TPAPN:a Four Letter Word?

[1964RNfromTX]

I'm having to go through TPAPN for a past hoistory of 4 DWI's. The last one was in 1991. I have been sober for for ten years, but that doesn't seem to count. My alcohol dependancy assessment that I had performed for the boards revealed that I didn't have a problem (and was verified with a polygraph), but the BNE required me to go through TPAPN anyway. TPAPN, wanted a new assessment done stating "the other one was too far in the past"(the previous one was done in Oct. '05). After finishing this new assessment, the counselor told me that he "didn't see a problem" and he "wasn't going to recommend any treatment". However, after talking to the TPAPN case manager the following day, he changed his assessment to read that I need Intensive Outpatient Treatment, 3 nights a week for 20 sessions.

I was allowed 45 days from my initial licensure date to enroll in TPAPN. In the mean time, I obtained a job and have been working. I made my employer aware of my TPAPN stipulation before I was hired, and thus far, they haven't had a problem with any of this. This past week I was told by my case manager that I could not work until I got my assessment done and started the treatment that I need (she has never even met me and has only spoken to me on the telephone twice, but she can tell I have a seriuos problem???).I have a case manager that can only be reached maybe once a week. She will not respond to messages that I have left, nor will she answer her telephone. I have all of my paperwork completed, and have complied with everything I am supposed to do, and I'm ready to go back to work. Now I have to play the waiting game with the case manager, trying to get her to answer her telephone, or at least return my call.

Thanks for letting me vent. Have a nice Labor Day Weekend!

:monkeydance: (Walking the Tightrope Here)

[Magsulfate, BSN, RN]

I am curretnly in TPAPN too, since July 06, have not worked yet! I have moved to a bigger city in South Texas in hope to find employment in Nursing! My Tpan case manager says we should be able to find jobs, but it is soooooooo true, once you tell the DON you are in TPAN, the job for some reason has became automatically filled, ...quote]

I think we have the same case manager. She has quoted the same words to me " you should be able to get a job. It shouldn't be that hard, I wonder what you've been doing wrong"....

[latrink]

I just want to say that I've been on TPAPN since Febuary. The same thing was said to me. I've been out of school since July '05. Now it's taken me this long to be endorsed by the state of Texas with all my lovely stips. So, I had a great job offering in a hosp. on a surgical floor. Well, they were all ready to hire me TPAPN and all. I can't pass narcs for 6 mos so now the job is a no go. It's such a bummer. It's so frustrating. I'm going to call and see if they might bend the rules for me but I doubt it. I dui's from when I was 18 and this is why I'm on TPAPN. But this is hard. Who wants to hire someone who's been outta school for 2 yrs and has no experience. UGH!! I feel for all of you having this trouble. I wish I went to the board before I decided to do this program.

[Magsulfate, BSN, RN]

Here's some words of advise that were given to me, and I will pass them to you...... Don't give up. Keep going to interviews. Apply EVERYWHERE, go to ALL the interviews. Don't let yourself get in a slump. There WILL be someone that will hire you. You must project yourself as confident and acknowledge what you have done wrong and how you have fixed it. Make sure they know you are in a "good place" now and that you are trying really hard to get a job and get your life back in order. If you have any references, make sure you bring a letter or let them know your references phone numbers. Also, make sure that you don't reveal that you're in tpapn until you meet with the person that has the authority to hire you. DO NOT tell the nurse recruiter. I made that mistake twice and never got past the recruiter to even talk to the nurse manager.

You will eventually get a job. I did. It took me a while, and alot of interviews. I must admit that my interview skills have become really good, and it's all because of this. You are going to have nurse managers that turn you down. Don't get your feelings hurt. Just keep on trying. Trust me, it is not because of YOU that they turn you down, it is the stigma of tpapn and hiring *(what they think is an impaired nurse), plus all the paperwork and the stipulations you will have. You are a good nurse, YOU are a good person. If you need anybody to talk to, message me, and there are a few others on here that will talk with you. It's good to have a support group of people/nurses that have gone through the same thing that you are going through.

