Review your VDAP Agreement occasionally, to ensure that you follow the stipulations of your agreement. Listen and ask questions when the VDAP staff reviews your Agreement with you. Submit all required documents and reports on time. You are expected to “self-monitor” your reports, particularly those submitted on your behalf by other people (employer, counselor, aftercare, etc.). Consistently remind others who submit reports on your behalf about due dates for the reports. On the Board’s website, go to My Profile and select the “Monitoring” tab. All reports that have been received will be displayed. You will NOT have access to the content of the reports. You are required to provide the Board with a valid mailing address, email address (not associated with your employer) and telephone number. You are expected to check daily for voice mail messages, emails, and/or letters from the Board. You are expected to respond promptly to Board communications. Inform all appropriate persons about your monitoring. At a minimum, this should include:
  • Family and significant others.
  • All your health care providers, including counselors.
  • Employers: your direct supervisor, monitor(s), and any others that are directly affected by your monitoring.
Options are:
  1. The total amount of the fee may be paid on the Services, Fees, & Fines section of the ABN website, using a credit or debit card. A $3.50 transaction fee will be added to the total.
  2. .Cashier’s checks, money orders, or certified checks may be mailed or hand-delivered to the ABN office.
NOTE: The Board does not accept personal checks or cash for VDAP.
Fees are due either 30 days from the date you complete treatment or 30 days from the date you sign your VDAP Monitoring Agreement. You were informed of the due date when you signed your Agreement and/or during your orientation to monitoring meeting.
Your monitoring in VDAP begins the day you complete your Orientation to Monitoring.
VDAP is not disciplinary action. You are not “on Probation”. Your license status remains ACTIVE, while you are monitored in VDAP.
You are required to submit all required reports and continue with drug screens, whether you are employed in a nursing position or not, for the duration of the Agreement. Before you can successfully complete VDAP, you must work a minimum amount of time in nursing. The amount of time is specified in your VDAP Agreement.
Once you have met ALL the requirements to complete monitoring, a letter will be sent to you by the VDAP Director. Please retain this letter in your personal files.
Include your nursing license number AND your case number in all items sent to the Board, whether sent by US Postal Service, fax, or email.
Board staff will communicate in one of 3 ways:
  • Telephone
  • E-mail
  • Letters through the US Postal Service
You are REQUIRED to provide Board staff with the following:
  • VALID non-work telephone number.
  • VALID e-mail address, preferably one NOT associated with your employer.
  • Accurate mailing address.
If any changes occur in these 3 methods of contact, you must provide the Board with these changes as soon as possible. You may update your contact info under My Profile.
Nurses in VDAP do not qualify for Compact licensure. If you are currently enrolled in VDAP, you cannot apply for a Compact license. If you currently hold a Compact license and enroll in VDAP, your multistate license will be deactivated, making you a single state licensee, until all encumbrances are satisfied. Once you complete your VDAP agreement successfully, you will be able to apply for licensure under the Compact.
You have ten days from the date you either signed your VDAP Agreement or completed treatment (whichever is the later date) to register with the contracted service that manages drug screens. You are expected to begin checking in with the contract service on the date you are given when you sign your VDAP Agreement.
You are expected to provide a drug screen specimen by the close of business on the same day you are selected.
No, you may go to other collection sites listed as approved for Alabama. When you register with the contract service that manages drug screens, you will be directed to choose a “preferred” collection site. However, you should be able to go to any site approved for the ABN. You are not limited to the site you identify.
If an evacuation plan has been put into effect, schools are closing due to weather, etc., please DO NOT go to a collection site. The sites probably will be closed. If you are selected to test:
  1. Telephone the direct number for VDAP office 334-293-5227, leave a message indicating that you were selected to test and the nature of the weather emergency.
  2. Notify the contract service that manages all drug screens for the ABN.
  3. Check the ABN website for inclement weather messages.
Do NOT call the Board’s toll-free number; you will not be able to leave a message.
Fee payments are made directly to the Board-recognized program for random drug testing. Payment of the collection site fee is either made through the Board-recognized program for random drug testing, or at the collection site location.
  • You must check in/login with the Board-recognized program for random drug testing every Monday through Saturday, to find out whether you are selected for a drug screen. You may check in between the hours of 4:00 am CT and 1:00 pm CT.
