DharmaLynn

What is spice? This coming from a former substance abuse nurse...

There are not enough resources to create a unit for every single patient. That's why overlapping diagnoses are put in a unit. Individual care plans are established to cater to each client's needs.

I feel quite differently about this. So many of our clients are dual diagnosed. So often when the families want a place to help their mentally ill family member...this is where they get them admitted. They don't get admitted detox...being placed right into the residential areas. Nursing staff often works closely with their Social worker when their is a concern. If they are disruptive to other's therapy...we try for a transfer or an IOP. The recovery process tends to bring the issues/behaviors of their mental illness to the forefront once they can no longer mask it by SA. Our facility chose SWs that were strong in both specialties....as they did with their nursing staff. That's just how my experience has brought me to feel, I value what people that feel differently have shared.

PS...I had no experience or contact with the Board of Nursing. Since HPRP was so pricey I didn't want to want to waste money on an attorney that didn't seem to help anyone.

ALOT of people ended up working in Dialysis. Our group was kind of close, some kept in touch after completing the weekly group meetings with our therapists. I never heard anything about permanent black marks on their records...some got good jobs once completing. I was really glad I was approved to attend Al-Anon meetings rather than AA. Some kept their original jobs

Hi Mcm79. My monitoring was in Michigan. There was only 1 person who retained an attorney while I was being monitored. She paid a fortune, no changes were made in her agreement & then she dropped out of HPRP. I never had an attorney. While I was in the Monitoring years I didn't work at all. I inherited money, couple of homes & a couple. Of vehicles. I was in a grief fog for a long time from my Dad's death so I chose not to work. Instead I spent time my 3 daughters & their boys & children and got VERY active in Al-Anon. I pressed through the years of HPRP trying not to think about it to keep my attitude towards it in check. As I was just reaching completion I had 2 aneurysms rupture & was on a vent for several weeks..Recovery took several months & they wanted to close my case for noncompliance. After all I'd been through, that was not going to be the end of my story. My HPRP therapist fought for me & my physicians sent in documentation ( ALOT of it.). In the 3 years of monitoring, I had 5ot6 HPRP case managers. Fortunately a former one who was supportive of me backed me up & they decided to declare me as completed having met all my requirements. ****I need to add this missed point. Part of why I didn't want to find a job those years was that I would have needed a work site monitor & I didn't want that or to work day shift. I never went before the Board of Nursing or ever had my place of employment file a complaint against me. I had a criminal case for a DUI & plead guilty. I had a restricted drivers license & 1 year of non-profit supervised probation, court fines & costs. I'd worked local EMS & the judge knew me. The legal part was kind & quite gentle- I felt respected through it. HPRP was demeaning to all of my group. I never planned on working as a nurse again...but didn't want them to take away my RN license. After I completed, I renewed my license 1 time. I've not & choose never to work as a nurse or work at all. I'm 60 yo, on disability & live with my firstborn & her family. My SIL saved my life the day I almost died. I have a floor of their home & I make it so they need NO daycare for my 12 & 8 yo grandchildren. All's will that ends well. I feel bad for anyone who has to deal with HPRP. I hope they indeed have changed a lot....my experience was that they are all about money, could care less about "helping" anyone, & are so humiliating and punitive. Mcm79, best wishes your way. Copycat, I'd never heard of anyone getting a 1 year or a 5 year agreement....so glad the attorney got it reduced for you. At that time in Michigan or in our group 3 years was basically standard. Best to you I hope for everybodys sake that it has improved...it's difficult to have to go through.

For what it's worth....I never say anyone helped at all by an attorney. It just cost ALOT!!

I completed Michigan HPRP a couple years ago. Barely drank, but after a daughter's wedding (had drank there) was in an MVA. ER nurse recommended call them. I was I honest about drug experimentation in the 60s. I'd been a nurse since the 70s and had no knowledge of HPRP. ***At that time I'd worked at a drug and alcohol rehab facility for MANY years. I began a 3 year contract. Shortly after my Father was diagnosed with lymphoma and died six hours later. I had left my nursing job. Luckily I had time and money to focus on HPRP increasing my father. It's a very expensive program....financially & emotionally. I had to attend AA myths. After several months in our weekly HPRP group, I complained that they turned me into a liar. I'd not lied until at those meetings I had to say I was an alcoholic. After a split open talk...I spoke to the Al-Anon speaker became VERY active in the local Al-Anon group. HPRP therapist encouraged me to file a change of monitoring agreement that I'd attend Al-Anon mtg instead of AA...backed my my HPRP psychiatrist. Team approved the changed. I treasure my completion letter. Good Luck to everyone under their thumb. I'm soooo grateful for Al-Anon program, my sponsor & friends and my HPRP therapist & weekly group members...I can't imagine surviving losing my person. My Mom died decades ago & I suck at marriages....so my Dad was my person. Best Wishes.