Recovering_RN

Yeah I do miss it, my doc was opiates. I would never go near it again, but that’s because I will never risk the horror of monitoring again! But yeah, I miss the high. However, while I was in tpapn I missed alcohol more than anything. Alcohol was not what got me into tpapn, but it was definitely what I missed. Now that I’m out, I drink every day and really enjoy it! Just one or two drinks, those flavored seltzer things like White Claw, and I enjoy the hell out of it!! I don’t drink and drive, I don’t drink to excess, I just have a drink or two and it’s heaven knowing that I can. After I got out of tpapn I drank more than ever in my life! Because I could! I tried every kind of alcohol I’d ever read about that sounded good to me. I swear making it restricted caused me to want it more! But after a couple weeks I eased off, and now I’m back to just one or two in the evenings, and I’m ok with that.

Congratulations! I know it’s hard to believe but a month from now you won’t even remember what it was like to check affinity at 4 am. You think that you’ll have PTSD from this experience and always wake up panicked at 4 am thinking you’d forgotten to check in. I know, I thought that too. I thought it would take months to go back to normal, but it didn’t! I bought beer and wine and soy sauce and Benadryl and enjoyed it all! ?. And before I knew it, it was like a bad dream. Enjoy your life!

Congrats! I kept a countdown app on my phone and checked it multiple times a day for the entire 3 years! I honestly felt like the last 90 days went pretty quickly. I was fortunate that I ended up being released a bit early. My end date would’ve been 8-20-2018, but I was told via email on 7-19-2018 that as soon as the results came back from my last drug screen (done on 7-19) that I would be done! On 7-25-18 I received my completion email and my spectrum account was disabled. It took a week from the last test because my case manager was out of town for two days, but he’d already warned me about that when he let me know he was releasing me, so I wouldn’t panic about not getting the release notice right away? I think that last week was the longest! I don’t want to get your hopes up about an early release, it was a pleasant surprise for me!

I never gave my dentist’s name, and although I gave my PCP name, I never told her about TPAPN. If you follow the rules to the letter, then you are supposed to tell your doctor and if you get ANY prescription from them, like even antibiotics for a bladder infection, you’re supposed to have them fill out that stupid prescription form! Yeah, no WAY was I gonna do that! I was humiliated enough, I never saw the need to humble myself even more. And that form was awful, it asks if the doctor feels that I’m complying with the program and safe to work? Like my dentist would know that? At first I was convinced that TPAPN was all powerful and they’d know that I’d seen my doctor, and I hadn’t had my doctor sign that form, so I quit going to my doctor! (Btw it’s been awhile but I’m pretty sure there’s no form for your doctor to sign UNLESS a prescription is involved, so you don’t have to tell your doctor, even if you’re following all the TPAPN rules exactly, unless they’re prescribing something). Foolish to quit seeing my doc I know, but I just couldn’t face it. I quit my hormone replacement, my blood pressure pills, everything, because I was sure as soon as I had a prescription filled, some transmission would go out to TPAPN. (In the end I found my BP came down in its own, maybe the lack of stress I’d discovered when I quit diverting ?) Eventually I realized that there was no way that TPAPN would automatically know of a visit to a doctor, and even a prescription that was filled, as long as that script wasn’t for a narcotic. So after about two years I went back to seeing my doc. New doc, btw, the PCP that I’d told TPAPN about moved, and I never bothered to tell them about my new one. I just kept using the same name/phone number from my old PCP on my reports, because a new doctor would’ve flagged something where they’d insist I notify my new doc about my enrollment in TPAPN.

My last year was once a month except for two months it was twice a month. I had 14 tests in my last year.

Congratulations!

I never did Botox, but I dyed my hair the whole 3 years I was in TPAPN. I always use the semi-permanent hair color, but only because I think it's less damaging to my hair and because I have to color every 6-8 weeks anyway to take care of my roots, I always figured there was no reason to use permanent. Idk if permanent color has any problem ingredients, probably not, but I do know my semi-permanent color never caused me problems.

I totally understand wanting to be out from under their thumb, I really do. But I would hate to see you regret it later. You're already 2 1/2 years in to a 5 year contract. You're 1/2 way there! If you take the non nursing job, it seems to me that it would just make completing the contract that much easier, since your employer doesn't need to be involved at all as far as quarterly reports etc. It does of course mean continued random drug tests and daily check ins, I get how hard that is. I only had to do it for 3 years and was always grateful my c tract wasn't 5 years like so many other people. But just don't give it up lightly. Why don't you consider trying to complete the 5 years while not in a nursing job. Then if you ever wanted to go back to nursing, you could. For me, my contract required a full year, 12 consecutive months, in a nursing job in order to successfully complete my program. The remaining 2 years could've been working anywhere, or not working at all. But once I got the nursing job I just stuck with it. So after 2 1/2 years, you've got that part covered, right? Don't burn your bridges.

