TPAPN Problems--need advice.

Trauma Columnist · Jul 29, 2004

Sorry for the problems you are going through right now. I think you would get more responses though if you would explain what TPAPN is?

kambi2004 · Jan 21, 2005

i'm so sorry your having so many problems. i totally understand. i started tpapn in june of 2004. i came up with a positive drug screen for ultram on dec 29th i was contacted 2 weeks after. i swear that i haven't taken anything!!! :crying2: but how can i prove it now...if it wouldn't have taken her 2 weeks to give me with the results i could have had a blood draw of another drug screen, but now i'm afraid there's nothing i can do. i am disputing it with a recomfirmation of the same urine is what they call it, but why would that show anything different. so now my case manager is threatening to close my case and send my info to the board. not only that but if i get "kicked" out of tpapn my employer can no longer keep me on because of the risk involved. so what do you do? your in the mercy of tpapn.

i wish i could give you some advice...but frankly i need some of my own. just know that your not the only one. :)

tpapn: (mission): the texas peer assistance program for nurses (tpapn) offers life-renewing opportunities for recovery from chemical dependency and/or mental illness and intergrates nurses back into the profession. the ada (americans with disabilities act) states: a business may not discriminate against a nurse for fear the he or she will suffer a relapse. tpapn is to help a nurse go back to work with as little stress as possible in an enviroment that maximizes a nurse's chance for successful recovery.
i am having problems with tpapn and the hospital i work for. i was diagnosed with bi-polar and started on antipsychotic medication in january 2004. the problem, is that i am not bi-polar. the longer i was on these meds, the worse i got. every week i would tell my psychiatrist, but she would say that i was being non-compliant and increase my meds. after (approx) 12 weeks of this treatment, i was at max doses of 4 antipsychotic medications. i am 5 foot 8 inches and 135-140 pounds. i am sure you can see the problem. determined to overcome this disease, i did everything i was instructed to do. i now have the correct dx of unipolar depression due to a single external event. so the part of returning to work in an area to maximizes the chance for successful recovery techinically does not pertain to me. i have been off on loa for 4 months. i have been trying to return to work for 3 weeks, but tpapn and my employer have been creating multiple delays. and just a little fyi, my short term disability insurance ended when my md released to to work.
i am a critical care icu nurse in a large 18 bed unit. i was working throughout this time from january until the end of march 2004. i had a release from my psychiatrist to work without any restrictions. at the end of march, i was placed on leave of absence by my employer. everyone was aware that my nursing performance ,the last day i worked, was hindered by incorrect medication. my manager even spoke with my therapist (lpc), with my consent, and stated that he fully understands what has happened. on more than one occasion, he stated that this was nothing i had controll over and he understood that my nursing preformance was impaired by incorrect medications. the hospital gave me a 3 day paid suspention for missed labs and other minor problems. the care did not hinder or cause harm to my assigned patients. the charge nurse helped me with giving medication and vital signs and other things that i needed help with during my shift. although, she did not remove me from my shift, she let me continue working a 12 hour shift. the formal written disciplinary action stated that i was, "having difficulty with completing simple tasks of giving medication, vital signs, lab work, and so on". due to the power of the medications i was on, i was unaware that i was having problems completing a normal day in the unit. basicaly, now tpapn has decided that they will not approve for me to go back into the type of nursing that i have done for years (icu). they discussed with my employer, that it would be to stressful of an enviroment. this assumption was based on statistics. the tpapn case manager never spoke with my therapist, psychiatrist, or me to determine my functioning abilities. (all consents completed for information to be discussed between tpapn, md, lpc, and manager). after tpapn spoke to my employer, i was told (by my employer) that the hospital is not going to let me work in clinical aspects (direct patient care) for an undertimed amount of time. they are going to remove me from med/surg icu to a case management position. i asked if they would consider me working in dialysis, radiology nurse or gi lab, which i have training and i am compitent to work in those areas. the request was turned down. the hospital states that they need to have a better "track record" of me. i worked 8 months prn approx 2 days a week and 4 months full time. they want to get a better idea of my work ablility.
if anyone has any knowlage about this program, problems, or any legal actions toward tpapn or hospital complaints i would love to get someones advice. i am sorry that this thread is long, but i feel that this is a serious issue and would love to have some outsider info.:angryfire

