Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Indiana State Nurses Assistance Program (ISNAP)?

ISNAP was created by the Indiana General Assembly to provide a program to assist in the rehabilitation of registered, licensed practical and advanced practice nurses who are affected by the use of alcohol or other drugs.

The program is designed to be confidential, non-punitive and therapeutic. ISNAP supports nurses who seek rehabilitation before their impairment from a substance use disorder harms a patient or damages their career.

ISNAP is administered under the direction of the Indiana State Board of Nursing.

How does ISNAP work?

ISNAP is a caring and supportive program that encourages recovery and rehabilitation by the evaluation and determination of the presence of substance use disorders.

The Recovery Monitoring Agreement (RMA) is an individualized recovery treatment program with active monitoring of the individual. The nurse is responsible for his/her compliance to the RMA and is accountable to ISNAP.

What is the ISNAP process?

Intake: Involves assessment of the nurse’s possible substance use disorder. Nurses are referred to ISNAP via self-report, co-worker referral, employer referral, direction from the Indiana Attorney General’s office or the Indiana Board of Nursing.

Referral: The nurse is directed to a qualified addictions specialist. The purpose of the drug and alcohol assessment is to determine the nature of the problem and to assist in the development of an individualized treatment plan.

Treatment: The substance use disorder or addictions specialist makes a diagnosis and recommendations, appropriate to the severity of the disease.

Recovery Monitoring Agreement: An individualized plan which includes such items as limitations on the individual’s nursing practice, worksite monitoring, continuing treatment with regular reports and reassessments.

Completion: Continuous compliance with the terms of the RMA in the specified time frame. These steps are not mutually exclusive and some may occur concurrently or prior to the nurse’s entry into the program.

Who pays for ISNAP?

All Indiana nurses pay for the administrative and case monitoring costs of the ISNAP program, through a portion of their license renewal fees. ISNAP participants or their health care insurers pay for the costs of the substance use disorder assessment, treatment, randomized drug tests and other services. Many treatment providers accept a reduced payment, have sliding fee scales or a delayed treatment plan for some services.

What are the benefits of ISNAP?

Substance use disorders or addictions ARE treatable. ISNAP can minimize the negative impact of the disease by providing nurses the opportunity to obtain treatment, begin recovery and return to work safely.

ISNAP is a confidential program.

If however, a nurse has had action taken on their nursing license and is referred to ISNAP; the program provides the Attorney General’s Office(AG) and/or the Board with a quarterly report regarding compliance with the RMA. If a nurse self-reports and remains compliant with her RMA and AS LONG AS SHE/HE REMAINS IN COMPLIANCE, no action will be taken by the board against his or her license. Nurses who do not opt to follow the recommendations of ISNAP or who are non-compliant with their RMA may be reported to the Board for possible action on their license.