  • If you are selected for a drug screen, you will be notified of the drug testing option you are to use for that screen. You will be responsible for payment of the test fee.
The Board-recognized program for random drug testing maintains a list of collection sites for nurses monitored by the ABN. You need to travel to an approved collection site and provide the specimen on the same day you are selected.
  • When your employer completes and sends the “Notification of Receipt of Order” form to the Board, they have agreed to abide by the terms of the Order.
  • You are expected to familiarize yourself with the hours of specimen collection for approved collection sites and are expected to test, as directed, following check-in/login with the Board-recognized program.
Prior to 12:00 noon on the Saturday you are selected:
  1. Notify the Board-recognized program for random drug testing.
  2. Telephone the direct number for Probation/Compliance and leave a message.
If you do not check in on a Saturday and you are selected, this screen will be reflected as noncompliant and may have a negative impact on your compliance with monitoring.
Out of state travel requests include two requirements:
  1. You must notify the Board-recognized program for random drug testing of OUT OF STATE travel, at least seven (7) days prior to your departure on your trip. A collection site will be identified to you for the out of state travel, should you be selected to test while out of state.
  2. Email Probation/Compliance staff of your plans. This notification does NOT satisfy the notification to the Board-recognized program for random drug testing, as required in number 1 above.
The status of a missed screen that occurs during travel out of state, without the minimum required advance notice to the Board-recognized program for random drug testing, is reflected as noncompliant.
  • Do NOT provide a specimen the next day. This does not count as “making up” for the missed screen.
  • Failure to test on the date you are selected to test will be reflected as noncompliant.
  • Your drug screen is positive: The Medical Review Officer (MRO) will contact you to discuss your positive result. The MRO will give instructions identifying the documentation to be sent and the deadline for receiving the documentation.
  • Your drug screen has an invalid result in some part of the testing. The MRO will discuss this with you, and notify the Board, if there is any reason for concern.
Ensure that the Board-recognized program for random drug testing has your correct contact information.
You are required to work in a job that requires a nursing license (the type of license you currently hold) for a specified period of time, before you may successfully complete monitoring. The number of months you are required to work is clearly stated in your VDAP Agreement.
You are required to inform the employer of your monitoring during the interview process. An employer cannot make a fully informed decision about hiring you without the knowledge of your monitoring by the Board.
  1. Notification of Receipt (located under FORMS on ABN website) of VDAP Agreement.
  2. A complete copy of your VDAP Agreement.
Any setting where you are expected to function independently, without direct supervision, or consistent supervision is not allowed. Examples of these types of employment are:
  • any position that requires the nurse to enter the home of an individual patient, including, but not limited to, home health, hospice, or house call service
  • nursing float pool
  • travel nurse agency, nurse staffing agency, nursing registry, or temporary employment agency
  • self-employment
  • contracting for services
  • locum tenens positions
  • employment as faculty at a nursing program
  • employment as a school nurse without prior written authorization from the Board
If you have questions about the appropriateness of a work setting, contact VDAP staff.
Monitored nurses may not accept supervisory jobs without prior approval of the Board. You may be asked to supply a job description to the VDAP Director for a position you are considering. For Monitoring purposes, supervising nurse duties include, but are not limited to:
  • making employment decisions related to licensed staff
  • evaluating the performance of licensed staff
  • scheduling licensed staff
  • making patient assignments to licensed staff
  • For Monitoring purposes, supervising nurse duties include, but are not limited to,
    • making employment decisions related to licensed staff,
    • evaluating the performance of licensed staff,
    • scheduling licensed staff, and
    • making patient assignments to licensed staff.
You may work up to 84 hours in a two-week period. Permission to work more than this amount must be requested in writing to the VDAP Director, by you and your supervisor. The hours must be approved by the Board, in advance of working the extra hours.
Any change regarding employment must be reported immediately. Print a Notification of Receipt of Order form from the Board’s website. The forms are found under the “Alternative Program” tab, in “VDAP Monitoring Forms.” This form will need to be completed by your supervisor and returned to the Board within 10 days of the employment change.
The restriction begins when you return to nursing employment, AFTER signing your VDAP Agreement.
