TNPAP Questions

Nurses Recovery

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I really need some guidance right now. Long story short, several months ago my boss pulled a report from our Pyxis that said I hadn’t wasted. I was confused because I’ve never not wasted but he said the percentage of narcotics I pulled was too high and basically don’t give narcotics. At this time I was in the ER and frequently made to float therefore I was giving medications all over the ER as that was literally my role. Later that day he came and said the report was incorrect and pretty much disregard the conversation. I didn’t question this because I knew I had wasted. Later I gave a narcotic for another nurse, she pulled it up and had handed it to me because I was in the room helping, my boss asked about it and when it was realized I gave a narcotic I was fired and he said that even though the report was incorrect I wasn’t allowed to give narcotics. This was then reported to the BON, I have a lawyer and am waiting for them to decide what to do. Ive read about this extensively and it seems like no matter what really if you get into a situation like this you’ll be placed on probation and monitored. My question is, is it worth it when I’m not doing drugs? I mean I can fight it to an extent but it just seems like you can fight all you want and still be placed into it because of risk or because you’re stressed which is difficult to accept. I feel like I’m going to be backed into a corner and have to submit to it no matter what just to keep my license. Will I be able to find a job? I won’t be able to work in the ER like I have my whole career.

I’ve been a nurse 8 years and have never been in trouble nor do I have any history of any type of substance abuse in my background. I also never was asked nor refused to take any type of drug test.

Im just feeling really depressed and anxious about all of this and would really like any guidance or advice on how this may all play out. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and respond if you do!

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I am not in for drugs but was accused of having an alcoholic problem and realized that I did. I am 2 months from completion.

I accepted TPAPN referral, because basically I felt I would only lose against the board since they err on the side of caution and would have referred me anyway.

I have no regrets. It was expensive. First two years at least 200.00 in drug tests monthly, 3,000 for outpatient treatment and then another thousand for aftercare.

I'm in step down and I barely know I'm in TPAPN anymore. Finding a job is hard for many, I had old ties that opened their arms to me.

I won't say it was easy in the beginning, it certainly is a lifestyle adjustment knowing you're being overseen, waking up in the morning every day knowing that you have to check in to see if you test and not knowing how that is going to impact your day.

It is been a journey.

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How long did it take for you to find a new job? Would I be forced to do outpatient if I pass every kind of drug test they could give me?

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I think 99% of the people have to do either outpatient or inpatient it depends on what your evaluation shows.

I had an easy time getting a job because I went back to a hospital where I worked before all this. I was in good standing so they open their arms to me.

From what I've heard some people do have some difficulties.

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I am glad I came across this thread. This situation is similar to mine except in critical care. They said that I had pulled more meds during one month than other nurses in my unit, and I wasted incorrectly on a narcotic because I typed a 3 instead of 2mg in the Pyxis machine. I never gave anything outside of a doctors order, I was simply flagged due to giving more than my peers in one month and typing in an incorrect waste number. I was completely baffled at the way my situation was handled because my clinical manager walked me out in front of my friends/coworkers an hour after coming into work to take on two VERY CRITICAL patients. After some discussion, I agreed to a urine test and asked for some water. Then my clinical manager said I would have to be written up and take off two weeks of work. I asked to pull up patient charts and wanted to know what my rights were, they didn’t want to go over either with me. During our discussion on the matter, the interventions coordinator laughed at me when I said I had three degrees and would not risk that by taking lethal medications that could kill me. At this point they completely disregarded my confidentiality (again) and opened the door to the room for our MRT (rapid response) team to come in and get their keys/backpacks. I was so embarrassed at this point that they could treat me this way as a person, let alone as a nurse, that I walked out. Some Backstory: My situation is simple in the fact that I do not have to work because my husband makes enough money; I work because I love what I do. Critical care was a stepping stone in my career and I was waiting for my boss to come back from vacation to turn in my resignation out of respect. When this situation occurred, my boss was on vacation.

Upon walking out, I explained that I was not going to be treated this way by being mocked and that I was so embarrassed on the way things were being handled. I also said that I felt like it was extremely disrespectful due to the lack of confidentiality. I explained to my clinical manager that I was putting my notice in anyway but I was waiting for my director to get back from vacation out of respect for doing so because I had better offers on the table.

