You can get out of monitoring early

[Joshua Compton, BSN]

Yes, on occasion, you can get out of your monitoring contract early.  It does happen.  Even though the contract states you can't apply to be done until a certain time, there is a possible way to get out early.  I know some nurse is going to respond with the "exception to the rule" in which they were released a year early or something like that, but here is what is somewhat common.  If you have a 5 year contract, yes you sometimes can get out 6 months early.  If you have a 3 year contract, yes you can sometimes get out 3 months early.  Even though your contract might say that you can't even ask to be done until the 3 or 5 year mark, there is a possible way. Again, I know some of you might have got out much earlier, but by in large, these are the norms for people that do get out early on the very, very, very rare occasion that it happens.  But, it does happen on occasion and here is how.

I just completed a 5 year contract.  I got out 6 months early.  Finished at 4.5 years.  First, you can't have ANY flaw during your monitoring.  Not one.  Zero missed check in's in 4.5 years.  Not one.  No more than one week vacation time per year.  Obviously, no failed drug tests and no more than 2 diluted samples in the 4.5 years.  Never was late for sending in a monthly report for my recovery meetings and never late from an employee quarterly report to the monitoring program.  When I was 4 years and 5 months into my monitoring, I called my Case Manager in my monitoring program and reminded him of all of these things above about me.  I asked him.  Is there anyway possible I could complete this early as I have had zero issues and not only that, I had been teaching recovery for the past 2 years/leading meetings in the evening which is HUGE.  It shows you actually take the 12th step seriously.  He told me I needed to complete a 2 day in house comprehensive substance abuse evaluation at a facility that HE chose in my state.  They do a battery of tests.  It costs 3500 dollars. You meet with psychologists, addiction MD's, nurses, take several psychometric tests.  They do a toenail test, urine drug screen, and hair sample test for drugs.  They then write up a report, an extensive report on you and send it to your recovering program case manager.  

My report was spotless.  They stated I absolutely do not have a substance abuse disorder (Substance Abuse Disorder in Remission and Well Controlled) and here is the thing that helps, it's not just about NOT having a substance abuse order.  I also had been TEACHING recovery, leading recovery groups for the previous 2 years and had letters brought with me from 2 recovery friends in my groups that I taught.  I had letters from my Supervisor when I entered the Comprehensive Evaluation Testing for their 2 day stay.  In the end, I had my report.  I then met for an hour with my recovery program case manager a week later and he agreed to tell the Board of my situation and recommend me to be discharged from the recovery program.  Now at this point, on most occasions, most Boards will still give the answer, NO.  The Board can still say NO and half of the time, they do, but it's 50-50 here.  About half of the time, they say yes.  Here is the thing, 99% of people in monitoring programs will not go through these lengths 6 or 7 months out and never ask the Board, and many in recovery programs have had hickups along the way that prevents their case manager from even allowing them to go for comprehensive eval testing.  But, if you meet the requirements above, there is a chance.

It worked for me.  I was released 6 months early from a 5 year contract, so I can testify to this, there is a way.  It has happened to get out early.  It happened to me.  But, if you think you are just going to "ask the board" 6 months early to be done, you are wasting your time.  You have to go first through your Board Monitoring Recovery Program Case Manager and get all of the testing (if he or she agrees) and then after the testing comes back normal and your Case Manager agrees, you then approach the actual Board of Nursing with the question.  It worked for me.  The testing they give at the Comprehensive Eval Place are one's you can't fool.  The drug tests are the easy part of course since you are not using and haven't used, but the psychometric tests have AI inputs that score where you are in recovery and how likely you are to be using or how likely you are at this point in time to have a significant problem, and the test scores for "Faking Good" and has internal measures to see if you are lying.  

[Quickstepper, MSN, RN]

Can you please clairify what you mean by "entered the Comprehensive Evaluation  Testing  for their  2 day stay"?  

You phrase it as if it's a standardized measure used to detemine if someone has, or does not have, a SUD.  As far as I'm aware, no such test exists.  Can you please explain what you underwent to prove that you were recovered? 

[nolongeranurse]

Quote

He told me I needed to complete a 2 day in house comprehensive substance abuse evaluation at a facility that HE chose in my state.  They do a battery of tests.  It costs 3500 dollars. You meet with psychologists, addiction MD's, nurses, take several psychometric tests.  They do a toenail test, urine drug screen, and hair sample test for drugs.  They then write up a report, an extensive report on you and send it to your recovering program case manager.

3500 dollars to get out of monitoring for 6 months??

That is insane. I can't believe they charged you so much.

It sounds like a scam to me. 

Why would you pay that much to go through all of that for 6 months early out?

[Healer555]

nolongeranurse said:

3500 dollars to get out of monitoring for 6 months??

That is insane. I can't believe they charged you so much.

It sounds like a scam to me. 

Why would you pay that much to go through all of that for 6 months early out?

Are you kidding? I'd pay 60k to get out 6 months early. Not an option where I am but if it were I'd jump at the chance.  I want my life back.

[Quickstepper, MSN, RN]

I paid that much for a mandatory evaluation from an IPN selected psychiatrist after having 3 dilute urine samples in a 12 month span. Then, on top of that, the 20K to attend treatment at an IPN selected facility.  The amount of money that I've personally spent, paying for my positive THC screen makes that $3500  look like loose change. 

It keeps me up at night trying to figure out how all of this is "OK". 

 

[nolongeranurse]

What was the point of going through a two day evaluation with multiple drug tests? What were they trying to find out?  You were following a program and you had only 6 months of monitoring to complete- so what was the purpose of a 2 day evaluation? Did your manager explain the rationale for that? 

