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
I'm seeing that it's the same red-tape nonsense no matter what state you're from. I am so upset that some (one in particular) of you are giving up. in florida, in my case, i refuse to "play their game"...I've been online for hours, days...and actually found that the one handling my case (IPN) has ...get this... NO FORMAL TRAINING, NO LICENSE, NO CERTIFICATION!!! gets her "title" by having "experience"!!!!! can you imagine?? all those initials behind the name were scaring me to death, all of it making me PHYSICALLY ILL!!!! until I researched these people who are in a position to RUIN YOUR LIFE!! still feel sick on a daily basis, but i'm not going to give up. i found many agencies to report them to (the ones who have inaccurate or incorrect info on my case). they ALL have someone else governing them...there are places to turn to .....I didn't think there were, but there are. spending way too much of my time on this, but worth every second! thanks
I'm seeing that it's the same red-tape nonsense no matter what state you're from. I am so upset that some (one in particular) of you are giving up. in florida, in my case, i refuse to "play their game"...I've been online for hours, days...and actually found that the one handling my case (IPN) has ...get this... NO FORMAL TRAINING, NO LICENSE, NO CERTIFICATION!!! gets her "title" by having "experience"!!!!! can you imagine?? all those initials behind the name were scaring me to death, all of it making me PHYSICALLY ILL!!!! until I researched these people who are in a position to RUIN YOUR LIFE!! still feel sick on a daily basis, but i'm not going to give up. i found many agencies to report them to (the ones who have inaccurate or incorrect info on my case). they ALL have someone else governing them...there are places to turn to .....I didn't think there were, but there are. spending way too much of my time on this, but worth every second! thanks
Thanks for you words, I have not completely thrown in the towel. I am just tired. My spirit is broken and I do not know how much more of this I can take. My hysband is very supportive, thank goodness. I never considered work a competitive sport. For the life of me I do not understand why the different BON;s get off by crushing nurses like a bug. I have writen so many letters, I have cried, I have climbed trees and just sat there for hours trying to figure out what to do next, oh by the way, my lawyer is gravely ill and has no back up. How's that for irony? I think my life could really be a comedy of errors. Any ideas as what do I do next? I am out of money and I think my soft spot had opened up.:uhoh21:
It's too bad that our state boards of nursing can't be more uniform (and more user-friendly). Oh well, if the Governator has his way, we won't even have a board of nursing in California. He wants to elimimate it!
Thanks for you words, I have not completely thrown in the towel. I am just tired. My spirit is broken and I do not know how much more of this I can take. My hysband is very supportive, thank goodness. I never considered work a competitive sport. For the life of me I do not understand why the different BON;s get off by crushing nurses like a bug. I have writen so many letters, I have cried, I have climbed trees and just sat there for hours trying to figure out what to do next, oh by the way, my lawyer is gravely ill and has no back up. How's that for irony? I think my life could really be a comedy of errors. Any ideas as what do I do next? I am out of money and I think my soft spot had opened up.:uhoh21:
Have you checked out NurseProtect? I believe they are based in Austin and they help nurses who are having board issues. I have read good things about them.
Specializes in Psychiatric, Home Health, Geriatrics.
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.
Does this statement include all the nurses who REFUSE to unionize? If we did unionize,do you really think that this kind of idiocy would happen? :angryfire
I was referred to tpapn in july 2003 for cocaine. Which I needed to be and thank god i was saved. but I still kept drinking and got caught by positive etoh screen. smart. huh! tpapn dismissed me . i found a lawyer whom i didnt even need . worked dialysis and agency for 15 months until i receieved and agreed to a board order that referred me back to tpapn with a 500.00 monetary fine. I was tickled to be blessed. Now, I have been looking for a job for one month now and no one is interested in a nurse who is in tpapn . I cant find a job. but i still dont give up. i figure as long as i do what i am supposed to do to keep my license it will be over in two years. I may not work for the next two years as a nurse,but when its all said and done i will still be a nurse after ive done my time.
Specializes in Psychiatric, Home Health, Geriatrics.
I was referred to tpapn in july 2003 for cocaine. Which I needed to be and thank god i was saved. but I still kept drinking and got caught by positive etoh screen. smart. huh! tpapn dismissed me . i found a lawyer whom i didnt even need . worked dialysis and agency for 15 months until i receieved and agreed to a board order that referred me back to tpapn with a 500.00 monetary fine. I was tickled to be blessed. Now, I have been looking for a job for one month now and no one is interested in a nurse who is in tpapn . I cant find a job. but i still dont give up. i figure as long as i do what i am supposed to do to keep my license it will be over in two years. I may not work for the next two years as a nurse,but when its all said and done i will still be a nurse after ive done my time.
Have you thought about looking in places that treat CD? Treatment centers, psych hospitals that have CD units? I work in a psych hospital & they hire tpapn nurses as long as they keep their noses clean... it might be worth a try... Good luck
that is terrible. I would not have thought that praying is a problem if the pt and you are for it. Ive had my physician pray with me before i had surgery at the bedside. I guess its just a sign of the times, so never leave God at home.
I am facing an issue with the board, I was in TPAPN and they kicked me out because I had a positive drug screen for Darvocet....I had a prescription but that didn't matter any how I have been turned in to the board and just recieved my letter I have 30 days to respond and would like to have an attorney help me Can you recommend a attorney or how to find one????
agnescwal
15 Posts
I'm seeing that it's the same red-tape nonsense no matter what state you're from. I am so upset that some (one in particular) of you are giving up. in florida, in my case, i refuse to "play their game"...I've been online for hours, days...and actually found that the one handling my case (IPN) has ...get this... NO FORMAL TRAINING, NO LICENSE, NO CERTIFICATION!!! gets her "title" by having "experience"!!!!! can you imagine?? all those initials behind the name were scaring me to death, all of it making me PHYSICALLY ILL!!!! until I researched these people who are in a position to RUIN YOUR LIFE!! still feel sick on a daily basis, but i'm not going to give up. i found many agencies to report them to (the ones who have inaccurate or incorrect info on my case). they ALL have someone else governing them...there are places to turn to .....I didn't think there were, but there are. spending way too much of my time on this, but worth every second! thanks