What will happen if I refuse the VDAP and it goes to investigations?

Nurses Recovery Nursing Q/A

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Hey! I have recently put myself through a 7 day alcohol detox program voluntarily on my own! I'm recovering and attending AA meetings.  I self reported myself to the ABON they require the VDAP and I'm not going to spend $3500 on another treatment facility. What will happen if I refuse the VDAP and it goes to investigations? Any advice will help.....

16 Answers

Specializes in ICU,CCU,Med/Surg,LTC.

Oh goodness...

About 15 years ago I had a big problem with alcohol. I had no legal or work issues whatsoever but I wanted to stop drinking and couldn't do it on my own. I figured if I showed up to a therapist they would report me to the BON. Also, I feared that if I went to AA someone would recognize me and do the same.

Well, I reported myself to my state's assistance program for impaired nurses. Mind you, I had a stellar work history and not even a parking ticket in my history.  When speaking with the therapist I was referred to she stated that had I come to see her before reporting myself that she would not have reported me since I had no prior negative legal or work history. She thought I would only end up with a 1 year contract. Well, my state's program saw me coming and saw fit to give me a 3 year contract which was the most given at that time. Then it was 3 yrs of reports, drug screens, AA meetings, check ins, etc. I left a job that I absolutely hated and caused horrible stress without having another lined up and had a terrible time finding another job because I was in the program. The shame and embarrassment alone was just about enough to make me leave nursing.

I stayed sober for the 3 years and made it out of the program without being reported to the BON. I got absolutely nothing out of the program except a lot of stress and a smaller bank account. I relapsed a few months after the program and fell back into drinking. This continued for a few years. Still, no work or legal issues. I finally found total sobriety on my own.

My point is -If you have no work or legal issues that compel you to report to your BON or your state's program. I would recommend getting help elsewhere and do not disclose that you are a nurse. These programs are not set up to help the nurse in any way. They are just a way for the BON to show the general public that they are being protected from "impaired" nurses. There was nothing therapeutic about my program that I could not have done on my own had I known that I had the option.

Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
Wsaye78 said:

Hey! I have recently put myself through a 7 day alcohol detox program voluntarily on my own! I'm recovering and attending AA meetings.  I self reported myself to the ABON they require the VDAP and I'm not going to spend $3500 on another treatment facility. What will happen if I refuse the VDAP and it goes to investigations? Any advice will help...

Why did you self report? Was there legal involvement?

Specializes in Psych, BH, LTC, Rehab, Detox.
Wsaye78 said:

Hey! I have recently put myself through a 7 day alcohol detox program voluntarily on my own! I'm recovering and attending AA meetings.  I self reported myself to the ABON they require the VDAP and I'm not going to spend $3500 on another treatment facility. What will happen if I refuse the VDAP and it goes to investigations? Any advice will help...

If there is any choice to have it go to a hearing you could do that and say you've already done a treatment program. But they could still require you to do the other just because they can and that's their standard. If you refuse and don't want to comply with their "order" then they might suspend your license. I'm not sure depending on the state and then I don't have the background info on what you did and such, there's alot of variables. 

Specializes in Psych, BH, LTC, Rehab, Detox.
Wsaye78 said:

I told her because I had to be off of work some 

But you didn't do anything that got reported to the BON prior? Did she report you herself after you told her? I'm not understanding why it got to them at all if you weren't intoxicated at work or something and got reported or noticed at work?

Specializes in Psychiatry.
Wsaye78 said:

No I went to work everyday and no harm to my patients. I have chose to refuse the VDAP so now I am referred to investigation. I'm putting it In Gods hands 

Lawyer.  Talk to a lawyer.  In my state they would probably skip a treatment facility but would give you an expensive hellish monitoring agreement.  You had the good judgment to get help but you'll be treated like someone who went to work impaired.  It ridiculous. I hope you have a good outcome. 

For anyone reading who is going to rehab, don't tell your employer or anyone at work  It's no one's business why you take time off. 

Specializes in Psych, BH, LTC, Rehab, Detox.
Healer555 said:

Lawyer.  Talk to a lawyer.  In my state they would probably skip a treatment facility but would give you an expensive hellish monitoring agreement.  You had the good judgment to get help but you'll be treated like someone who went to work impaired.  It ridiculous. I hope you have a good outcome. 

