Rosa09

I completed my contract last year, my case was reviewed 60 days before my end date. I had about 500 bucks worth of test done. My boss, my group moderator wrote letter and I had to write something as well. The process took about a week and my CM called with the great news. I received a letter of completion and one week later I couldn’t sign in the app anymore. I continue to visit this site and help answering questions when I can.

I’m sorry you are going through this with 3 months to go. May I suggest that you send your CM an email explaining what happened and include as much documentation as you can, d/c paper work, receipt from your doctor’s visit, etc. If you haven’t miss any test or check ins in the past they may give you a break and only ask for extra tests. Please keep us posted and good luck with your surgery.

I am too a graduate from the FL program. I was released two months earlier and I’m grateful. During my 5 years, IPN never asked for my time sheet and in my quarterly self evaluation I was asked if I had worked overtime during that period. Staying late to wait for your relief is not the same as picking up an extra shifts. Also, when you work 12 hours shift, you work 36 weeks one week and 48 hours the second week. Just make sure you communicate with your CM and stay truthful. Good luck

In FL. If you miss a check in and you didn’t have to test that day, it is OK. But if you didn’t check in and missed a test, you can get a call from your CM and get extra testing. If you miss a check in, I suggest you immediately contact your CM and tell her why you missed, even if you just forgot, this would show that you are aware of your mistake and serious about the program. Also, try to set an alarm in your phone that would remind you to check in. Good luck.

Hello from FL. I used to test 2-3 times a month. Sometimes twice in a week or three times in two weeks. On a Friday and then the following Monday. It was no telling when I was asked to test. Most of the time it was just the regular urine panel, but at least every 3 months it was blood. ??‍♀️

I took plenty of international vacations while in IPN, I notified them before I travelled and showed proof of my itinerary, I was allowed an interruption every time, didn’t need to check in while abroad. Trips within the USA are different, you need to continue to check in and call affinity to help you find a place to test if you are selected that day. I hope this information is helpful

Almost 5 years ago I was exactly where you are now, just about the same situation and I want you to know that you can also make it through it. After a took time off to do everything my monitoring program asked of me: evaluation and inpatient rehab. I found a job, as a nurse, outside a hospital that I have learned to love. I even became Board Certified in my new specialty. During my job interview I disclosed my participation in my monitoring program and I said “I self reported because I found myself in need of help to deal with personal issues”, that’s all I said. I hope this information is helpful and gives you hope. I’m here if you need me, feel free to message me. BTW: there are many inpatient and outpatient places that are willing to work with us. Keep applying and don’t give up.

Retain a TAANA attorney Everything you tell your state monitoring program on your first call will be documented and their recommendations will be based on that call. Good luck

? congratulations. Enjoy your freedom and stay healthy.

I left my job when I was caught diverting and I found myself unemployed and under investigation by the state. I self reported to my state’s disciplinary agency and the Board gave me a slap on the hand and dismissed my investigation with no marks on my license as long as I finished my contract with the disciplinary agency. I was able to take a break from nursing while I completed my mandatory inpatient rehabilitation, I have always been one to save my money for a rainy day and it served me well. After a few months of rest I looked for a nursing position that could accommodate my restrictions and got a job as a Case Manager. The pay is much left than what I used to make, but it has allowed me to keep working in my profession and have time to recover from my addiction. I have less than two years to go and I can honestly say that I’m happy where I’m right now I hope my story gives you hope and please feel free to reach out anytime

Please know you are not alone, in this site you will find many other nurses going through your same situation. You are right, our disciplinary program is about money and they will manage our lives for the length of our sentence, but they also allow us to keep our licenses and keep practicing in our profession and at the same time they force us to learn how to stay clean and in my situation learn how to be happy without drugs. I have learned not to go against the flow and accept that I got myself in this situation and as the time goes by things get easier. I feel at peace with myself and my actions. Wish you well.

Great to hear from you Cats, you have always been such a inspiration. I count the days, weeks and months to the end of my sentence.... 22 months to go.

Rebecca, admitting you have a problem with alcohol is the first step, your second step is changing your profile name, you never know who is reading our posts. Here you can find support from nurses that have gone or are going through issues with addiction. Maybe you can start with your own thread and let us know how we can help. Wish you well

We all make mistakes and you did what you thought could help you at the time. You could wait until you are contacted by the Board if your employer lets you keep working. In my case, I was reported to the Board by my employer, but before they started their investigation I had already self-reported to IPN and once the Board finished their investigation they said that since I was already involved with IPN they would not give me a negative mark in my license as long as I finished my IPN contract, so my license shows no disciplines and it’s clear. I hope this information is helpful, feel free to reach out to us for assistance. Hang in there, you are not alone.

I was told by my program that if you miss a check in and you happened to have been selected to test that day... of course there is no way for us to know because affinity will disclose it. It’s better to self test as soon as we realize it because you may be asked to refrain from practice until you have a negative test result. personally I have the notification alert on from the spectrum app that alerts me to check in.

Hang in there. You can always vent with us, most of us are here to offer support and remind each other that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

I’m happy for you. The quarterly employer report is part of my contract as well as notifying IPN before I accept a new job so they can speak to my future supervisor to make sure they know that I’m part of the program. Make sure you follow your contract to the T.

I’m sorry you are going through this, believe me I know it’s not easy. If you are in FL. The hospital you work for is mandated to report you to the board if you test positive for any illegal substance. You can wait until the board investigates your case, but I’m almost sure that you will also be asked to also self report to IPN. You may want to seek the assistance of an attorney that specializes in this type of Issues, because as soon as you self report to IPN they will ask you to stop working until you are evaluated by one of their approved doctors, usually in Gainsville or Tampa and most likely you will be ask to receive some sort of rehab treatment . Once all is said and done, IPN will make you sign a 5 year contract with stipulation, such as no overtime, narcotic key restrictions for 1 year, AA, NA meetings etc. If your job has allowed to stay, then you may return to practice or start looking for a new job. Please know that you are not alone, many of us have experienced what you are going through, I only wish I had known about this site when I first began this long journey. I wish you well .

I'm in Florida and my 5 year contract states that i need to work 12 months as a nurse, It does not say when. I know of someone who's contract was extended because she hadn't worked at all. I hope this helps.

Very happy for you!!!! And you are right, wait for their letter of termination before you have a nice glass of champagne.

Almost there Cats. Have you been tested this week? The whole group is rooting for you !!

Do not worry too much, blood at Labcorp takes more than a to be posted as received and after that about a day to post results. Last week I was tested for blood, 2 days later for urine and the urine was back in 2 days but the blood took 11 days to show the result. Even though I know all of my test will be negative I still worry about mishandling of the specimens, where do they store the containers waiting to be tested? And why are they not posted as “received in lab” until 11 days after they are collected?

Woohoo happy for you Cat !!!!

Congratulations. Enjoy your freedom and all of the things we once took for granted before starting our sentences. I look forward celebrating in 2 years.

Hahaha you are so right, what do they care if I am in a new relationship or if my finances suck because I can no longer make the same money I used to before monitoring. I rather say everything is fine and that I’m not stressed at all about having to worry about what I eat, what health products I wear on my skin and hair and if I have to test twice in one week. I must show a big smile and not say anything negative, don’t want anyone to think I’m showing relapsing behavior just because I express my feelings of frustration. Cat I am truly happy for you. I often read your posts and advice, they are very helpful and right on target. I wish you well.