Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses A Project of Texas Nurses Foundation
YOU WILL FIND IN THIS BROCHURE: Sponsoring Organizations Referral Process Characteristics of the Chemically Dependent and Mentally Ill Nurse TPAPN Advocate Printed Material & Video Order Information TPAPN Success Stories Essential Elements of the TPAPN Program Faculty Liaison Representative Upcoming Employer Workshop Schedule TPAPN operates in association with: Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas (BNE) Board of Vocational Nurse Examiners (BVNE) Sponsoring Organizations of TPAPN: Licensed Vocational Nurse Association of Texas (LVNAT) Texas Association of Nurse Anesthetists (TANA) Texas League for Nurses (TLN) Texas Nurses Association (TNA) Texas Organization of Nurse Executives (TONE) TPAPN Success Stories Participants express their gratitude: My life is very good now. I am doing and enjoying things for the first time in about four years. I have been able to regain my life and my profession, thanks to my God and TPAPN! prior to TPAPN, I lived a very chaotic life that was led by confusion from alcohol/drugs. my four word prayer, God, please help me, came through TPAPN. and I hope my gifts won t stop from where it all started through TPAPN. I am writing in order to thank you, and the TPAPN program for all you have done for me over the past two years. In the beginning I was quite resentful, and felt I did not need TPAPN to help me get sober. Now I can see how much this organization has helped me, forcing me into the habit of attending meetings, and taking accountability for my actions Overview Nurses are not immune to chemical dependency or mental illness. To encourage nurses to seek help, TPAPN was implemented as a non-punitive confidential and voluntary alternative to reporting to the appropriate licensing board. Mission TPAPN offers nurses life-renewing opportunities for recovery from chemical dependency and mental illness and integrated nurses back into the profession thus protecting the public and promoting professional accountability.
Score of Services Communicates and coordinates assistance. Coordinates services with referring entities. Referral and monitoring services available seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Provides screening for program eligibility and helps facilitate securing appropriate treatment. Engages and supports the nurse in active TPAPN participation, including returning to nursing practice. Provides education for nurses, employers, and other interested groups. Referral Referrals appropriate for TPAPN fulfill nurses mandatory reporting requirements and help to increase public safety. If appropriate, a nurse may be referred to TPAPN instead of going to peer review. Identify and document behaviors that may indicate impaired practice. Corroborate concerns with others. Inform you nurse manager of concerns, as appropriate. Call TPAPN early rather than late for guidance and possible referral. 1-800-288-5528. TPAPN Website Address: http://www.texasnurses.org/tpapn/tpapn_index.htm Essential Elements Voluntary. Participation in TPAPN is voluntary. However, TPAPN realizes that the nurse who refuses assistance and continues to practice can present a danger to patients and others. Accordingly, the program will report a nurse to her or his licensing board when appropriate. Confidential. The program maintains confidentiality consistent with state and federal law. Diagnoses Accepted. Substance abuse, substance dependency, anxiety disorders, major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorder. Services. Services of the program will be available on an equal basis to any Registered Nurse or Vocational Nurse licensed to practice in Texas. Abstinence. TPAPN adheres to the philosophy of total abstinence from all moodaltering drugs, including alcohol, as being essential to the participating nurses successful recovery. Monitoring. TPAPN s nurse case managers monitor participants recovery via their compliance with treatment recommendations, return to work restrictions, documentation of self help meeting attendance, drug test results, and the timely submission of program forms.