Well if they are recovery friendly, then they should have some experience to offer in how they dealt with other monitored nurses. My first job in monitoring was a home health agency that already had one TPAPN nurse, so they knew more than I did about the requirements and paperwork required by TPAPN! So maybe even if the particular location you're interviewing with hasn't dealt with a monitored nurse, they may have affiliate locations they can contact that have and can offer guidance on how they've managed the requirements.

I have not worked in a place like this, but I did work as the only RN at a free standing ER. I was night shift so my manager was not there. My case manager agreed to allow the doc who was working with me to act as "supervisor", since on nights we only have one nurse, one doc, one tech and one radiology tech. I work with different docs every shift, but they allowed all the docs to be considered my "supervisor". I think as long as there is somebody around that is aware that you are in monitoring, that's all they want. So maybe this would be something to bring up to your case manager prior to your interview? Is there someone who's there all the time, that could be informed of your monitoring contract and act as supervisor? I was in TPAPN (Texas).

I would just skip the flu shot job this year. I have no idea if IPN would find out about it, I can't see how they would really, but it isn't worth getting kicked out of IPN over. You aren't allowed to have multiple employers, so telling IPN probably won't help, they'd just say no. I personally had a side gig working for the federal government during disasters. It was very rare that I would actually be deployed, more often it was just training trips. But when I got into tpapn my case manager said I could not do those trips anymore. Two years later, with full tpapn compliance, never late on reports, no positive drug screens, etc, I asked tpapn again, and that time they DID allow me to do those trips again! I was surprised that they didn't require me to tell my side gig about tpapn or sign forms or anything, but they didn't. Just needed me to check in every day as usual. No drug tests until my trip was over and I got back home. So for now I think you should just skip the flu shot job, but to be perfectly honest, I don't think IPN would find out.

Don't sign anything admitting guilt! Doesn't matter what you've already said if they have nothing in writing. You're fired, can't go back on that, but legally they have nothing. Be prepared for any phone calls, I've heard of people being asked to come in and make a statement or even over the phone. That's ridiculous! There's no reason for you to incriminate yourself. Or you may get something by mail, asking you to write down the situation. Obviously, again, don't put anything in writing!

I was fired for diversion, but I never admitted to anything. However my drug test came back positive. No criminal charges were brought against me. I went to a nurse support group, none of the nurses in my group had to deal with legal charges. I don't think it's that common. Did you actually sign anything admitting it? If not, they have nothing, would be pretty hard to prove legally. Definitely get a lawyer if they do charge you, but from what I've seen and read, most employers report you to the BON but that's all.

I didn't have any problems, but then I tried not to use it very often. I was told straight out by my monitoring board to avoid it. I just washed my hands with soap and water and also bought some non alcohol based hand sanitizer online. I believe it's more about you inhaling the fumes rather than anything soaking into your skin, I've read that anyway but can't confirm for sure. So if I were you, I'd just try to avoid using it and if you can't avoid it once it awhile, hold your breath!

My case manager allowed the doctors to be considered "supervisor" for me, since I work night shift and am the only nurse there. My manager strictly works daytime hours. I was not allowed even to witness waste of narcotics, though, when I was still under my narc restriction, but that was written out specifically in my contract. I couldn't have done my current job while I was still under narc restriction. I don't know how open to discussion your case manager is, but maybe you could mention things like cameras in the med rooms and pharmacy audits too. At my free standing ER, our techs are allowed to witness narcotic wastes. Even our radiology techs can witness. Maybe that's an option?

That's ridiculous. In TPAPN I was allowed to go to Puerto Rico to help with the hurricane, with the assumption that I wouldn't be able to test and wouldn't even be able to call to check in! I was amazed that they agreed but they did (I didn't end up going, but I was approved to go by tpapn). And many people have been allowed out of country trips and cruises! WTH?

Yep, just do it. You can argue your case if you ever have to, but you won't have to. My first job in monitoring was home health, and my manager knew the drill because she had had another TPAPN nurse before me. Technically I was not to be assigned any patient who had narcs on their home meds list. We never actually administered meds, their family/caregivers did that, but we did review their meds and I was in their home where the meds were available. Nobody was ever going to know if one little old lady had hydrocodone on her list of meds, unless I made a big deal out of it! So it happened, some of my patients had Xanax or codeine or whatever, but I never administered it, I never said a word and that job got me through my narc restriction.

