rn1965

Congratulations! I finished earlier this month. Great feeling.

Try plasma centers. They do not have narcs at all. Also, maybe a doctor office or clinic.

Those are spot on suggestions. One other thing I did was to have my CM provide me with a letter outlining my restrictions. Luckily, mine were few (no narc restrictions at all), so the interviewer could immediately see what the terms were. Every one of them thanked me for being upfront and bringing the letter. LTC, dialysis center, doctor office, plasma centers, etc may not be your ideal job but they work with us!

I’m not sure of your state, however, I surrendered instead of taking the probation and when the time came to get my license back, not only was I required to do the probation and that entails, I also had to enroll in refresher courses (more money)! If you plan to keep your license, get it over with and take the probation. Good luck and we are all here for you!

I was in the AZ Cando program in the early 2000’s and quit. Eventually moved to Texas and applied 5 years ago for a TX license. Took awhile, some hoops, letters of recommendation, proof of sobriety, etc, but I’ve been licensed nearly three years now. I’m doing their program (TPAPN). I’m almost done. It has been expensive, at the start, with eval and fines, but it’s worth it!

Are you petitioning for early release? I wish my state did this! I’m about 4 months from a three year program and would love the chance to get out early! What state (if you don’t mind sharing $! Good luck to you. Sorry, I really don’t have any words of wisdom for you!

Good lord, they are really pulling out everything to throw at you. Is this your only means of testing? Do you also have to do UDS? If so, seems overboard. I’ve never heard of soberlink so I do not have any advice. Just commenting on the amount of testing you are required to do.

Congratulations! I have 4.5 months left on 3 years. Looking forward to being done. I want to ask for early release BUT because my DON was out of town once and submitted her quarterly report three days late, I have a non-compliance against me. Ugh!

I just let them know I will be out of town. I’m still responsible for finding a lab if picked and I have to check in online. I was told that I only need “permission “ to go abroad and then it would be an interruption in the program.

LTC will hire. Also look into MDS at LTC.

In Texas, we also use Affinity. Once I was accepted into the program, I was sent login information by my CM and was told to begin checking in EVERY single day. There is a button at top to check in and it will tell you if you are chosen that day to test.

Go oBlaine to any of the colleges in your area and check out refresher courses. I know Austin Community College has one as do others. The BON website will tell you which ones are approved for reinstatement.

Try clinic jobs, vaccine nurse, or LTC. Most nursing homes have someone who could pass the occasional narc.

Yes, I have. I was many years away and was reinstated. The BON website and application for reinstatement spells it out. You will need a refresher course to be completed. Get a head start on that. Congratulations on your sobriety. You’ve got this!

I also have an alarm set. I have never needed the alarm, but, I can see how it can happen and I am sorry you are going through this. I am over 2 years into a 3 year contract and I still check several times a day, and once and awhile get that little panic of "did I check in?". I have no idea what I will do when this is over, when I do not have to worry about checking in all the time! Good luck to you and I wish you and your Mom well!

Mine was revoked in AZ for not completing CANDO. However, I reapplied after the term was up, but, by then I lived in TX and applied here too. AZ took nearly two years to even respond to my request. In TX, I was given a license and began monitoring here within a year. The waiting is the worst part but it can be done! Hang in there. Start going to meetings and have a paper signed (find them in the internet). Get a sponsor and have them write a letter. Get character references from employers, co-workers and friends. Find out who AZ uses for addiction evaluations and go get one. It’s costly, time consuming and humbling but you can do this!

I did get the offer but eventually went with another offer. I’ve been working back as a nurse since May 2020. I have just over 13 months left of my 3 year contract. In all honesty, it hasn’t been bad. I get tested 2 times per month, randomly. I've taken one vacation without issue and have been 100% compliant with all stips. I do plan on asking for an early release. I doubt it’ll work but can’t hurt to try!

Has anyone in TPAPN been having issues with the new rule stating we have to make appointments for Quest? I got my first required test today since the change and I cannot find an open spot anywhere near me that will work with my schedule. Ugh! Is this how my next 13 months will play out? Have any of you been able to just walk in and get an appointment?

No, they are not. At least for me.

I ended up calling their corporate office and asked about the whole "appointments only" and scheduling. They told me they are not going to require it for people who are in "randomly chosen" programs. So far, since that day, I have been able to just pop in on my selected dates and the longest I have had to wait was 20 minutes. I am more than 1/2 way done now, so I am just counting the days! Haha

Almost all the HH agencies are willing to work with TPAPN. The problem was getting my CM to agree. I ended up going to LTC/SNF and have been there over a year.

Do NOT stop moving forward. You have already made the decision to cut contact with her. A best friend would NEVER put you in this position. Stay on the right track, do what they say and keep putting one foot in front of the other!

I would love to know the process of being released. Who did you contact? Your CM? I have been sober for more than 16 years. Although my UDS are only about 2 per month, man, it would make life easier. I would like to be released from everything if possible. I have been totally compliant thru the entire thing. I never had a narc key restriction. My only restriction was needing another RN sup, no on call, no HH.

Good morning all! Happy Friday and I hope everyone is doing well. I am in TPAPN and use Quest Diagnostics for my random screens. I went yesterday and was told they will be going to STRICTLY appointments only, starting today or Monday at the very latest. I am bummed out, because, even though they are a bit of a drive for me, I DO NOT have to pay additional for the collection. Everywhere else charges an additional fee (on top of the $55 per screen). Just to see what it was looking like, I made an account and looked at upcoming available appointments for drug screen times. For all of next week, the only appointments are late in the afternoon. That will not work for me, as I work second shift. Guess I will have to start paying MORE money and go to a clinic or lab at a different site. This really bites! Sorry, just needed to rant. I will be so happy to be done and get rid of all these "extra" fees!

YES! Most monitoring contracts (at least the ones I have heard of from others here) specifically state that you MUST disclose in the interview process. My CM wrote me a brief letter outlining the stips I had and how long I have been in and when it is expected to end. She also mentioned that I was totally compliant to date. Being up front and honest was the best way for me. Hold your head high and let them know that it has made you a better person and a better nurse. I chose to remain in LTC for the duration of my contract. In all honesty, I like the hours a lot better anyway! LTC, dialysis, psych hospitals, and even some free standing ER's have been very monitoring friendly. Hang in there, you have got this!