Refused UDS, what to do now?

Nurses Recovery

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Recently I was told by HR that I was suspected of diversion due to my med administration numbers were higher than my other peers. I have never been disciplined for anything at work ever. Never been to work impaired or accused of anything of the sort. I didn't not consent to the drug screen because I knew I would be positive for thc from a recent delta 8 gummy that I had taken. I absolutely did not take any meds from the facility. My thought was a suspicion would be better than an absolute positive test for tsh. I was told I would be removed from the schedule until further notice. I have since then reach out to my supervisor without any response. I emailed my resignation to avoid the termination mark on my resume. Did I make the right decision? And where do I go from here? I have anxiety like never before and can't even bring myself to eat! 

Do whatever it takes to avoid being reported to the Tx BON. They will make your life a living HELL. And, then issue restrictions after any drug or alcohol issues that may PREVENT YOU FROM WORKING AGAIN EVER AS A NURSE! They are not monitored by anyone & are overly PUNATIVE!

They can place you in TPAN which is workable but can prevent you from giving narcotics at work. That makes getting a job difficult. 

I had DWI 30 years ago. Surrendered my license, not due to any substance abuse issues but because I worked for 2 companies, even though it was helping another RN do wound care in 2012.

when I asked for  reinstatement  I first had to do random drug screens A FULL YEAR at per test out of pocket. It's now close to $69 a test. Then, + forensic psy eval + lie detector testing {$ 1,600 out of pocket) + letters from my doctors + RN  refresher course + 80 hours of clinical onboarding . Had to show 2 meeting a week of AA + documentation of AA sponsor.

now, I have 2 years of restrictions: random drug screens 1X a week. They use Recovery Trac: must go to their approved testing sites, can not make appointment: it's first come first served. So, you have to inform your employer gotta leave my patients in another nurses care and I'm not sure how long I'll be gone. WHAT EMPLOYER IS GOING TO ALLOW THAT?!!?And, I have to work DIRECTLY WITH ANOTHER RN FOR A FULL YEAR!! I have extensive experience in Home Health & Hopice , Long Term Care and CAN NOT find a job!! I only have 2 years of acute care from 1980 & 1981. Now, I've discovered many hospitals are not hiring any nurses with restrictions. HCA, Methodist, Ascension, Baylor Scott & White ect.I have applied at Rehabs, DialysisA bunch of Psychiatric employers but they DO NOT use 2 RNs on the units. Tried to apply at clinics. Asked Board Monitor if I could be supervised by MD? No you can't  So if you get in a dispute with the Board-Call an experienced nurse attorney ASAP. If I had done that before I signed the Reinstatement Oder I might have had better results!!

DO NOT TRY TO DO THIS ON YOUR OWN!!

You will end up like me having to walk away from 28 years of nursing and accept living in poverty.

Take this SERIOUSLY !!!

 

 

 

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Hi,

Let me clarify: Last DWI 30 years ago. Was working with a restricted RN license and had to work under RN supervision, random drug screens + only work for one employer. Did wound care for another RN at another similar psy company. 10 days left on the restriction I gave my employer 2 weeks notice. The owner was mad after all what other RN would work so cheap. Yes, he was abusive.

that triggered another investigation. I was extremely burned out! No energy to go another round with the board so surrendered license.

Also, where do your nursing friends get jobs who have to have direct RN supervision and random drug screens 1X a week (at a testing site at Recovery Trac where they don't do appointments:first come, first served) I have a list of 64 places that can't meet my restrictions-especially rural facility's in Long Term Care. Applied at 5 psy facilities who wanted to hire me BUT they don't have 2 RNs on any unit!

Im open to any suggestions?

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Specializes in Psychiatry.
aaloving1 said:

Hi,

Let me clarify: Last DWI 30 years ago. Was working with a restricted RN license and had to work under RN supervision, random drug screens + only work for one employer. Did wound care for another RN at another similar psy company. 10 days left on the restriction I gave my employer 2 weeks notice. The owner was mad after all what other RN would work so cheap. Yes, he was abusive.

that triggered another investigation. I was extremely burned out! No energy to go another round with the board so surrendered license.

