RN in Florida IPN program

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Hi all, and thank you for taking the time to read my post. I have been a nurse for 9 years and one month ago finished my ARNP degree and was given my diploma. However, I have not yet taken boards as my ATT to sit for the exam have not arrived.

I entered the IPN program last week due to a request for a random exam after an employee complaint. I tested positive and admitted to using meds without prescription at times due to anxiety when finishing my NP program and working full time.

I have not had the eval with the doctor yet, and have not being given a contract also. I did spoke on the phone with the case manager and she sent me a package to sign and get back to her so she can give me a list of doctors in my area.

I am not fired from my job, i was placed on leave and will be put back into work after IPN gives the recommendation to do so. I have not been reported to the BON or fired.

As of right now i have a MSN under my name but not any advanced practice license attached to it hence i did not take the test yet. Can I take the test at some point, should i do it or wait until i am out of the IPN program(maybe 5 years) ? Humbling asking for any input....

Thank you

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Specializes in OR.

My biggest piece of advice is to deeply research the options you are given for where to have this initial evaluation. If you see someone attached to a treatment facility, you can bet your sweet bippy, you will get "recommended" for whatever overpriced BS they offer wether it's appropriate or not.

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Thank you so much for replying. I was told by case manager on the phone- " i will send you 3 doctors in So Florida, and one located in tampa thats way cheaper and includes all drug testing on his price" - mmmm, sounded a little bias if you know what i mean. Not sure how to research the evaluators, any suggestions?

Thank you in advance

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Thank you so much for replying. I was told by case manager on the phone- " i will send you 3 doctors in So Florida, and one located in tampa thats way cheaper and includes all drug testing on his price" - mmmm, sounded a little bias if you know what i mean. Not sure how to research the evaluators, any suggestions?

Thank you in advance

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.

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Thank you for your report and congrats on being done on with your contract. I will definitely take your advise and research for old post to get any clue I can. Ive been doing it since this happened with no luck. It's been a true nightmare and a blessing at the same time. It has made me look inward and take the mask off, and it hasn't not been easy as you all can imagine. I would've not done that on my own hadn't been forced to, and that's were the true issue rises.

As far as the NP exam and jobs,it's secondary to my recovery and I can wait to get right information from a source that had been tru it. If anyone here has any more suggestions or knows how people transition into np role while in the program I would really appreciate it.

Thank you all

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Specializes in OR.

Y'know that "nursing gut feeling" we get after having been in this for so many years? We know there's something not right. Not sure what it is or even if it's happened yet, it just is? That "sounds a little bias, ya think?" is that nursing gut. In spite of the horrible and downright extortion level costs of this mess, getting off cheap should not be the top concern. Many a person have been in that position because they've either not known any better (me) or not had any other choice, or both. Look at it like this. Don't you find discount sales on LASIK eye surgery a little sleezy? I do.

Without violating TOS, that should give you my opinion on that. I have much the same opinion (although maybe a little less vicious) about what will probably be another of the most likely locations you will be given, quite significantly further north in Florida. If you get to where you can PM, feel free to do so.

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Specializes in RNC-OB,L&D,Antenatal testing, Oncology.

Have you decided on a place to have your evaluation yet. You mentioned in another post that you will start your nurse support group next week, that's great, the members of the the group can give more advise and first hand information in regards to what to expect after your evaluation. It will take a few weeks to get the results from your meeting with the doctor and if you are recommended to go to rehab. do not rush into going to the first place you see in the list IPN will send you, there are many more IPN approved places you can go and some of them may take your insurance. Not sure why IPN does not send the complete list of rehab providers the first time around .... well I think I know why, but I rather not say $$$. Please let us know when the time comes so we can assist you. Good luck

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Hi rosa09, I did have my eval today and it was as you guys said it was going to be. I was honest but I did not throw all the sorrows of the work and self pity on the table. It was fair, expensive and fair. Waiting for recommendations now and moving forward. He suggested I might not need inpatient but didn't go ay further. I wasn't trying to investigate his goal so I left it like that. My issue was meds w/o prescription. No alcohol no other drugs. Knowing my luck probably get the max "sentence" . I need to move forward, and he mentioned something that it resonated with me. " there's no higharchy on addiction" one pill, coke addict, iv heroin, drunk....whoever you are it's better to stop and start somewhere or keep being in denial like many other healthcare providers we all know have problems.

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-Sorry for the typos , I'm using my phone to type-

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