Honestly, if it's gray, I always did it and figured I'd debate my way out of it if I got caught. Nothing bad, mind you, just like for example, I wasn't allowed to work "overtime", however I did pick up a few extra shifts here and there, when they were paying double time. I figured if you average the 2 weeks for the pay period, the extra 12 hours wouldn't really put me into "overtime". I work 36 hours per week, an extra shift is 12 hours. That's 84 hours, however I always leave right at 7:00 or sometimes even earlier, depending on when the day shift nurse arrives (all we have to do is count narcotics, there's never any patients to give report on at 7 am! It's a very small facility). My employer takes 30 minutes out of my pay each shift, to account for my lunch break.....so add up all those 11.5 hour shifts and I'm pretty much right at 80 hours for 2 weeks. No "overtime". I also picked up a couple of shifts at another location (same employer, multiple locations). I worried about doing this, because even though it's not technically working for multiple employers, which is against ,y contract, it is sort of "floating" which is also not allowed. During ,y contract I did that twice, but I worried about it, it certainly would not be worth getting kicked out of the program over an extra shift or two! So I stopped doing it. BUT, the thing is, how is tpapn ever going to know, unless my manager tells them? And why would she? She needed someone to cover those shifts! So I don't want to advise you to break any rules, but if you can argue your case, based on what they have in writing, seriously, who is going to contact your monitoring board and tell them?

This was from the TPAPN handbook under practice restrictions. Your program should have a similar section. Participants agree NOT TO: 9. Have access to controlled substances during the first six months of work in nursing. No access includes: a. Not counting or administering controlled substances. b. Not witnessing wastage, signing pharmacy receipts for controlled substances, or having the ability to access storage areas for controlled substances. c. Not calling, faxing, or otherwise electronically authorizing prescriptions for controlled substances.

In my case, no, I couldn't witness, couldn't do the inventory, nothing related to controlled substances. That was tpapn in Texas.

I agree majority here, don't admit to anything! You don't need treatment, or random drug and alcohol testing to keep you sober, so what would be the point? They WILL try to force you into a monitoring program. Anyway, I was thinking the application may state something like "in the last 5 years", as far as substance use, treatment or addiction, not "ever". I may be wrong about that though. But if that's the case, your conscience can be clear because it's been more than 5 years for you

Hey blondie, I don't want to get your hopes up, but my official contract date was August 20, and I was contacted by my case manager on the day I was scheduled to test, July 19, and was told that would be my last test, then I would be done! It took a few days for that test result to come back, and then my case manager was out of town for 2 days, but in the end I was released about 3 weeks early! It might be because of my case manager, I had RR, he was great. But maybe you'll get lucky too! It's almost over!!!!

There are lots of Florida people here on the boards but I believe any comments they make about specific doctors will be deleted by the mods, so read frequently in case there's a message, before it is gone! If they're vague, with no names, I think that's ok. Also, you should be able to simply google the doctor's name and location and you'll come up with information about him and where he practices, which type of facility. I know for me, 3 years was long enough, I am SO glad I didn't have to do 5! You will have a very hard time getting a job with the monitoring, and as a brand new NP, I really doubt you'd be able to find a job. Also, in some states you can't work as advanced practice for the first few years anyway. So what's the point of sitting for your test? If it makes you harder or impossible to employ? That's just my opinion though, I'm not an NP.

You have to let them know when you're going out of town. In theory, they used to tell you that you have to be prepared to test wherever you were, and you were supposed to contact recovery trek (now Affinity) to work out which lab you would use,if you were selected while you were traveling, but in 3 years I never had to test while out of town. Now they have a "monitoring interruption" policy where you go into Affinity and request your trip and your monitoring is suspended during that time. You have to tell them when and where you will be out of town. There's both an interruption where you still have to check in every day, but you won't have to test, as well as an interruption where you don't even have to check in. That one's rare (not having to check in), I'm sure. I was given that one when I was going to Puerto Rico to help with the hurricanes and was unsure what type of cell signal, if any, there would be. (I didn't end up going, btw). They will select you to test as soon as you get home though. I was pleasantly surprised that for me, the test I had to do when I returned home was not immediately the day after I got back, usually they gave me 2 or 3 days. You are still required to get your AA meetings in, so you either need to find a mtg to attend while out of town, (or at least claim that you did), or get all 4 of your weekly meetings in prior to the trip.

Eris, let us know when you hear back from anyone, or at least when the results come back!