Also, where do your nursing friends get jobs who have to have direct RN supervision and random drug screens 1X a week (at a testing site at Recovery Trac where they don't do appointments:first come, first served) I have a list of 64 places that can't meet my restrictions-especially rural facility's in Long Term Care. Applied at 5 psy facilities who wanted to hire me BUT they don't have 2 RNs on any unit!

Im open to any suggestions?

With respect to testing go before or after work. Don't ask to leave to test. 

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Recovery Trac site open at 8 am and I must appear before 2pm to test!!

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
aaloving1 said:

Recovery Trac site open at 8 am and I must appear before 2pm to test!!

I think things have changed a lot since I was in the California Diversion program. I would set my alarm to midnight and call if I had to test I had until midnight the next day to submit my test. I had a local lab with a BON contract that almost never had a wait. If I got called to test on a weekend I went to a 24 hour urgent care I could go to. The hospital where I ultimately got a job had an on-site monitor in each building. I still work there . I just found out they are no longer hiring nurses in recovery programs. Time for bed  but I will write more later.

It was an extremely onerous and expensive program. Cost me about 45K back in 2002. I had to take out a second on my house. I could not work, nights, weekends or overtime. I had to check in with my on-site monitor daily but she did not directly observe my practice. She used to say  "I love My Diversion/Probation nurses because they are the only one's I know are sober!"

Hppy

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Specializes in Psychiatry.
aaloving1 said:

Recovery Trac site open at 8 am and I must appear before 2pm to test!!

Really? For us we can check in at 4 am and have the whole day to test

1
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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
aaloving1 said:

Hi,

Let me clarify: Last DWI 30 years ago. Was working with a restricted RN license and had to work under RN supervision, random drug screens + only work for one employer. Did wound care for another RN at another similar psy company. 10 days left on the restriction I gave my employer 2 weeks notice. The owner was mad after all what other RN would work so cheap. Yes, he was abusive.

that triggered another investigation. I was extremely burned out! No energy to go another round with the board so surrendered license.

Also, where do your nursing friends get jobs who have to have direct RN supervision and random drug screens 1X a week (at a testing site at Recovery Trac where they don't do appointments:first come, first served) I have a list of 64 places that can't meet my restrictions-especially rural facility's in Long Term Care. Applied at 5 psy facilities who wanted to hire me BUT they don't have 2 RNs on any unit!

Im open to any suggestions?

What I am reading is that you were already on Stips and broke them. This is why you have had so much trouble reinstating your license. Anyway I would still hire an attorney to represent you in front of the BON. Crap happens , we all make mistakes. You shouldn't have to lose your livelihood. Have you checked to see if other Boards are willing to let you to train and sit for the exam, I always thought being an X-ray tech would be cool andyou don't even have to clean up code browns.

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aaloving1 said:

Recovery Trac site open at 8 am and I must appear before 2pm to test!!

I recently finished TPAPN and we had all day to test. Can you go to an urgent care before work? I had to go to carenow once or twice before work at 6a or after at 7p. It was like $25 more I think. My testing was through affinity and not recoverytrek but there was an option on affinity to submit a lab to be an approved site. I never did it because I found a lab I loved, but maybe that would be an option?

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Thank you for your suggestion.

so far, anytime I ask the Board anything they say NO.

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I have 3 years as a DON in nursing homes.

I have to work DIRECTLY WITH ANOTHER RN! Filled out tons of applications. No luck. Smaller SNF facilities can't meet my restrictions and so far bigger ones can't either!
this is heartbreaking?

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

Have you tried psych facilities or Dialysis

 

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Specializes in Psychiatry.
hppygr8ful said:

What I am reading is that you were already on Stips and broke them. This is why you have had so much trouble reinstating your license. Anyway I would still hire an attorney to represent you in front of the BON. Crap happens , we all make mistakes. You shouldn't have to lose your livelihood. Have you checked to see if other Boards are willing to let you to train and sit for the exam, I always thought being an X-ray tech would be cool andyou don't even have to clean up code browns.

Or something outside of medicine?

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