TNPAP

I don't know what its like in your state but after I got my DUI it was about 4 months before they gave me a return to work letter

I am an addict, but if I wasn't Ill be damn if I would just sign up for a monitoring program. I would get another job and when whomever contacts me does I would go for evaluation and fight not to be labeled or put in program In Texas they have one year monitoring for cases like this. Just to prove you are safe to practice Lawyer up.

good advice!!!!!! fight them as hard as you can. once your in it is horrible on all levels

My bac was .048 which is below legal driving levels. I was fired cuz the policy at my facility has a tolerance of .02. My superior has informed me that if I do not contact the TN professional assistance program she will report me to the state board of nursing!

Lawyer up and say nothing to anyone associated with any program. Don't submit to any evaluations or sign any agreements without attorney advice. It will be money well spent. You do not want to get mixed up in any of these so called "peer assistance" programs if at all possible. You might still have to do it but if you try to take them on by yourself you will wind up being labeled a raging alcoholic and will have a seat on this overpriced roller coaster to h e double hockey sticks. I promise, these programs are not your friend and they don't care.

That's rough. I still agree with Blonde. Lawyer up. Here your only alternative would be to go into a terrible one-size-fits all programs which is incredibly long and intrusive. I'm sure a lawyer would be expensive but if it keeps you out of the hell some of us are in it would be worth the price & I doubt you have anything to lose by retaining counsel

The issue is that my superior is a mental health counselor with a phd in either mental health or philosophy! So of course because I came to work " impaired" due to life stress ONE time in 23 years of nursing.... I need intervention! This one isolated time in my whole careee! How can a lawyer help me not get reported? And since I have no alcohol problem what would be wrong with doing the professional assessment to prove I have no issues?

In my experience those assessments are run by the same people who run rehab facilities. Guess what they usually recommend? That's right a whole lotta "treatment". I got a first DUI at 55 years old on an off night 20 miles away from my hospital and wound up in inpatient and outpatient rehab for as long as my insurance would pay.

Because (at least in my state) the "peer assistance" programs pick who you see for the evaluation. There tends to be a lot of sleaziness and conflict of interest in this whole process. The person doing your evaluation may stand to make a chunk of money off of recommending treatment that he has a financial interest in. I know it sounds appalling but these programs are about nothing but power, money and control. Even if you do have a problem, they don't give a rat's butt about your recovery.

My issue is mental health related yet they sent me to be evaluated by someone that ran a drug rehab place. I'll let you guess what the "recommendations " were.

She wants me to get an assessment by a professional organization developed by the TN state board of nursing to determine what intervention, if any, are necessary to ensure I will practice safe nursing. This is at no cost to me for any of it and it's confidential from the BON

Yep that sounds familiar here that organization is called PNAP and they run our monitoring program. Good Luck!!!

You mention that the drinking was due to "life stress". I wouldn't mention that AT ALL to anyone!! Did you already say that to your supervisor? They will be all over that, as obviously it's an example of you being unable to handle stress properly and using alcohol as a crutch. They'll try to get you into some type of treatment.

You say "what's the big deal" since you don't have a problem. The big deal is that you are looking at an assessment for several hundred dollars (I don't see how your supervisor can claim it will be free), then the assessor will decide you turn to substances (alcohol) to deal with stress, so you need some type of treatment. This will cost you, or your insurance if you have coverage, and you won't be allowed to work so you'll be out an income. That can go on for months before you are cleared to work. Also you'll have to start attending AA meetings, and submit to random drug tests, which will end up costing thousands of dollars. You will be labeled an addict or alcoholic, since you are enrolled in the monitoring program. No one will care why you're in the program, just that you are. You will have a TERRIBLE time finding a new job due to being in the program. You'll have stipulations which makes it even harder to find a job (no administering or even counting narcotics, no overtime, no floating, no night shift). You'll do this for 3 years or 5 years, every single day you'll wake up with your heart pounding because you're afraid that you've forgotten to call in to see if you've been selected to test, and you're afraid now it's too late (even though you have until 2pm every day to check in, every single day you'll have a moment of fear: did I check in today??). It's hell.

If you can, say that night of drinking was spending time with your dad.. You didn't realize how late it was, he kept ordering you a new drink, you didn't realize how strong they were making the drinks etc. Just don't admit to drinking due to stress.

Good luck.