For anyone reading who is going to rehab, don't tell your employer or anyone at work  It's no one's business why you take time off. 

Agree 100% 💯 100,000% LOL I would def either get a lawyer for it or go for a hearing etc. both. 

Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
Wsaye78 said:

No I went to work everyday and no harm to my patients. I have chose to refuse the VDAP so now I am referred to investigation. I'm putting it In Gods hands 

Get yourself a lawyer familiar with profesional licensing issues. you have a good case with the right lawyer. Try The American Assoc of nurse attorneys  TAANA.org

Specializes in Psychiatry.
jadedRN04 said:

Oh goodness...

About 15 years ago I had a big problem with alcohol. I had no legal or work issues whatsoever but I wanted to stop drinking and couldn't do it on my own. I figured if I showed up to a therapist they would report me to the BON. Also, I feared that if I went to AA someone would recognize me and do the same.

Well, I reported myself to my state's assistance program for impaired nurses. Mind you, I had a stellar work history and not even a parking ticket in my history.  When speaking with the therapist I was referred to she stated that had I come to see her before reporting myself that she would not have reported me since I had no prior negative legal or work history. She thought I would only end up with a 1 year contract. Well, my state's program saw me coming and saw fit to give me a 3 year contract which was the most given at that time. Then it was 3 yrs of reports, drug screens, AA meetings, check ins, etc. I left a job that I absolutely hated and caused horrible stress without having another lined up and had a terrible time finding another job because I was in the program. The shame and embarrassment alone was just about enough to make me leave nursing.

I stayed sober for the 3 years and made it out of the program without being reported to the BON. I got absolutely nothing out of the program except a lot of stress and a smaller bank account. I relapsed a few months after the program and fell back into drinking. This continued for a few years. Still, no work or legal issues. I finally found total sobriety on my own.

My point is -If you have no work or legal issues that compel you to report to your BON or your state's program. I would recommend getting help elsewhere and do not disclose that you are a nurse. These programs are not set up to help the nurse in any way. They are just a way for the BON to show the general public that they are being protected from "impaired" nurses. There was nothing therapeutic about my program that I could not have done on my own had I known that I had the option.

I believe that you aren't supposed to be reported in a clinical relationship ie a therapist doctor or nurse treating you isn't supposed to report you. You made it through? I really think all healthcare providers need education on this before graduating. 

Specializes in ICU,CCU,Med/Surg,LTC.
Healer555 said:

I believe that you aren't supposed to be reported in a clinical relationship ie a therapist doctor or nurse treating you isn't supposed to report you. You made it through? I really think all healthcare providers need education on this before graduating. 

Yes, I finished about 12 yrs ago. I did not understand what the requirements were for therapists, doctors, etc. treating healthcare professionals.

Specializes in Psychiatry.
Wsaye78 said:

Well I have self reported myself, and I refused the VDAP so now I am turned over to investigators and my license are suspended. So maybe after they investigate me I can get them back, who knows

You really need to be more proactive or start looking for a new career unless you are financially stable without working.  You went to rehab and admitted you are an addict thus the investigation is really done. They see you as,a potential danger to patients because you are an addict and they want to put you in their one size fits all program. If I were you I'd at least call a lawyer and ask if you can avoid rehab a second time.  Then ask yourself, is your license worth VDAP?  If no, find a new career, if yes., start complying.  It's not fair that you were responsible and still have to do the same crap others who weren't so responsible but that's the reality of the situation.  I can promise you that the result of the investigation will not be giving you a round of applause for realizing you had a problem and dealing with it, though you certainly deserve credit. 

Im on VDAP. I think here if you refuse and proceed the investigation route and they determine you do need monitoring you can not enter vdap but from what I understand you can enter probation which I think you stay suspended for a determined amount of time until certain defined obligations are met if investigation deems you do need some type of agreement. 
ABON are all laywers now and it can be frustrating to deal with them but not impossible. 
 

hppygr8ful said:

Why did you self report? Was there legal involvement?

No legal involvement at all, I was told by my boss I had to

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