stbernardclub · Jan 21, 2005

This post was from july!!!:rotfl:

kambi2004 · Jan 21, 2005

Your point!!! :rotfl:

agnescwal · Jan 25, 2005

hello !! after posting my troubles with IPN (same crap, different state), i've come to the conclusion that these "organizations" and their "experts" need to be put out of BUSINESS...that's what they are...money-making SCAMS ! and OUR licenses and futures are in their hands, so they think. i have hired a team of attorneys, but i'll tell you, i will go to my board hearing as scheduled...but if i hear IPN one more time after that, i'm going to get another career. the stress this has caused (their INCOMPETENCE) has made me PHYSICALLY ill...and my whole family suffers along. although mine is not a financial issue, but one of pride and professionalism, the whole mess just isn't worth it. hire an attorney, he will put everything in perspective for you, and in your case, it sounds like a success is to follow. good luck!

agnescwal · Jan 25, 2005

hello !! after posting my troubles with IPN (same crap, different state), i've come to the conclusion that these "organizations" and their "experts" need to be put out of BUSINESS...that's what they are...money-making SCAMS ! and OUR licenses and futures are in their hands, so they think. i have hired a team of attorneys, but i'll tell you, i will go to my board hearing as scheduled...but if i hear IPN one more time after that, i'm going to get another career. the stress this has caused (their INCOMPETENCE) has made me PHYSICALLY ill...and my whole family suffers along. although mine is not a financial issue, but one of pride and professionalism, the whole mess just isn't worth it. hire an attorney, he will put everything in perspective for you, and in your case, it sounds like a success is to follow. good luck!

paytonsnana · Jan 25, 2005

TPAPN: (mission): The Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses (TPAPN) offers life-renewing opportunities for recovery from chemical dependency and/or mental illness and intergrates nurses back into the profession. The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) states: A business may not discriminate against a nurse for fear the he or she will suffer a relapse. TPAPN is to help a nurse go back to work with as little stress as possible in an enviroment that maximizes a nurse's chance for successful recovery.
I am having problems with TPAPN and the hospital I work for. I was diagnosed with bi-polar and started on antipsychotic medication in January 2004. The problem, is that I am not bi-polar. The longer I was on these meds, the worse I got. Every week I would tell my Psychiatrist, but she would say that I was being non-compliant and increase my meds. After (approx) 12 weeks of this treatment, I was at max doses of 4 antipsychotic medications. I am 5 foot 8 inches and 135-140 pounds. I am sure you can see the problem. Determined to overcome this disease, I did everything I was instructed to do. I now have the correct DX of unipolar depression due to a single external event. So the part of returning to work in an area to maximizes the chance for successful recovery techinically does not pertain to me. I have been off on LOA for 4 months. I have been trying to return to work for 3 weeks, but TPAPN and my employer have been creating multiple delays. And just a little FYI, my short term disability insurance ended when my MD released to to work.
I am a critical care ICU nurse in a large 18 bed unit. I was working throughout this time from January until the end of March 2004. I had a release from my psychiatrist to work without any restrictions. At the end of March, I was placed on leave of absence by my employer. Everyone was aware that my nursing performance ,the last day I worked, was hindered by incorrect medication. My manager even spoke with my therapist (LPC), with my consent, and stated that he fully understands what has happened. On more than one occasion, he stated that this was nothing I had controll over and he understood that my nursing preformance was impaired by incorrect medications. The hospital gave me a 3 day paid suspention for missed labs and other minor problems. The care did not hinder or cause harm to my assigned patients. The charge nurse helped me with giving medication and vital signs and other things that I needed help with during my shift. Although, she did not remove me from my shift, she let me continue working a 12 hour shift. The formal written disciplinary action stated that I was, "having difficulty with completing simple tasks of giving medication, vital signs, lab work, and so on". Due to the power of the medications I was on, I was unaware that I was having problems completing a normal day in the unit. Basicaly, now TPAPN has decided that they will not approve for me to go back into the type of nursing that I have done for years (ICU). They discussed with my employer, that it would be to stressful of an enviroment. This assumption was based on statistics. The TPAPN case manager never spoke with my therapist, psychiatrist, or me to determine my functioning abilities. (All consents completed for information to be discussed between TPAPN, MD, LPC, and manager). After TPAPN spoke to my employer, I was told (by my employer) that the hospital is not going to let me work in clinical aspects (direct patient care) for an undertimed amount of time. They are going to remove me from Med/Surg ICU to a case management position. I asked if they would consider me working in dialysis, radiology nurse or GI lab, which I have training and I am compitent to work in those areas. The request was turned down. The hospital states that they need to have a better "track record" of me. I worked 8 months PRN approx 2 days a week and 4 months full time. They want to get a better idea of my work ablility.
If anyone has any knowlage about this program, problems, or any legal actions toward TPAPN or hospital complaints I would love to get someones advice. I am sorry that this thread is long, but I feel that this is a serious issue and would love to have some outsider info.:angryfire

