What happens when you decide not to move forward with IPN's recommendations?

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Hey guys, I haven't posted in some time. Short version: I got caught diverting and had a positive urine screen. Admitted diversion and entered IPN. I saw my facilitator and complied with their recommendations for treatment. I have a history of PTSD, major depression with anxiety and panic disorder, for which became the major focus of my therapy. And I needed that, I have to say getting caught was the best thing that could have happened for me. I agreed to 3 months in rehab once I reached the recommended 30 days because I was making major progress with my PTSD. IPN is getting weekly updates from my therapy team. I am on medications which IPN has been aware of throughout the entirety of my progress. I go see my facilitator while still at my treatment facility prior to my discharge. My facilitators office tells me I am positive for alcohol, which is absolutely impossible and I had a negative test immediately upon returning to my treatment facility. My facilitator determines he is pleased with my progress but wants me to go to one of his facilities to be taken off of all of my medications, including antidepressants, under his care, since I originally chose to go to a facility outside the ones recommended by IPN specifically. IPN approved the facility after telling me I was not limited to the ones on the list they provided me. My insurance covered my entire 90 day treatment and is now refusing to cover more treatment (understandably). I have been home, not practicing, and clean since November. IPN has given me several opportunities to comply with my facilitators recommendations to repeat 6 weeks of treatment at one of 3 facilities "recommended" by my facilitator. I, however, have come to resent this process, sadly, and realize how much happier I am now that I'm not practicing. Sad because at one point I was incredibly passionate about this career. But at this point in time I am choosing to nurture my mental health and do what makes me happy. So my question is, what happens when I tell IPN I am voluntarily forfeiting my license? What are the reprocucsions from the DOH and BON? Can they legally come after you if I'm willingly giving up my license? I have no desire to fight for it, as sad as that sounds. I'm just wondering what to expect. Has anyone else walked away? Thanks everyone! I appreciate your advice. You were all very helpful when I was terrified after awaiting my "sentence". I have just lost all the desire to fight when I know that even if I do exactly as they ask (again) it may not be enough and then I will be punished for choosing to pursue what therapy suits me best at a facility that isn't affiliated.

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I can't answer your question but I just wanted to comment and tell you how heartbreaking your post is. It's sad to see a nurse really trying to get better and the BON breathing down your neck saying you're not doing good enough. I would love to know how many people working for the DOH and BON are on some kind of anxiety medications or antidepressants, opioids, or even full blown alcoholic's!?! I'm sure there are plenty!

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Specializes in OR.

Forcing repeat treatment that involves coming off your antidepressants sounds like raw meat for a lawyer to chew on. That doesn't even enter the realm of ethical. Heck, that's beyond the pale. Like exactly what is the rational ( besides the money)....oh wait.....

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Exactly, the money

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After reading your post, if it were me, I would have to kiss it goodbye too. This only makes more obvious the true goals of the program. I hope you can find peace ahead of you.

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I agree 100%. Depression was certainly not a choice and yes therapy helped immensely, but that doesn't "cure" me. I believe the ultimate goal for them would be for me to attend their facility and take me off meds then put me back on meds after all this claiming I didn't need them and monitor me under the idea that I did In fact require meds, then keep me in the program for an undetermined amount of time. That's just speculation of course. My facilitator was upset I was on any medications at all, they stated at my evaluation prior to discharging from treatment that they anticipated I would leave treatment med free, although that was never discussed in my previous evaluation or recommendations they sent to IPN the first time before I admitted myself for treatment. And my IPN case manager spoke with my therapist weekly regarding my progress and they received a med list with each up date. It was no secret or surprise I was on medication. Never once was taking me off my antidepressants discussed or a goal. In fact my therapist and psychiatrist at treatment felt my antidepressant wasn't enough and added an adjunct med, and I finally, for the first time in years, felt improvement in my own mental health. This entire experience is disheartening and has only pushed me further away from nursing.

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Thank you very much.

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Specializes in OR.

It's interesting how IPN claims that thier mission is to ensure that nurses can practice safely yet that seems to be weirdly interpreted as not being on any kind of medication at all. If that were the case, then probably 95% of the nurses in the state would be under contract.

sorry my docs that see me on a regular basis get to have a say in what I take, not some faceless outfit that punishes people for asking for help.

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

This makes me nuts. Seriously....if you had asthma, the goal is not to make you albuterol-free! The goal is to use other meds to minimize the use of the emergency med to keep you from having significant symptoms. Nobody would suggest you wean yourself from your asthma meds.

As far as your initial question - it's a lawyer question and it may depend on the state. Probably your name will appear in perpetuity on your state's database as inactive (best case) or forfeited (worst case). But as far as repercussions of surrender- I hope that someone who's surrendered can give you some good advice. Hang in there.

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I don't have any advice, but your story makes me feel sick. I'm assuming that you aren't on a benzo or something like that that they want you off? Just garden variety psychiatry meds??? That's total bull.. total bull. If my program wanted me drug free, they would probably be seeing my obituary within six months. Just being honest.

Are they wanting the extra treatment because of the positive alcohol or just because they want you off meds?? This is horrifying beyond all reaches. If my program made me come off my psych meds, I'd likely find a way to walk away too.

I mean, addiction often come part and parcel with mental illness. Treat the mental illness, often the addiction improves. This seems like the complete antithesis to any actual science. When my mental illness got under better control, it was much easier to stay sober. Duh, I wasn't self-medicating anymore. If I had the financial resources and was in your shoes, I'd be ripe and ready to sic a lawyer on the program.

My heart aches about losing a nurse who is trying and winning over such an archaic treatment model.

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The BONs jurisdiction applies to nurses alone. If you decide not to be a nurse they can't do anything to you at all

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No benzo's. I truly think they want nurses to enter into programs under their facilitators care and get you locked in so that they can manage you and keep your money in their pocket. So they think by telling you they'll take your meds away it will force you into following their recommendations out of fear of being without your meds. I can't see any other reason IPN would limit my choices to 3 specific facilities that their facilitators happen to be on staff at. I truly feel as if this is some form of punishment for not using one of the recommended facilities to begin with.

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