SARP-unorganized and dysfunctional

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It is going on one year that I had started my application process for SARP. I was finally accepted in June 2019 and it has been a true eye-opener. I was of the understanding that this was a REHABILITATION program, LOL what a joke. They do nothing to truly help the individuals who apply for this program. In fact, they don't even return calls in a timely manner, they have horrible communication with the drug testing company (whom I have more interaction with than I do the board), and they never check in to see how your recovery in doing until they want to accuse you of something. I have been extremely compliant with ALL their requirements and today I receive a letter stating I need to come in due to their suspicion of my not complying with my CASP. I'm not worried at all but this entire experience has been ridiculous and I still have 2.5 years to go. Anyone else deal with these types of issues in their programs??

I think there needs to be a class action against SARP.  It is nothing but punitive. And disciplinary.   I have so many grievances with them.  I had a hearing where I was hung up on.   They're all abusing their power.  I couldn't afford an attorney.  I did everything right.  The issues that caused my "noncompliance" were caused by SARP !   Ridiculous!  I wish I could find help.  I contacted my senator.  IDK what else to do. They've ruined my life.  

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Hi all! I too am a nurse participating in the MA SARP program. There is a new nurse peer support group in MA, specifically for nurses struggling with SUD or in recovery. The group meetings are on zoom, free and confidential. Just need to contact them for the meeting access information https://mapsn.org/

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Specializes in IV.

I am writing on behalf of my wife.  She has been having a HUGE amount of trouble finalizing her application to SARP. For 10 months, they have lost her paperwork twice, her case manager has changed twice, and now they lost her evaluators submission sent by certified mail!   Reading the posts her, I am concerned how continuing may be detrimental to her overall well being.  She has been sober for 10 months, completed an intensive inpatient and outpatient rehab program full time, as well as outside private counseling.  Now they are saying none of it matters, she basically has to start all over again with no credit for not working for the last 11 months. Her private counselor reduced meetings to once a month and SARP will force her back to two. Shouldn't her counselor have input?  I find it all extremely discouraging and unsupportive with what appears to be a goal of driving good people out of nursing rather than helping them get back to the careers they love.  Has anyone heard of any success stories? This was all caused by a simple complaint to the BRN after she refused a urine test. No drug diverting, no screw up with a patient.   I wish I had advised her to seek an attorney to fight the BRN complaint before they "persuaded" her that by entering SARP voluntarily it would be her best option for restoring her license status.  Any thoughts or advice?

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Specializes in OR.

I am sorry your wife finds herself in this situation.  I am currently in the program due to a similar sounding situation where no laws were broken (no drug diversion/patient issues). If she has not already signed on with SARP & you are able, I would strongly consider getting at lawyer to avoid it (I wish I would have).  All you can do is plug along and check their boxes.  SARP does not care about any work she has done prior to entering into the contract with them.  They want proof of everything (the only way to prove sobriety is through a compliance program).  If time continues to drag on, you might want to look into finding a compliance program on your own to document sobriety.  Keep all records. 

All that being said, I am working as a nurse in my desired field and plugging along with all the SARP requirements.  It is a major pain and nothing happens in a timely fashion.  I just keep telling myself that the end is in sight.

I would be willing to connect but I can't figure out how to private message you on this platform. 

Best wishes     

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Sorry did you say she was in SARP now or unable to get in as of yet? Either way, from my understanding, to refuse a drug test is treated the same as a positive result. A positive test would require her to enter into SARP and will be the only way she can get back to work and then eventually get the complaint removed. The program itself is extremely rigid and its policies very black and white. If there is anything that is up for interpretation they will interpret it negatively toward the nurse. It is unfortunate but any therapy or treatment done outside the program will mean nothing. Once in the program. If everything is done correctly she will be eligible to work in 6 months and be out of the program in 3 years. Believe it or not it has actually gotten better since I entered the program, initially the person working in there did not know the policies and seemingly make things up as he went along. I'm glad your wife has done well with treatment and has been sober and if she is able to continue with the success she will get through SARP. 

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Specializes in IV.

To clarify, her place of work merely suspected she may have been drinking during work so they asked her to take a drug test and she refused.  She was not in SARP yet.  There was no patient screw up with meds or anything, but they immediately jumped into a complaint with the BRN.  The BRN investigator basically told her that her only option was to voluntarily not practice and enter SARP, and they would "pause" any license suspension making it sound like her only option so she wouldn't have a derogatory mark on the license web site.  My question is what if she doesn't enter SARP, and lets the initial complaint investigation play out?  As far as I know their investigation stopped or they never advised of any findings once she signed that she was applying for SARP.  I'm sorry but this program seems severely dis functional in that a "suspicion" complaint or even an admission of an alcohol problem is treated the same exact way as someone that may have been arrested for OUI, endangered patients, or diverted narcotics.   There are no "levels" of operation as to how they are administering this program and quite frankly I don't know how being treated like a criminal on probation rather than helping support their sobriety doesn't make it worse!!  I belong to a union and we have a clear roadmap for people with first offenses and guidance for actually beating the addiction and returning to work.   I'm amazed that a profession that's based on compassion seems so unwilling to do the same for their own.  Something has to be done to change this system.  

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I agree with you. However, based on similar experience, one there is any suspicion, the only thing to do is submit to the drug test. Otherwise it is considered a positive. A positive drug test requires that they make a complaint and that the nurse enter SARP. My guess is that if you just wait for the investigation to play out it could be years before she gets admitted into SARP  The program has been dysfunctional and it's a state run program making it inherently disorganized. Getting a lawyer to help fight this could help, I really don't know. 

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Hello everyone,

I know this is an old thread, but I hope someone is still watching it. Does anyone know if working in dialysis counts towards the 1 year required to work for the program? 

Has anyone had luck with also doing acute psych to count towards those? 

If neither of the two, what other specialties may count toward the agreement stipulations?

Thanks in advance, and I hope everyone is doing well.

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Yea, if you give medications it will count. Literally any position that requires med pass will count. Could be vaccines, vitamins, whatever. But in the quarterly reports, SARP will ask your supervisor if you pass meds. Doesn't really matter which kinds. You can do outpatient clinics, urgent care, inpatient whatever. I am not sure about dialysis to be honest. Maybe you give some antiemetics? Just be sure you are passing meds and your supervisor will check the little box that you have been on the reports.

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Tyson said:

Yea, if you give medications it will count. Literally any position that requires med pass will count. Could be vaccines, vitamins, whatever. But in the quarterly reports, SARP will ask your supervisor if you pass meds. Doesn't really matter which kinds. You can do outpatient clinics, urgent care, inpatient whatever. I am not sure about dialysis to be honest. Maybe you give some antiemetics? Just be sure you are passing meds and your supervisor will check the little box that you have been on the reports.

@Tyson thank you very much for this valuable information. Sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if, when you are allowed to practice, your license changes from "non-disciplinary restriction" to "non-disciplinary condition" or if the restriction remains in place? Thank you very much for everything. 

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Specializes in OR.

@RNigothis,

I do not actually "pass meds" but I prepare meds and it worked as my requirement.  I just gave all the information, explaining to SARP (now URAMP) that I follow the "rights" of medication administration. 

My contract stated that upon successful completion of the program the restrictions would go away, and my license now just has "current" with no mention of the non-disciplinary action as it did while I was in the program.  It does not change until you have been officially discharged from the program. 

Stay strong!

 

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