Texas BON has a giantiac ego. I have been fighting for 2 1/2 years because I was accused of praying with a patient that asked me to. How is that for stupid. I had to have a physc eval, as ordered by the TX BON she found nothing and stated so in her report to the BON. However the BON thinks I am unfit as a nurse. I swear this is true for all those who doubt. I am so tired I am just going to turn in my license. My husband is livid with the hospital where I worked and the state board.. If I were a drug addic or an alcholic there would be no problem, but God forbid if we pray with a patient. I only hope that when I come to the end of my life someone will pray with me. The only thing that the BON has required of me is a class in ethics, and 2 years probation. In other words Leave GOD at home. :angryfire

paytonsnana · Jan 25, 2005

TPAPN: (mission): The Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses (TPAPN) offers life-renewing opportunities for recovery from chemical dependency and/or mental illness and intergrates nurses back into the profession. The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) states: A business may not discriminate against a nurse for fear the he or she will suffer a relapse. TPAPN is to help a nurse go back to work with as little stress as possible in an enviroment that maximizes a nurse's chance for successful recovery.
I am having problems with TPAPN and the hospital I work for. I was diagnosed with bi-polar and started on antipsychotic medication in January 2004. The problem, is that I am not bi-polar. The longer I was on these meds, the worse I got. Every week I would tell my Psychiatrist, but she would say that I was being non-compliant and increase my meds. After (approx) 12 weeks of this treatment, I was at max doses of 4 antipsychotic medications. I am 5 foot 8 inches and 135-140 pounds. I am sure you can see the problem. Determined to overcome this disease, I did everything I was instructed to do. I now have the correct DX of unipolar depression due to a single external event. So the part of returning to work in an area to maximizes the chance for successful recovery techinically does not pertain to me. I have been off on LOA for 4 months. I have been trying to return to work for 3 weeks, but TPAPN and my employer have been creating multiple delays. And just a little FYI, my short term disability insurance ended when my MD released to to work.
I am a critical care ICU nurse in a large 18 bed unit. I was working throughout this time from January until the end of March 2004. I had a release from my psychiatrist to work without any restrictions. At the end of March, I was placed on leave of absence by my employer. Everyone was aware that my nursing performance ,the last day I worked, was hindered by incorrect medication. My manager even spoke with my therapist (LPC), with my consent, and stated that he fully understands what has happened. On more than one occasion, he stated that this was nothing I had controll over and he understood that my nursing preformance was impaired by incorrect medications. The hospital gave me a 3 day paid suspention for missed labs and other minor problems. The care did not hinder or cause harm to my assigned patients. The charge nurse helped me with giving medication and vital signs and other things that I needed help with during my shift. Although, she did not remove me from my shift, she let me continue working a 12 hour shift. The formal written disciplinary action stated that I was, "having difficulty with completing simple tasks of giving medication, vital signs, lab work, and so on". Due to the power of the medications I was on, I was unaware that I was having problems completing a normal day in the unit. Basicaly, now TPAPN has decided that they will not approve for me to go back into the type of nursing that I have done for years (ICU). They discussed with my employer, that it would be to stressful of an enviroment. This assumption was based on statistics. The TPAPN case manager never spoke with my therapist, psychiatrist, or me to determine my functioning abilities. (All consents completed for information to be discussed between TPAPN, MD, LPC, and manager). After TPAPN spoke to my employer, I was told (by my employer) that the hospital is not going to let me work in clinical aspects (direct patient care) for an undertimed amount of time. They are going to remove me from Med/Surg ICU to a case management position. I asked if they would consider me working in dialysis, radiology nurse or GI lab, which I have training and I am compitent to work in those areas. The request was turned down. The hospital states that they need to have a better "track record" of me. I worked 8 months PRN approx 2 days a week and 4 months full time. They want to get a better idea of my work ablility.
If anyone has any knowlage about this program, problems, or any legal actions toward TPAPN or hospital complaints I would love to get someones advice. I am sorry that this thread is long, but I feel that this is a serious issue and would love to have some outsider info.:angryfire

