willow14

Hi StacyLynnRN, I finished the program in WI about 1.5 years ago & based on the hospitals you are describing, have a feeling you & I live in the same area of WI. I was able to find employment doing case management during my PAP. I also did some PRN flu shot clinics. I wonder if you'd be about to give Covid vaccines? I used to see job postings for that but maybe the positions are all taken. You may have already explored these options, but I wanted to offer those options. Good luck with this journey--you can do this & stay positive!

I am from WI and completed the program in September 2019. I know everything feels like a whirlwind right now, but you can get through this! ? Feel free to pm me or email me at [email protected]. I will answer any questions for you that I can.

This happened to me during the final year of my monitoring program last year. My tests were all through First Lab, so I was able to check my results online after each test. When I saw the results for the hair follicle test as "flawed", I was terrified...I was absolutely clean & was very cautious about ingesting ANYTHING that would cause a false positive. I called First Lab to ask was "Flawed" meant and was told there was an issue with how my sample was collected. Apparently the lab tech didn't cut my hair close enough to my scalp, so the same didn't include enough hair 'close to the root', so the test was Flawed. I was encouraged to contact my monitor, and he was very understanding about it. He contacted First Lab to cancel that test from my record and ordered a new hair follicle test, which I was selected for a few days later. The second test was fine, no issues. If you're able to contact the lab, I'd start there and then f/u with your monitor. If you've already done that & you know it's already going to the BON, I'm not sure what will happen, but if I were you, I'd like to know WHY the test is flawed, as lab mistakes DO happen. Hopefully this helps some & good luck. Keep us posted.

Congratulations!!!!!!

Congratulations!

Congrats....enjoy your freedom & the extra $ in your pocket from NO MORE drug tests!?

Yep, the cost of these programs are insane! I fortunately didn't have to do inpatient treatment, but had to see an AODA counselor 2x month for the first year, which then dropped to 1x year and eventually discontinued. I had insurance but that only went so far. I recently completed my program and estimated the cost of the drug test (both urine & hair) cost me $12,000.....it wasn't pretty, but I managed to get through it. (Of course my credit took a dive & I have absolutely NO savings left, etc...) But now that I think of it, I probably spent even MORE than the 12 grand because I forgot to factor in what I spent on the counseling....geez....whatever. Just so glad to be f__ing done. ANYWAYS, I digress, sorry, but just know that I feel your pain & COMPLETELY understand your frustration and don't blame you for venting at all.

I second what Spanked said about seeing if legal counsel would help get you out of monitoring, and I'm also sorry that there ended up being 'more to the story'. It might be a silly question, but if you already have your contract, why do still need to go to a settlement conference? (Pardon if I'm being naive here). Anyways, as many others have said who have gone through monitoring (or are are still going through monitoring) IT IS DOABLE. I endured 5 years of it and yes the inconvenience, stress and cost of it all sucked, but you can do it! I realize how unfair it is for you to have you do it in the first place (after 3+ years of sobriety already), but I have a feeling they might not be taking your clean time seriously because it "wasn't on their watch"...if you catch my drift. They're probably making you do monitoring to PROVE you truly are sober and not "just saying so", which isn't fair, but none of these programs are. Hopefully legal counsel can help, but if not, just take a deep breath and take it one day at time. Make sure you know what you can & cannot take to try to avoid false positives....that's really all that you can do. Good luck & I'm rooting for you!

I've been following your story here, hoping for the best for you. Congrats!

So Happy for You! I just completed my program a few weeks ago, so I know how "free" you must feel. Enjoy your life and congrats!!!!!!!

OMG!!!! That is insane!!!! Btw, I was thinking about you the other day, Still RN--wondering how you've been doing ?

Gosh, I don't blame you AT ALL for feeling how you do and tell you I'm sorry this is happening to you! I DO hope that you have an awesome trip!!!

Thank you everyone for your kind words ?

I received my notification today that was released/successfully completed my monitoring program, even had the OFFICIAL letter sent to me from my case worker via email. I'm almost in shock....but SO damn happy, relieved, etc! Today was slated to be my 'actual' date of completion too, which makes it even more bittersweet. I know it will take me a bit to get used to not having to check in daily, read EVERY food label or suffer through a cold without "certain OTCs", but damn....so far it just feels good to know that I AM DONE. For those of you still going through monitoring feeling like you can't do this, it's taking too long, etc...just stay positive and keep trucking along day by day-- you WILL get there. My program was 5 years & I NEVER thought this day would come. Thank you all for your support on this site...I know I wouldn't have gotten through this without It! ?

I'm happy for you too! Now you can relax a little ?