[latrink]

WEll I spoke with my cm and she said she would bring this in to their staffing meeting tomarrow to see if any exception can be made. She told me to contact the don and have her call her.....So, now I can't get in contact with the don. This is so frustrating. I think this is the absolute perfect job I could ask for right now (seeing as I have no experience-it'd start out like a clinical). So, I had a little hope this morning but it's slowly fading on this job.

Thanks for the advice easttexas. I'll try to remember all that on my next interview.

[Knoodsen]

I just have to comment on this. Nothing personal is directed at any individual; these are my general feelings on the subject. I am quite sure that the vast majority of nurses believe that the rules governing gun ownership are way too lax in our country. Guess what! Someone with four dwi's cannot legally possess a firearm. Ever. The same goes for psych history - you cannot own a gun, but you can be an RN. These facts along with many other demonstrate to me that my chosen profession has very low standards. By the way, I did a paper on TPAPN during nursing school. The survey of liturature showed that the majority of nurses caught in an impaired state at work are identified because they are stealing drugs. Therefore, TPAPN usually provides thieves with job security. TPAPN most certainly is a four-letter word.

[latrink]

I see that you're not "pointing" the finger at anyone. But what you say has nothing to do with me. I did not jeopardize my license. I wasn't even given the chance to use it in this state. The fact that TPAPN states that go on a case by case basis is a lie. They don't even know why you're in the program (cm's I mean). And I don't care how many cases they deal with. They chose that job. They lump everyone in to this one category and that's just not right. Also, employers look at you like you have the plague when you say the infamous "four-letter word". They don't care what happened why you're on it, nothing. It's too much of a hassle. So, for me, anyway, I'm pretty much stuck with a useless license, unless I trot my happy *ss back to NY where they will let me work......that's a whole other story though.

Anyway, I do think it's a good program if you did screw up and stole meds or something like that but for me it's a waste of money, energy, time, and I'm sure it's like that for many.

[the bull]

i have been a tpapn nurse since 12/2005, and am doing well with a great job working as admission nurse/ charge nurse. it took me 3 full months to find this job, and feel very appreciative. i will be done with tpapn in 12/2007. the program is simple. the program is difficult at first until you realize that your life and your nursing license is on the line. My life has changed not just from drinking and partying but learning to accept life and myself. Ive learned to appreciate just about everything that i have and also have obtained a sense of finally growing up. My story is probrably familiar to alot who read or at least maybe some can relate. I didnt plan on becoming an alcoholic and certainly not a drug addict, but i did. I had a prescription for xanax in my last yr of nursing school and eventually ended up drinking while takeing xanax to drinking takeing xanax and then turned into snorting cocaine. the cocaine habit took me for a ride that i almost didnt get off. I was referred to tpapn at work not for stealing drugs (i joke and say my drug of choice was not in the narc box, so i never took from the pts or hospital) but my ability to do my job was definitely impaired. Refferred to tpapn in 2003 got tx for cocaine, but kept drinking. then kicked out of tpapn. Decided to get more help and began recovering. The 1st time i got into tpapn for free, but had to pay for drug screens.. After being released from tpapn I worked for 15 months agency and dialysis and waited to hear from the board. I was referred back to tpapn and had to pay 500.00 to start again . I had the stipulations and did exactly what they asked and still amm . Currently i have no stipulations and have not had to restart the program I have been clean and sober since 08/2004. I call a # every day when i get up that tells me if i am to be tested , i also call my advocate on a weekly basis and attend 4 meeting per wk. People run into life problems and feel they need a break and believe they need a drink which can turn into who knows what. I never thought that i would have had an alcohol or drug problem. but **** happens..Thanks for letting me share.

[RNRutRO]

Well Knoodsen, I guess you are right. Our profession has very low standards if it has a nurse who has NO compassion and makes such a "general" comment. :madface:What a dumba** thing to say! Are you really a nurse? And to preface it with this isn't to any particular person---You are on a thread entitled TPAPN-- So, take your dumba** thoughts and go judge someone else. You must think you are one of those "do no harm I'm the greatest nurse ever" type. The ones that even in my impaired ability could run circles around you because you were too lazy to get off your duff and do something.

How do you like it when a "general" statement is made like that towards you?

