Unfair, unfair, unfair

[hppygr8ful]

I see so many posts here about the unfairness of these programs. Some even go so far as to say the BON has ruined their lives. What I rarely see form the complainers is any personal accountability. We need to remember what got us here. In my own case I was a completely out of control alcoholic who overdosed on pills and booze and ended up in the ER of the hospital where I worked. Weather you were diverting to feed a habit or may the stupid 1 time decision to get behind the wheel of a car - it was that action that put you in a BON program.

While I agree that these programs can be Draconian - we have to remember that we would not be here but for our own actions.

In my own case - If I wanted to save my license and my life I had no choice but to humbly do what I was told. I embraced the program learned to walk the walk and talk the talk. I braided those 12 steps into a lifeline and hung on for dear life. I graduated from the CA Diversion program in 2007 and never looked back. For those of you who are struggling I will send you the Wisdom that only Country Music can convey "Don't give up, Hold on a little longer, What don't kill ya only makes you stronger" (Zach Brown) .

This too shall pass. You will feel the sunshine on your face again.

Peace and Namaste

Hppy

[ChryssyD]

These programs provide opportunities for redemption to nurses who genuinely need help and supervision to be sure they get it; I remember walking to the office of my first case manager and passing a woman hugging someone and telling her "thank you, thank you, you guys saved my life." The problem is that the net is indeed cast far and wide, so too many people who really don't need these programs are sucked into them anyway, then treated like totally out of control addicts who can't be trusted to make a single move without someone else's OK. I think these are probably the people who complain the most about being treated unfairly--because they ARE being treated unfairly. For those who stole drugs or showed up to work drunk, yes, of course they should own their mistakes, suck it up, do the programs and be grateful for the opportunity to remain in the profession. But I really don't see these people griping about unfairness as much as the people who probably shouldn't be in these programs in the first place.

[KPStevens]

That was beautifully said.

[undefeated-lvn]

with a issue like this I understand the bon getting involved...but honestly the boards of nursing are getting out of hand I know of someone getting punished for not renewing her renewal tags on her car!...I mean come on keep it related to nursing but when I hear stuff like them punishing ppl for things non nursing related I cant help but to think negative of the boards ...

[rn1965, ADN]

This is a wonderful post. I am attempting, right now, to have my RN license in AZ re-issued. It was revoked in 2004, for substance abuse. Alcohol is my drug of choice. I have been sober since 2005. I am sure if I am blessed enough to be re-issued my license, it will be with heavy stips. I can live with that. I know what I did was wrong and the BON was trying to prevent me from harming patients. I can learn to live with the stips. I am trying to make amends for my actions now and I look forward to positive words from other nurses.

Good luck to each and every one of you.

Keep a positive outlook and things can work out!

[SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN]

Hi everybody,

I got a DUI. The criminal justice system punished be for my criminal behavior and I regret my poor (criminal) to drink and drive. I respect the courts and cops for holding me accountable to society for my choices as it's their role to protect society at large from people like me who made the choice to drink and drive. I have no respect for what I'm going through now with PNAP. First, they made me get an evaluation of my drinking history by a company that ran an inpatient and out patient rehab center. Guess what? I spent months in both of those facilities and was only deemed fit for discharge when they drained every cent they could from my private insurance. I started in "rehab" about 4 months after my last drink and never would have agreed to subject myself to this facility which was largely filled with young men who were trying to avoid jail for heroin charges and other people leveraged into being there. Essentially it was drunk & dope fiend baby sitting services @ $400 per day. A simple and obvious money grab in a place largely staffed by minimum wage employees. Now I attend weekly "support group" meetings where the therapist reports to PNAP and we are expected to extoll the wonders of the program. Nobody really wants to do this and it has no therapeutic value what-so-ever but we are mandated so we go in order to keep our jobs and pay our bills. I also get urine tested. I think this is the only beneficial part of the program as it forces me to stay clean & even then I worry about false positives with a presumption of guilt (so far so good). I also am forced to attend AA meetings which I loathe. Honestly, I was happier and richer drunk. This program has done nothing for me but limit my ability to make a living and take money from me that I can't afford to spend. I am an alcoholic but what I'm going through now only makes me want to drink now more than ever. I feel like I'm being punished and not treated for the disease I have which is a strange irony in the medical profession. Anyway, I got about 2 more years to go and will keep doing what I have to do but I hate the whole experience and will not ever state otherwise

[noctanol]

I think you miss the point. Board rules are draconian to say the least. That's what people (disciplined nurses) complain about. They desciplined a nurse who got a DWI in 1980 the same way as a nurse who stole/diverted opiates in 2017. Most if not all nurses that I know or read about are remorseful and take personal responsibility. They/we can't do that with every commentime or post. Usually the 1st post goes something like "I messed up and I know it's my fault..."

[SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN]

I'm not sure what point I missed. I think I opened with something like I got a DUI and I regret my poor decision and that I was rightfully being punished by the criminal justice system. Is the goal of PNAP to punish or rehabilitate via treatment. I don't understand the value of any of this "treatment" nor the fact that I can't go back to making a living even though they have a mechanism to make sure that I'm clean and sober via DAU. I don't see how driving a nurse into bankruptcy has any therapeutic value with respect to treating the disease of addiction nor will I turn a blind eye to the fact that that those who "treat" impaired nurses have a vested monetary interest in keeping people in therapy as long as they can. As far as remorse, I'm very sorry for my actions but have no intention of donning a hair shirt nor engaging in self-flagellation over the fact that I made a mistake which had nothing to do with the care of my patients and am paying the full price society demands from its citizens for my actions

[SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN]

by the way when was draconian a good thing?

[jfox01, BSN]

I will also be working In the Florida area to do what I can for the unfairness and unrealistic expectations of this IPN program. In the next few years I pray that they will have other plans and ways to help nurses that need it . I also pray that they will no longer be able to impose their will on people who do NOT need IPN.

[SororAKS, ADN, RN]

What I do agree with here is the need for lobbying one's representatives and speaking out. Unfortunately as a profession we have not done this nearly enough, and that factor has contributed in the out of control behavior of some Boards of Nursing. When I refer to out of control, I am not talking about the immediate punitive actions as consequences. I am talking about the continued Scarlet Letter that stays and stays, and the Boards that issue weird requirements that are not commensurate with the acts of the nurse. I am talking about Boards of Nursing doing things simply because they CAN.

[SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN]

Professionals self-regulate but they also advocate for their fellow professionals. Unfortunately it has been my experience that Nurses often cannot wait to feast on the suffering of fellow nurses. We are hyper-critical of each other even when such criticism is hypocritical and has nothing to do with our professional lives. In my state the head of PNAP is a Nurse and the vast majority of our BON are Nurses. Sadly, over functioning, control freak nurses (who often seem to have miserable lives spinning out of control) are the root of this "treatment" solution and scarlet letter which is placed upon other nurses. And yes they do this simply because they can & probably because they have little control over the rest of their lives.

[jfox01, BSN]

So sorry that this has happened to you. Sadly it has happened thousands of us. When I said that I am going to lobby or do something I mean it. This cannot continue to go on the way it is. My experience has also been awful.