am a grateful recovering addict sober for 8 months. I have been in tpapn since October 2007 for diversion of narcotics and dont have any real issues with them surprisedly. My problem is this...I was able to get a job in November 07 at a surgical hospital which ended in termination not because of my nursing skills or anything with narcotics but because they didnt want to deal with the whole TPAPN thing and found a way to get rid of me. This happened in March 08 and after a month long search I was able to find a great job which I love at a Nursing home as an MDS coordinator. I was informed by my new employer that the company was being bought out by another. They told me that TPAPN would not be a problem with new company and the take over but I have come to find out differently. I had worked under the old management for a month and the take over happened on MAY 1. Every employee had to submit to a drug test that day which I passed fine. I was told just prior to the takeover that the new company does not hire TPAPN Period but they could not fire me since I already worked there. Since then I have found out about secret meetings with my advocate and been asked again about my circumstances of my addiction. I keep getting poked with this daily and I am about to have a nervous breakdown. I cannot afford to lose my sanity over this however I cannot afford to be out of work any more. I was out of work for 3 months initially and then worked for 3 months and then off for 1 again until getting this job. I have applied to every hospital with 75 miles and met alot of silence. The jobs I have found are either not appropriate with my restrictions or I just get over looked because of my problem. I have not been fired but I feel as though its coming for whatever reason since this company is so afraid of TPAPN. I have a clear license and I was not charged with a crime. My job at this nursing home doesnt require me to even think about drugs. I have worked so hard and come so far but I keep getting beat to death with my problem. I feel as though I am trying for nothing because just when I start to feel comfortable or actually enjoy what Im doing something happens. Why bother. Any advice or similar experiences?