Step 1: After a minimum of six months of employment, you first must send a written request to the VDAP Director, asking for the restriction to be reviewed, and include the originals of your Meeting Attendance Sheets for the six months preceding your request. Step 2: After your Meeting Attendance Sheets are audited, VDAP staff will conduct a complete review of your monitoring records. The following information/documents must be in your records:
  1. Name and contact information for your primary health care provider.
  2. Prescription verification forms from your primary physician for all medications you are currently authorized to take.
  3. Notification of Receipt of Board/VDAP Agreement from your employer.
  4. Six FULL months of reports from:
    1. Continuing Care/Aftercare (if required)
    2. Counseling (if required)
    3. Employer
  5. All Monthly Self-Reports received ON TIME (by the 5th of the month)
  6. All negative/compliant drug screens
Step 3: Review forms will be e-mailed to:
  • Your Continuing Care/Aftercare facilitator
  • Your Counselor;
  • Your Employer
  • YOU: a Self-Assessment is e-mailed and required.
  • All these forms must be completed and returned to the VDAP Director.
Step 4: The VDAP Director will review all the materials and determine whether the restriction should be lifted. A letter will be sent to you AND your employer notifying you of the decision. You are not allowed to access controlled substances until you and the employer receive the letter of notification. Until this letter is received, you are not allowed access to controlled substances. If, on the other hand, the controlled substance restriction is not lifted, you also will receive a letter explaining the denial.
You are not allowed to access or administer any medications classified as Controlled Substances on Schedules II-V by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) or the Alabama Controlled Substances List.
  • Your access to controlled substances through any computerized system must be BLOCKED by your employer.
  • You are not allowed to carry keys for the narcotics cabinet.
  • You are not allowed to COUNT controlled substances.
  • You are not allowed to WITNESS waste of controlled substances.
  • You are not allowed to CHART any doses of controlled substances given by other nurses.
  • You are not allowed to ADMINISTER controlled substances to patients that are signed out by another nurse.
  • You are not allowed to CALL IN PRESCRIPTIONS for controlled substances.
  • You are not allowed to order, receive, or sign for delivery of controlled substances.
  • If any of the criteria listed in the section above are not met, the restriction will not be lifted.
  • If you no longer are employed or you change jobs just before the restriction review occurs, your restriction will not be lifted. You must be employed in a nursing job and your new employer needs to submit some reports before the restriction will be lifted.
  • If any person providing input into the review does NOT believe you are ready to have the restriction lifted, the restriction will not be lifted.
Remember, accessing and administering controlled substances is a serious responsibility. If you cannot be successful in completing the BASIC monitoring requirements that allow you to practice nursing, you will not be allowed to access and administer controlled substances.
If you are ill, please DO NOT wait until someone at the Board “approves” the medications. The Board does not “approve” medications; we require notification and verification of the medications. You must have your primary healthcare provider complete a Prescription Verification Form and send it to the Board immediately.
There certainly are some acceptable reasons to need Class C drugs. However, long term use of these drugs requires ongoing evaluation and documentation from your primary healthcare provider. Medications must be prescribed by your primary healthcare provider, or, if prescribed by a referred provider, must reported be immediately, in writing, by you to your primary physician, with a copy to the Board. A Prescription Verification form listing all authorized medications is required from the primary healthcare provider. You will be required to provide appropriate documentation for the continued use of these medications. You may be directed to provide a prescription profile of all medications you have obtained. If the medication’s use continues over many months, you may be directed to complete a relapse evaluation.
Many nurses who abuse prescription medications go to multiple healthcare providers to obtain their drugs of choice. While you are monitored, you need to have ONE provider who functions as the “quarterback” for your health care, making referrals to other providers, as deemed necessary. If you do not have a primary healthcare provider, you will be expected to find one, as soon as possible.
    • Verification from your primary healthcare provider/dentist of all currently prescribed or authorized medications, to include over the counter medications, is due at the start of monitoring.
    • Subsequent verification from the prescribing healthcare provider/dentist is due within 10 days of the issuance of a new prescription.
    • Controlled medications require verification from your primary healthcare provider, as to your need for medication.
You will need to identify these providers and their contact information to the Board. The requirement for a primary healthcare provider does not preclude you from seeing some of your specialty providers. However, a specialty provider (e.g.: neurologist, orthopedic surgeon) should not be in charge of your preventive care.