TPAPN does NOT give "job security" to theives. Quite the opposite. It has tight restrictions on the nurses, and most are so happy for the opportunity to work, they make excellent employees. TPAPN is a second chance for those that want it. And several don't and like "the bull", come around at a later date. Other's unfortunately decide to give up their license permantly. Which is such a shame.

I'm not really one of those that believe that addiction is like a diabetic and therefore should be treated as such, but I do believe that it is a sickness and one that people deserve a second chance.

Your comments and beliefs are the reason that it is hard for a nurse to get a job. He without sin throw the first stone. Are you honestly going to say that you haven't made mistakes? Honestly?

Dear "the Bull" Great JOB!!! December will be here before you know it and you will be done with this whole process. I hope that when you finish, you become an advocate for someone and help other's out there with the nonsense like Knoodsen writes. It is NOT an easy process, and one I will be proud to graduate from. Almost as proud as the day that I graduated from nursing school. Because this too is a learning experience. And although I have been known to be upset with the system, it has allowed me to keep my license and at the same time, find the tools to be a better person, nurse, mother, wife, and friend. Would I ever in a milion years wish this on someone? Heck no. But, we all go through things for a reason. The ones that learn from them become a better person in the long run.

[Knoodsen]

RNRutRO,

Wow. You certainly have me pegged perfectly. Dumb ,lazy, and (gasp) not worthy of being a nurse. Anything else? Bet I'd be a better person if I agreed with you, wouldn't I? Please reread my previous post and note that I never said a thing about not giving those of us who make mistakes a second chance. I was offering my opinion of TPAPN. Since I want to be proud of the profession to which I belong (sorry, I am, in fact, a nurse.....a really good one), I am concerned with the quality of its' members. For that reason, I spoke to that topic as well. My intent is to spur a lively discussion. I realize that we all don't always agree, but that's ok, isn't it? I forgive you for the personal attack.

[RNRutRO]

I'm so glad that you "forgive" me. I didn't ask for you to do that. But I see how you think you are in the position to do that--

And I did reread your post, and several other's that you have written, Johnathan. ER nurses being the "painter"

And no, you didn't say we shouldn't give people who make mistakes another chance, you said that TPAPN "protects" theives and that "your chosen profession has lower standards" I agree. I can think of one in particular.

Whatever dude. I pray I never have to go to your ER.

[Magsulfate, BSN, RN]

These facts along with many other demonstrate to me that my chosen profession has very low standards. .

Thats the part that I will have to disagree with, Knoodsen. It is far far not a profession that has low standards. They will not let you sit for boards if you have ANY kind of record. If the record is that of a DWI, then they MIGHT let you sit for the boards, AFTER you go through TPAPN, and only after that. If you have a drug offense, you might as well forget it. I know that you have researched TPAPN and you might think you know all about it, but until you are actually ordered to do all of those things that TPAPN tells you to do, then you don't really see the whole picture. It is one thing to research and another thing to lose EVERYTHING, and then have to pull money out of your *ss to recover and keep your license. Then after you are "approved to return to work" going to interview after interview just to be turned down. I was not once turned down for a job before I was in TPAPN. While in TPAPN, I stopped counting the jobs that I was turned down for. I was turned down in almost everyway that you can imagine, and some that you cannot imagine. I have seen different attitudes, and I can even predict 2 seconds after I tell a nurse manager that I am in TPAPN if she will turn me down or not.

You most certainly can have your own opinion, and give out "generalized" statements. And just like any other opinion, you will have people that disagree. I have had to sit through interviews with people who have a similar opinion that you do. One piece of advice that I can give you is: if you ever become a nurse manager and are in charge of hiring, let the nurse know right away when she tells you she's in TPAPN that you will not hire her/him. Do not go through the interview with a smile on your face, etc, then never call her again. Don't ask him/her to explain to you WHY they are in TPAPN knowing the whole time that you're not going to hire them anyway. That is the most degrading thing to do.

[Knoodsen]

I never claimed to be a subject matter expert on TPAPN. Based on what I do know of it, I do not like the program. That's all. From reading these posts, it doesn't seem that you think much of it either. RNRutRO, don't let me get to you. The anger ain't healthy. To all concerned, please don't fret. I am not a threat to any of you. I am not a manager and have no interest in being one. BNE is not going to ask me my opinion and I have nothing against any of you.