After this, they said they were turning me into TnPap. I consulted a lawyer who suggested I go through the evaluation process to go ahead and get it underway and to have paperwork documented to prove I am not using drugs. During my TnPap evaluation, I did a urine test ($70), saw an independent evaluator for one hour ($500), then spent $290 for a hair follicle test which was a 14panel. All tests came back NEGATIVE. My evaluator said he did not see anything that would signify me as abusing narcotics in which the drug screens verify that.

Now, TnPap wants me to agree to a “Monitoring Program” for 6 months. I am not sure if I want to accept this since I don’t have an abuse problem, it was documentation errors. I was wondering if anyone else had some helpful information to inform me on the right decision. My issue lies with the facts that TnPap does not guarantee that the BON won’t get involved regardless of doing what they say. I have all documentation showing that I don’t have a drug use problem, so I don’t understand why I would need to be monitored? I asked TnPap why I would need to be monitored when I don’t have a drug use problem, and their response was “for extra assurance”. Can anyone give me some better input as to why it would be beneficial? I feel like this program is not beneficial to individuals like me who have not done anything wrong besides misdocumentation.

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6 months is nothing to compare to the 3-5 years people usually get. If it's going to be confidential I would do it. If they're not making you jump through hoops going to AA and outpatient and all the stuff everybody goes through, I would do it. Unfortunately, all these programs, no matter how much proof of Innocence, err on the side of caution and make you do time anyway. Lord wish I would've gotten only six months. My time was even related to drugs but possible alcohol problem off the job.

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2 hours ago, Kelly Enoch said:

6 months is nothing to compare to the 3-5 years people usually get. If it's going to be confidential I would do it. If they're not making you jump through hoops going to AA and outpatient and all the stuff everybody goes through, I would do it. Unfortunately, all these programs, no matter how much proof of Innocence, err on the side of caution and make you do time anyway. Lord wish I would've gotten only six months. My time was even related to drugs but possible alcohol problem off the job.

I understand but mine was related to missed documentation, not a drug problem or alcohol problem. I am probably one of the cleanest and healthiest people that you would meet. I don’t even have a glass of wine but maybe once/twice a month at the most. My issue is that TnPap does nothing to help people that DO NOT have a problem. The only thing I did wrong was miss documentation on medication in a trauma/critical care setting which can happen in situations that are very hectic from trying to keep someone alive.

I would completely agree with you that having 6months or 3-5years is acceptable, but only if I would have failed a drug test or if they had some kind of proof to show that I had an issue with substance abuse. But there is no proof. And I feel like explaining to my new job that I am having to participate in TnPap will make me look like an addict and possibly lose my new job. Or possibly give them reasons to find a way to replace me.

I honestly am leaning toward not doing the monitor program and then if the BON contacts me, I hire a lawyer and provide all paperwork. Right now, I’ve already come close to $1,000 out of pocket just for the evaluation period in which I wasn’t allowed to work. I am now at a much hire paying job and will be able to save more money to put back in case a lawyer is needed later on. Then if they insist I do TnPap then vs. probation on my license, I will have finances in line to be able to afford to do that or pay any lawyer to help fight it. Because it seems like with all the research I have done, that I have at least six months possibly before the BON contacts me. Then I will have my foot in the door at my new job and they will likely be able to work with me on whatever the circumstance plays out to be.

I just don’t feel like TnPap is trying to treat me like I am an innocent person and digging into my pocket. I may be wrong with this, but I just don’t see how being monitored and risking losing my new job right off the bat would be beneficial. And without any proof, the BON can not suspend my license. Maybe probation or refer to TnPap again at the most. But that’s just what I’ve been able to research. I could possibly be very wrong. What do you think about my point of view?

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On 7/3/2019 at 1:01 AM, ams0822 said:

I am glad I came across this thread. This situation is similar to mine except in critical care. They said that I had pulled more meds during one month than other nurses in my unit, and I wasted incorrectly on a narcotic because I typed a 3 instead of 2mg in the Pyxis machine. I never gave anything outside of a doctors order, I was simply flagged due to giving more than my peers in one month and typing in an incorrect waste number. I was completely baffled at the way my situation was handled because my clinical manager walked me out in front of my friends/coworkers an hour after coming into work to take on two VERY CRITICAL patients. After some discussion, I agreed to a urine test and asked for some water. Then my clinical manager said I would have to be written up and take off two weeks of work. I asked to pull up patient charts and wanted to know what my rights were, they didn’t want to go over either with me. During our discussion on the matter, the interventions coordinator laughed at me when I said I had three degrees and would not risk that by taking lethal medications that could kill me. At this point they completely disregarded my confidentiality (again) and opened the door to the room for our MRT (rapid response) team to come in and get their keys/backpacks. I was so embarrassed at this point that they could treat me this way as a person, let alone as a nurse, that I walked out. Some Backstory: My situation is simple in the fact that I do not have to work because my husband makes enough money; I work because I love what I do. Critical care was a stepping stone in my career and I was waiting for my boss to come back from vacation to turn in my resignation out of respect. When this situation occurred, my boss was on vacation.