Participation Costs. Whenever possible, TPAPN works with nurses resources, E.G., EAPs and insurance providers, who provide assessment and treatment. Participants are responsible for the costs of treatment and drug screens. Self-Referrals. A nurse without reported practice violation may self refer to TPAPN. Employers. From identification and referral to monitoring nursing practice, employers play a significant role in peer assistance. Employers must be notified by the nurse regarding participation in TPAPN prior to returning to work. Civil Immunity. State law provides civil immunity for all reports made in good faith and for all employers who work with TPAPN nurses in good faith. Relationship to Licensing Board. TPAPN is a non-profit program, independent of the licensing boards. Both licensing boards maintain services contracts with TPAPN. Funding. By contractual agreement with both licensing boards, TPAPN receives a portion of each nurse s relicensure fee. Volunteers. TPAPN nurse advocates volunteer to provide support and education for participants and their nursing colleagues. Faculty Liaison volunteer to assist Texas schools of nursing foster greater awareness and competency about peer assistance and related issues. Applications to become a volunteer are available be contacting the TPAPN office. TPAPN provides continuing education for its volunteers. Education. TPAPN routinely schedules workshops approved for Type I Nursing Contract Hours for nurses across Texas. TPAPN workshops typically cover: prevention, risk factors, identification, referral, treatment, return to work, and monitoring. TPAPN also responds to individual requests for educational programs. Characteristics of the Chemically Dependent Nurse IMPORTANT Look for PATTERNS or CHANGES. Not all characteristics need to be present to indicate that a problem exists. Alcoholic Nurse Irritability; mood swings; isolating Elaborate excuses for behavior; unkempt appearance Blackouts (periods of temporary amnesia) Impaired motor coordination, slurred speech, flushed face, bloodshot eyes Numerous injuries, burns, bruises, etc. with vague explanations Smell of alcohol on breath, or excessive use of mouthwash, mints, etc. Increases isolation from others
Characteristics of the Drug Addicted Nurse Rapid mood and/or performance changes Frequent absence from unit; frequent use of restroom May work a lot of overtime, usually arriving early and staying late Increased somatic complaints necessitating more prescriptions of pain medications Consistently signs out more or larger amounts of controlled drugs than anyone else; excessive drug wastage Often medicates others patients; may wear long sleeves all of the time Increased isolation from others Patients complain that pain medication is not effective or deny receiving medication Excessive discrepancies in signing and documentation procedures of controlled substances The Mentally Ill Nurse Nurses who are mentally ill may exhibit some of the same or similar characteristics as chemically dependent nurses. Many people who have chemical dependency also have concurrent mental illness, i.e., dual diagnosis. An Invitation to Join TPAPN as a Faculty Liaison TPAPN invites all RN and LVN Schools of Nursing that do not currently have a TPAPN Faculty Liaison volunteer to identify a faculty member who would be willing to fulfill this important volunteer role for at least a year. Fulfilling this role allows schools of nursing to collaborate with TPAPN in addressing the issues of chemical dependency and mental illness in nursing academia settings. Benefits of having a Faculty Liaison Volunteer Being at the forefront of the exchange and dissemination of ideas, information and resources about peer assistance and schools of nursing. Receiving an invitation to attend TPAPN s annual spring workshop for Nursing contract hours without charge for registration or CEs (Type I, Nursing) Improving academic, clinical and administrative competencies related to the activities of: prevention, identification, intervention and retention of students and faculty affected by chemical dependency and mental illness. Helping to develop and improve academic program policies, procedures and models that address peer assistance and related issues. An Invitation to Join TPAPN as an Advocate An advocate s primary responsibilities are to provide one-to-one support and information for TPAPN participants. An advocate is there to listen to participants, to assist them in coping positively with issues, to problem-solve and help them achieve a more satisfying life. Advocates also frequently provide education about TPAPN and related topics for nurses in their vicinity. To become an advocate one needs to be currently licensed as a nurse in the state of Texas.
A TPAPN Advocate can Benefit Your Organization By Providing your health care organization with an identified resource person who received the most current information on peer assistance. Assisting nurse managers in your organization to meet the important steps of peer assistance successfully, e.g., identification, intervention, referral, return to work, and monitoring. Providing continuing education An Overview to TPAPN for nursing staff and awarding one, Type I CE contact hour through TPAPN. Advocates may attend either the spring or fall TPAPN workshop each year and receive up to 12 Type I nursing contract hours without charge for registration of CE. Advocates are reimbursed travel expenses and part of the hotel sleeping room expense. Faculty Liaison Representatives are invited to attend one workshop each year. TPAPN Educational Offerings: (4.4 Type I Nursing CE) If you are interested in hosting a TPAPN workshop or would like more information about a TPAPN workshop, call 1-800-288-5528, extension 105. Printed Materials and Videos are available for purchase online http://www.texasnurses.org/tpapn/resources.htm