Is my career ruined before it began?

Nurses New Nurse

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I am so scared that I have ruined my future career as a nurse before it has had a chance to begin. I recently graduated with a BSN and I am looking for a job. I passed the NCLEX on my first attempt, which I am very excited about. My problem is that while in my last semester of school, I took Adderall on few occasions to help me study. I do NOT have a perscription for it. A close friend and fellow student who DID have a perscription gave it to me to help me study. I recently found out that all of the hospitals around here HAIR drug testing for pre employment screenings. I am not a drug user, so I beg of you not to make accusations against me. I have put everything into getting thru school. I have 3 children that are counting on me. What I need to know is how far back does the pre employment hair test go back. I know it can go back as long as your hair is, but what do hospitals normally do? It has been about 4 1/2 months since the last time. Any and all help is GREATLY appreciated. Thank you!

Specializes in 3 yrs CNA.

Will your new employer ask to see all of the prescription medications you are "taking"? I doubt it. Also, most drug screens only test for heroin, pot, cocaine, the illegal stuff. Employers are not really worried about employees who are on medications for common conditions (such as ADHD.) They are looking for illegal drug use. Additionally, I would be amazed if ANY employer had a full spectrum prescription drug screen-- I don't even think such a thing exists, and if it did it would be REALLY expensive! I would relax, take a deep breath, and not worry about the drug screen. You will be just fine.

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Specializes in NICU, Post-partum.
Will your new employer ask to see all of the prescription medications you are "taking"? I doubt it. Also, most drug screens only test for heroin, pot, cocaine, the illegal stuff. Employers are not really worried about employees who are on medications for common conditions (such as ADHD.) They are looking for illegal drug use. Additionally, I would be amazed if ANY employer had a full spectrum prescription drug screen-- I don't even think such a thing exists, and if it did it would be REALLY expensive! I would relax, take a deep breath, and not worry about the drug screen. You will be just fine.

My hospital actually did a hair follicle test, so yes, some place are doing these.

However, I sometimes question the validity of these tests.

Within 30 days of employment, I was given narcotics by my physician that I took for 4 days...no longer, even though I had ever 20 pills left.

I came to the drug test with the prescription for the pills and a MAR from an injection of morphine that I had received 1x detailing why.

The person taking the sample told me to put the papers away...that if that the hair sample came back positive, THEN they would call me to bring in documentation.

Guess what....I never received a call.

Things that make you go hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

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My hospital actually did a hair follicle test, so yes, some place are doing these.

However, I sometimes question the validity of these tests.

Within 30 days of employment, I was given narcotics by my physician that I took for 4 days...no longer, even though I had ever 20 pills left.

I came to the drug test with the prescription for the pills and a MAR from an injection of morphine that I had received 1x detailing why.

The person taking the sample told me to put the papers away...that if that the hair sample came back positive, THEN they would call me to bring in documentation.

Guess what....I never received a call.

Things that make you go hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

A similar thing happened to me too. My employer required hair for drug testing and I had a valid Rx for lorazepam in which I took 0.5mg at night about 2x per week for the last few months of nursing school. I also had a procedure 1 week before the drug test in which I was given demerol and versed. I brought my valid Rx and bottles for the benzos plus documentation of the demerol/versed and I was told to keep them and I would be contacted if anything showed on the drug test. Nothing ever did!

To the OP, I was told the hair is tested from the roots to about 3/4 inch down and the test is only accurate to the last 3 months so no haircut or perm or color will affect the results.

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It doesn't matter how long your hair is. They will only take the first 1.5" from the root so it will only go back 90 days max. The Federal courts have been relucant about delving into a person's drug history farther back than 90 days so if you've been 120 days clean you can stop worrying... :)

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