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How long is the program?
The Program for Recovering Nurses Advisory Committee believes that 5 years of monitoring is the gold standard. However, adherence to program compliance could effect the length of time.
How much will this cost me?
Southworth Associates: $25 monthly administration fee
Support Group $10-$15 per meeting attended
FSSolutions (Drug Testing)
$60 per UA
$66-$259 per test depending on the hair panel
$140 per Peth (Blood)
*Testing will very based on multiple factors*
Is there financial aid?
There is no formal financial aid. However, you can work with insurance as well as BPA Health 800.486.4372.
If I’m a self-referral what kind of information is shared with the Board?
The Board hears on a monthly basis if you are compliant or non-compliant. They do not receive anything about your evaluation or diagnosis.
What is the difference between a self-referral and a Board referral?
Self-Referral: the nurse has not come to the attention of the Board for violations of the Nursing Practice Act or Rules.
Board- Referral: A formal complaint has been filed with the Board of Nursing or the nurse has voluntarily surrendered his/her license to the Board and has admitted to a disability relating to alcohol or drug use or to emotional or mental conditions.
How long will I be out of work?
Each case looked at individually. Majority of cases wait 90 days to return to nursing practice
- What are my restrictions?
- Work under supervision with a worksite monitor. Monitor must work majority of shifts with the nurse.
- No night shifts (11pm-7am)
- No working in a home health setting, as a travel nurse, or with a temporary agency
- No working more than 40 hours per week in the nursing field
- No rotating shifts or floating units
- No work in the ER, CCU, ICY, OR, and/or recovery room
- No access to narcotic keys or controlled substances (including mood alerting substances)
These stipulations will remain in effect until written approval is given by the PRN. You may request to have restrictions lifted in 90 days increments as long as you are compliant.
Tips & Best Practices
- Keep a copy of your contract handy and refer to it often. Your monitoring contract contains the “dos and don’ts” of the PRN. It is essential that you understand and comply with this contract to remain in good standing within the program, so ask questions if you are unclear about something.
- Comply with all requirements outlined in your PRN contract, as they are specific to you and your recovery.
- Submit all required documents on time.
- Constantly remind others who submit reports on your behalf about the due dates for the reports.
- Inform all appropriate persons about your monitoring. At minimum this should include:
- Family and significant others
- All your health care providers, including counselors
- Employers: your direct supervisor, monitor, and any others that are directly affected by your monitoring.
- If you miss a check-in, you can either self-test or not test and risk having been selected, thus missing a test.
- Be aware that consuming large quantities of liquids prior to giving a urine sample can result in a “dilute” urine, this can be viewed as an attempt to hide use. Dilute urines can be viewed therefore as a positive result.