TnPap Advice

Nurses Recovery

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I have been a nurse for several years. During a travel assignment I pulled too many narcs from the Pyxis on accident (the machine stated the dosage and not how many tablets to pull). I opened the packages while I was waiting for the computer to boot up and once I scanned the patient and med, I realized that the dosage was one tablet and not the 5 that I pulled. It was Shift change and I couldn’t find another nurse to witness not would anyone answer the call light when I asked for someone to come and watch me waste so I wasted the meds in the sharps container. I (very stupidly) got caught up in giving report and left without wasting the medication in the Pyxis. I was pulled into HR the next day and was told the count was off. When I explained what happened, I was asked to take a UDS immediately which was negative for the rapid and negative for the send off. Now, I’ve been sent a letter that the state wants me to stand before the BON or I can sign a consent form admitting guilt and I have to have an evaluation through TnPap. I have never had an addiction and never take prescription pain medication of any kind. Im just not sure if I should do the TnPap evaluation because I’ve read it can take 6 weeks (with not having a job) and they still may recommend monitoring even though I don’t have any kind of history. Im just at a loss for what to do. Anyone been in a situation like this?

1 Votes

If what you are saying is true, I would hire a lawyer and go before the board. If what you are saying isn't the full truth, you will get exposed before the board and be sentenced to TPAPN regardless while also losing a substantial amount of money to a lawyer. TPAPN is also very expensive, 500$ minimum for a 'certified' psychologist, 2-3 drug tests a month that come out of your pocket, many head aches, and you will have 3 years of it. Fighting this yourself is going to be nearly impossible. You need to hire a lawyer to go before the board or just accept going into TPAPN for 3 years. I have completed 2.5 out of my 3 years. It has sucked ***, but is completely doable. If you don't have the financial means to hire a lawyer then you're pretty much out of luck. Wish you the best ?

2 Votes
9 hours ago, philcolb0406 said:

If what you are saying is true, I would hire a lawyer and go before the board. If what you are saying isn't the full truth, you will get exposed before the board and be sentenced to TPAPN regardless while also losing a substantial amount of money to a lawyer. TPAPN is also very expensive, 500$ minimum for a 'certified' psychologist, 2-3 drug tests a month that come out of your pocket, many head aches, and you will have 3 years of it. Fighting this yourself is going to be nearly impossible. You need to hire a lawyer to go before the board or just accept going into TPAPN for 3 years. I have completed 2.5 out of my 3 years. It has sucked ***, but is completely doable. If you don't have the financial means to hire a lawyer then you're pretty much out of luck. Wish you the best ?

excellent advice, but I think OP is in Tennessee ?

2 Votes
On 5/22/2022 at 1:39 PM, TIMFY said:

excellent advice, but I think OP is in Tennessee ?

I just completed a TNPap contract and the advice remains the same.  

If it’s true and you have the money, then fight it, but I would still expect some consequences for not handling narcotics appropriately.  Fines, maybe a public reprimand, continuing education courses, etc. 

If it’s not true, consider coming clean. An evaluation from an ‘approved’ evaluator will run $500-600, then without a doubt they will recommend treatment, then they funnel participants into ‘approved’ facilities that milk every dime they can, because even if your insurance won’t pay, you MUST complete the full length of time the evaluator dictates or TnPap will turn you over to the BON. Then the facilities will recommend extended care, PHP, IOP, aftercare, etc, THEN the contract starts.  3 NA/AA meetings weekly, one Birchwood group weekly, drug testing 2-3 times a month initially (then at the end of the first year you can request for lowered testing if you have 100% compliance, employment restrictions, quarterly reports from bosses. 

It was doable for me, but I am an addict who was in the throes of active addiction, I knew I needed it or I would die, and I had the financial resources to pay for a month of inpatient treatment out of pocket and be off work for a while.

I’ll also say this, if you do go through Tnpap, do NOT go to Bradford for treatment. Trust me. 

2 Votes

It’s definitely true…I have never taken medications that were not prescribed to me. And I know it sounds unbelievable, but I’ve never been high in my life, not even weed. 

2 Votes
2 hours ago, Jlp1432 said:

It’s definitely true…I have never taken medications that were not prescribed to me. And I know it sounds unbelievable, but I’ve never been high in my life, not even weed. 

Then I’d absolutely fight it with every ounce of my being, because TnPap will definitely be more expensive than a lawyer.  Best of luck to you. 

3 Votes
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