If you are ill, please be seen at an urgent care clinic or emergency department. Immediately report prescribed medication, in writing, to your primary healthcare provider. If you are ill, please do NOT wait to take the medications until someone at the Board “approves” the medications. Prescribing healthcare provider verification of prescribed medication is due within 10 days of the issuance of a prescription. Controlled medications require verification from your primary healthcare provider, as to your need for medication.
  1. Email VDAP staff of the procedure and the date that it will occur.
  2. Notify the contract service that manages all drug screens for the ABN of the procedure and the date that it will occur.
  3. The day of the procedure, obtain documentation of the procedure and any medications given during the procedure (operative report, DC Summary, medical restrictions, anesthesia report, etc.) and submit this documentation to VDAP.
Example of the email sent to a VDAP participant for procedures/hospitalization:
Once you confirm the date for surgery, please notify the Board and Affinity. While hospitalized you are not expected to provide specimens for drug screens. Upon discharge from the hospital, obtain a copy of the operative report, discharge summary and medications administered while hospitalized. Submit this documentation to Probation/Compliance as soon as it is available. If this documentation is not submitted to Probation/Compliance, any drug screens or monitoring activities that were missed are noncompliant. If you are discharged with prescriptions, obtain verifications from your primary physician as you would for any other medications. If you are given activity limitations or not allowed to drive when first discharged from the hospital, Probation/Compliance staff must receive the appropriate documentation that clearly specifies the limitations. Monitoring activities after discharge from the hospital are only excused when the appropriate documentation is received.
If you are discharged with prescriptions, obtain verifications, as you would for any other medications. Medications prescribed by any provider other than the primary healthcare provider must immediately be reported, in writing, by you to your primary healthcare provider, with a copy to the Board. A Prescription Verification form listing all authorized medications is required from the primary healthcare provider.
Either you (if you are able) or another responsible person needs to notify VDAP staff of your hospitalization as soon as possible. VDAP staff will inform you or that person that you should contact VDAP staff upon discharge from the hospital. Obtain a copy of the discharge summary and medications administered and/or prescribed while hospitalized. Submit this documentation to VDAP as soon as it is available. If this documentation is not submitted to VDAP, any drug screens or monitoring activities that were missed are noncompliant. If you are given activity limitations or are not allowed to drive when first discharged from the hospital, VDAP staff must receive appropriate documentation that clearly specifies the limitations. Monitoring activities after discharge from the hospital are only excused when the appropriate documentation is received. Any monitored nurse who is hospitalized is not expected to attend meetings, provide specimens for drug screens, and the like for the duration of the hospitalization only.
The Alabama Board of Nursing uses the Medication Guide Version 1.7, published by Earley Consultancy, for nurses monitored by the Board. You are REQUIRED to download this guide and have it available for your use throughout the program. Over the counter medications and medications which require a prescription are not allowed without verification of prescribed medication from your primary healthcare provider. This applies to ALL nurses whose monitoring includes drug screening.
You are required to submit your reports online. The Board no longer accepts any written, emailed, or faxed reports. Reports must be submitted from a desktop or laptop COMPUTER, not a smart phone or tablet. Applications for mobile phones or tablets currently are not available. The most effective Internet browser when submitting these reports is Google Chrome. You may download this for free. If you have an Apple computer, you also must download Google Chrome. This will be addressed during your orientation to monitoring meeting.
The reports are due on or before the 5th of the month after the month on which you are reporting (e.g. information reported on the month of May is due June 5th). Reports submitted between the 5th of the month and the last day of the month are considered “Late.”
Reports may only be submitted during the month in which they are due. You will not be able to access the report after the last day of the month in which it is due (e.g.: report is due October 5, after October 31, report may not be submitted). There is no other mechanism to submit reports that are not submitted on line. The report is considered a “Missing Report.”
You may download and print forms in the Monitoring Forms section of the ABN website.
Periodically, Board staff will request that you submit original copies of your Meeting Attendance sheets. The hard copies of your Meeting Attendance will be compared to reports submitted online. If the Meeting Attendance sheets and your online reports do not contain the same information, you are considered noncompliant.
When dates you entered are not saved at the time the report is submitted, this is most likely an issue with your internet browser. The best browser to use is Google Chrome. Send corrections to your report, by email, to the VDAP Director.
When you click the “SUBMIT” button, you will see a Confirmation the report was submitted, and the option to PRINT your report. This is the only time you can print your report. You may also go to the “My Profile” section on the Board’s website and click on the “Monitoring” tab.