Refusal of VRP

Pixiedust0928 said:

I actually requested a hearing because of all the inconsistencies and that phone call. 

I had surgery and they are using that against me.

My hearing is the 27th.--To be honest, I just want to throw in the towel. I don't even want to be a nurse anymore.

Sounds like you are getting hosed. I do NOT know your exact circumstances as to how your communication with the BON/Monitoring Program was BEFORE the surgery. I am NOT accusing you. I can tell you this regarding what I've seen. LAZY communication by either the Monitoring Case Manager or the Nurse PRIOR to having surgery has ended careers.. I've seen "surgeries" during monitoring programs end nursing careers and it's usually NOT the surgery itself, it's the poor communication BEFORE the surgery.

Example 1. Nurse calls case manager, asks if surgery is OK. Case manager says sure. There is nothing in writing though. Surgery goes well, Nurse tests positive 3 weeks later for oxycodone that was prescribed. Monitoring program calls Nurse and asks what is going on, but one catch, it's a new case manager. The old one retired or quit and the nurse has a new case manager now, and the new case manager  knows nothing.

See how quickly the above can spiral? The nurse has nothing in writing. 

2. Exact same example above except the nurse has the same case manager and does her due diligence and gets everything in writing. Nurse tests positive 3 weeks later after surgery, but case managers boss (the head of the program) wants the nurse disciplined or punished. 

Seems like the nurse did everything OK above, correct? There's one MAJOR mistake. It's no discussion of the RECOVERY, or AFTER the surgery, the pain meds. It's never really about "the surgery." It's nearly ALWAYS about the pain meds that follow the surgery that communication or lack thereof has buried nursing careers.

To the OP, I am NOT accusing you of the above. I'm making this post to all readers and future readers regarding the absolute CRITICAL Written communication that must occur BEFORE surgery and the EXACT plan post operatively for pain management and timelines that follow the surgery regarding how long pain meds can be taken, etc.

Remember, with all of the above, add in an Indian MD, Medical Review Officer over the lab where your sample is tested that barely speaks English that has no clue about you or your surgery. Again, see how things can spiral? In a monitoring program, you literally have to use vicious, aggressive  communication even to the point of uploading the permission given to you by your case manager into Affinty/Spectrum/Recovery Trek so the Med Review Officer knows you had surgery. Why? Do you really think your case manager will call and forwarn him? Of course not. Its America 2026 and lazy communication rules the day. It also ends careers.

SheelaDavis said:

Sounds like you are getting hosed. I do NOT know your exact circumstances as to how your communication with the BON/Monitoring Program was BEFORE the surgery. I am NOT accusing you. I can tell you this regarding what I've seen. LAZY communication by either the Monitoring Case Manager or the Nurse PRIOR to having surgery has ended careers.. I've seen "surgeries" during monitoring programs end nursing careers and it's usually NOT the surgery itself, it's the poor communication BEFORE the surgery.

Example 1. Nurse calls case manager, asks if surgery is OK. Case manager says sure. There is nothing in writing though. Surgery goes well, Nurse tests positive 3 weeks later for oxycodone that was prescribed. Monitoring program calls Nurse and asks what is going on, but one catch, it's a new case manager. The old one retired or quit and the nurse has a new case manager now, and the new case manager  knows nothing.

See how quickly the above can spiral? The nurse has nothing in writing. 

2. Exact same example above except the nurse has the same case manager and does her due diligence and gets everything in writing. Nurse tests positive 3 weeks later after surgery, but case managers boss (the head of the program) wants the nurse disciplined or punished. 

Seems like the nurse did everything OK above, correct? There's one MAJOR mistake. It's no discussion of the RECOVERY, or AFTER the surgery, the pain meds. It's never really about "the surgery." It's nearly ALWAYS about the pain meds that follow the surgery that communication or lack thereof has buried nursing careers.

To the OP, I am NOT accusing you of the above. I'm making this post to all readers and future readers regarding the absolute CRITICAL Written communication that must occur BEFORE surgery and the EXACT plan post operatively for pain management and timelines that follow the surgery regarding how long pain meds can be taken, etc.

Remember, with all of the above, add in an Indian MD, Medical Review Officer over the lab where your sample is tested that barely speaks English that has no clue about you or your surgery. Again, see how things can spiral? In a monitoring program, you literally have to use vicious, aggressive  communication even to the point of uploading the permission given to you by your case manager into Affinty/Spectrum/Recovery Trek so the Med Review Officer knows you had surgery. Why? Do you really think your case manager will call and forwarn him? Of course not. Its America 2026 and lazy communication rules the day. It also ends careers.

With all of the above written, I am NOT saying it applies to original poster. I'm making the point for all readers who find themselves in a surgery situation today or in the future. In my experience, 90 plus percent of the issues arrive post operatively regarding how much, what type, and how long pain meds can be taken and ensuring 4 parties are all in absolute clear communication on the timeliness for pain meds post operatively and those parties are the Nurse, the Case Manager, the Surgeon, and the Medical Review Officer at the lab, and all of this needs to be in writing PRIOR to surgery and the plan Uploaded into Affinity or Recovery Trek BEFORE the Surgery so the Med Review Office reading your percocet positive test located 6 states away 2 or 3 weeks after surgery has a clear understanding of yoir situation long before the test comes back positive. 

Lastly, if you need surgery, get it in writing or literally record your case manager (if this is legal in your state, do not break the law) but if legal, literally record your case manager or try to get it into writing that having surgery will NOT extend your monitoring time. 

Lastly, if you are having surgery, don't be the person that develops "complications", thus you will require a "refill" or "lenthening" of your pain meds post op. If you go down that road, get ready for major problems. I promise, the outcome for you will be bad. Don't be that person.