I know that you are put under a lot of pressure to follow  all of their recommendations but there is a point where that can just get ridiculous. Monitoring is not fun, but in no way can you tell me that it's worth 3500 to get out of it 6 months early.Nurses do what they are told and they can be naive at times, which makes them prime targets for scams like these. It sounds like your program manager and the clinic you went to may be scamming a lot of people out of money with these 2 day assessments and multiple drug tests.

All those tests are just a bunch of ***. No one  can predict the future. Just because you are not using today doesn't mean you won't be  using tomorrow and you don't need a test to prove that. 

[Healer555]

nolongeranurse said:

What was the point of going through a two day evaluation with multiple drug tests? What were they trying to find out?  You were following a program and you had only 6 months of monitoring to complete- so what was the purpose of a 2 day evaluation? Did your manager explain the rationale for that? 

I know that you are put under a lot of pressure to follow  all of their recommendations but there is a point where that can just get ridiculous. Monitoring is not fun, but in no way can you tell me that it's worth 3500 to get out of it 6 months early.Nurses do what they are told and they can be naive at times, which makes them prime targets for scams like these. It sounds like your program manager and the clinic you went to may be scamming a lot of people out of money with these 2 day assessments and multiple drug tests.

All those tests are just a bunch of ***. No one  can predict the future. Just because you are not using today doesn't mean you won't be  using tomorrow and you don't need a test to prove that. 

The point was for them to make money.  This is all about money.  Given the option I'd pay over 10x that to finish 6 months early 

[Healer555]

Quickstepper said:

I paid that much for a mandatory evaluation from an IPN selected psychiatrist after having 3 dilute urine samples in a 12 month span. Then, on top of that, the 20K to attend treatment at an IPN selected facility.  The amount of money that I've personally spent, paying for my positive THC screen makes that $3500  look like loose change. 

It keeps me up at night trying to figure out how all of this is "OK". 

It's so not OK. 3500 is really chump change compared to the interference with our lives

[nolongeranurse]

I find it difficult to comprehend paying such a substantial amount of money to exit a 6-month monitoring period. However, if that's the choice you've made with your time and resources, it is your prerogative. Personally, I believe you've been taken advantage of by your manager and the clinic. There seems to be no valid reason for subjecting you to multiple drug tests and a two-day assessment. After all, you were already assessed and diligently following your program. It's frustrating to witness how nurses are treated. It appears that people assume they can do whatever they please with nurses. Nurses have a long history of mistreatment by society and the workplace. They're often forced to work long hours in unsafe conditions and unfairly blamed for incidents even when they're understaffed and unable to provide adequate care. The job description for nurses is unreasonably burdensome, making them solely responsible for patient care, medical staff supervision, patient safety, environmental issues, building Maintenace and employee oversight. Over the past three decades, I've witnessed nurses endure verbal, emotional, and physical abuse from patients, employers, and colleagues. When nurses face emotional challenges or turn to substances to cope with their pain, they're unfairly judged and ostracized. Their names are even publicly displayed online, perpetuating the stigma.  Other people are able to get treatment and are protected by HIPPA- but this is not so for nurses. Learning about your financial exploitation does not surprise me in the least but it does sadden me to hear that you were exploited by the medical profession and no one even bats in eye about it. 

[Healer555]

nolongeranurse said:

I find it difficult to comprehend paying such a substantial amount of money to exit a 6-month monitoring period. However, if that's the choice you've made with your time and resources, it is your prerogative. Personally, I believe you've been taken advantage of by your manager and the clinic. There seems to be no valid reason for subjecting you to multiple drug tests and a two-day assessment. After all, you were already assessed and diligently following your program. It's frustrating to witness how nurses are treated. It appears that people assume they can do whatever they please with nurses. Nurses have a long history of mistreatment by society and the workplace. They're often forced to work long hours in unsafe conditions and unfairly blamed for incidents even when they're understaffed and unable to provide adequate care. The job description for nurses is unreasonably burdensome, making them solely responsible for patient care, medical staff supervision, patient safety, environmental issues, building Maintenace and employee oversight. Over the past three decades, I've witnessed nurses endure verbal, emotional, and physical abuse from patients, employers, and colleagues. When nurses face emotional challenges or turn to substances to cope with their pain, they're unfairly judged and ostracized. Their names are even publicly displayed online, perpetuating the stigma.  Other people are able to get treatment and are protected by HIPPA- but this is not so for nurses. Learning about your financial exploitation does not surprise me in the least but it does sadden me to hear that you were exploited by the medical profession and no one even bats in eye about it. 

This whole thing is unfair.  Every state is different but I would pay more than that for 6 months for the appointments with their providers and tests.  It's really not a bad deal but unfortunately not an option where I  am 

[Ash_Ashley1992, LPN]

more info please

[Healer555]

Quickstepper said:

I paid that much for a mandatory evaluation from an IPN selected psychiatrist after having 3 dilute urine samples in a 12 month span. Then, on top of that, the 20K to attend treatment at an IPN selected facility.  The amount of money that I've personally spent, paying for my positive THC screen makes that $3500  look like loose change. 

It keeps me up at night trying to figure out how all of this is "OK". 

Dilute but negative?  That's really harsh.  None of this is OK. I had a few dilute urines, definitely 3 in 12 months but no penalties. I am guessing this will cost about 45k for the 3 year monitoring agreement I have and my peace of mind which is far more expensive.