Texas BON has a giantiac ego. I have been fighting for 2 1/2 years because I was accused of praying with a patient that asked me to. How is that for stupid. I had to have a physc eval, as ordered by the TX BON she found nothing and stated so in her report to the BON. However the BON thinks I am unfit as a nurse. I swear this is true for all those who doubt. I am so tired I am just going to turn in my license. My husband is livid with the hospital where I worked and the state board.. If I were a drug addic or an alcholic there would be no problem, but God forbid if we pray with a patient. I only hope that when I come to the end of my life someone will pray with me. The only thing that the BON has required of me is a class in ethics, and 2 years probation. In other words Leave GOD at home. :angryfire

tommycher · Jan 25, 2005

I am in TX also, and I have to say, there are a lot of bureaucratic problems here, and it is always scary to me when I see instances where it is a case of the loonies running the bin, but that is the way Tx operates, BON and justice system. I really think if the citizens of this state had an inkling of an idea of how their tax dollars are wasted and the citizens with an education are being denied work, they would do something about it. But, in this state, people bury their heads and think if they can't be seen, they have nothing to fear from the knuckle dragging morons who run the show. Sorry to sound ugly, I really am not, but I do believe in justice, and you just will not find it in the state of Texas.

tommycher · Jan 25, 2005

I am in TX also, and I have to say, there are a lot of bureaucratic problems here, and it is always scary to me when I see instances where it is a case of the loonies running the bin, but that is the way Tx operates, BON and justice system. I really think if the citizens of this state had an inkling of an idea of how their tax dollars are wasted and the citizens with an education are being denied work, they would do something about it. But, in this state, people bury their heads and think if they can't be seen, they have nothing to fear from the knuckle dragging morons who run the show. Sorry to sound ugly, I really am not, but I do believe in justice, and you just will not find it in the state of Texas.

kambi2004 · Jan 26, 2005

i went to a nurse support meeting last night...and as far as my reconfirmation goes i'm still waiting. ncps (drug screen company) told me it could take up 10 days to get my results. since that dec 29th drug screen i have had 2 negitive screens since...but no reponse from tpapn about that. i'm so stressed out i can hardly breathe :bugeyes:

i've enjoyed everyones input about tpapn, it just lets me know that other people are going thru the same thing, and i'm not crazy :lol_hitti