Upon walking out, I explained that I was not going to be treated this way by being mocked and that I was so embarrassed on the way things were being handled. I also said that I felt like it was extremely disrespectful due to the lack of confidentiality. I explained to my clinical manager that I was putting my notice in anyway but I was waiting for my director to get back from vacation out of respect for doing so because I had better offers on the table.

After this, they said they were turning me into TnPap. I consulted a lawyer who suggested I go through the evaluation process to go ahead and get it underway and to have paperwork documented to prove I am not using drugs. During my TnPap evaluation, I did a urine test ($70), saw an independent evaluator for one hour ($500), then spent $290 for a hair follicle test which was a 14panel. All tests came back NEGATIVE. My evaluator said he did not see anything that would signify me as abusing narcotics in which the drug screens verify that.

Now, TnPap wants me to agree to a “Monitoring Program” for 6 months. I am not sure if I want to accept this since I don’t have an abuse problem, it was documentation errors. I was wondering if anyone else had some helpful information to inform me on the right decision. My issue lies with the facts that TnPap does not guarantee that the BON won’t get involved regardless of doing what they say. I have all documentation showing that I don’t have a drug use problem, so I don’t understand why I would need to be monitored? I asked TnPap why I would need to be monitored when I don’t have a drug use problem, and their response was “for extra assurance”. Can anyone give me some better input as to why it would be beneficial? I feel like this program is not beneficial to individuals like me who have not done anything wrong besides misdocumentation.

Also, TNPap follows the recommendations of the evaluator. If TNPap offered you six months it is because that is what the evaluator stated you need. Then they pretty well just follow the recommendations of whatever treatment team you’re connected with. In fact, all my contract says is ‘follow the recommendations of the treatment team.’ For example my evaluator stated I needed inpatient. So after my 28 days, the team at that center said it needed IOP, so off I went. After two weeks, they said I was okay to be discharged, etc.

I would just be afraid that if I waited on the board, the BON would look at what the evaluator said you needed and still make you follow that plan, only then you would have a public mark on your License as having had a board hearing and a board order.

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I think if you go in front of board with lawyer you can get out of this mess! @ams0822 IF anything they may make you do CEU on documentation due to the error but theres no way in hell id let them put me in a program if i had NO drug/alcohol problem and could prove it

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1 hour ago, Rdsrn said:

I think if you go in front of board with lawyer you can get out of this mess! @ams0822 IF anything they may make you do CEU on documentation due to the error but theres no way in hell id let them put me in a program if i had NO drug/alcohol problem and could prove it

I completely agree. That’s why I was asking why a monitoring program would even be beneficial to me. If anything I was thinking maybe them making me take like 20-30 CEUs on meds, documentation and narcotics to help perfect the area that I lacked in. It would make more sense to me to do that. I just don’t want to tell employers that I had to “submit” to a program solely based on recovery when that wasn’t the issue in the first place. That makes it nearly impossible to find a decent, well-paying job when I wasn’t even an addict! This really makes me want to go into medical law for how unjust these circumstances are for individuals who are innocent and don’t have a drug problem.

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On 7/4/2019 at 8:31 PM, ams0822 said:

I completely agree. That’s why I was asking why a monitoring program would even be beneficial to me. If anything I was thinking maybe them making me take like 20-30 CEUs on meds, documentation and narcotics to help perfect the area that I lacked in. It would make more sense to me to do that. I just don’t want to tell employers that I had to “submit” to a program solely based on recovery when that wasn’t the issue in the first place. That makes it nearly impossible to find a decent, well-paying job when I wasn’t even an addict! This really makes me want to go into medical law for how unjust these circumstances are for individuals who are innocent and don’t have a drug problem.

What ended up happening??? I’m in a similar situation right now. 

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On 6/29/2022 at 9:24 PM, Jlp1432 said:

What ended up happening??? I’m in a similar situation right now. 

I’ll send you a personal message. 

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