Question about pre-employment drug testing

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in LDRP.

I am starting my first nursing job ever as a RN on May 31st. I had my pre-employment physical scheduled for May 3rd. I was told to bring a copy of all prescriptions I've taken in the last 30 days before that, and this will involve a drug screen.

I had a baby on April 13th. IN the hospital I had an epidural, which I know invovles narcotics, and was given 1 percocet for postpartum pain relief.Motrin, too.

Anyways, how do I prove I had narcotics in the epidural and postpartum? Do I need to get a letter from my OB? Should I reschedule my physical so its been more than a month after I gave birth?

Thanks! I certainly don't want to get accused of doing drugs and lose my job.

It is highly unlikely that any of those drugs are still in your system. Besides, if you were prescribed the medicine and took it as prescribed, you don't have anything to worry about. They are going to test you for pot, coke, meth, acid, etc. Motrin is an otc med.

Good luck with your new job!

Just to cover your bases, you could list those meds on your pre-employment physical form and note they were given to you during childbirth and post-partum.

All of those substances should be out of your system, but they do screen for opiates, so it wouldn't hurt to be extra thorough.

And I would suggest listing all OTC meds; some will trigger a false positive. It certainly won't hurt to list them.

I would list all of these meds on the pre-employment sheet as suggested. I seem to remember something from years ago, that Motrin does cause a false positive for some class of narcs. I just mention it for future reference if a drug test is ever taken and you have had Motrin within a 10 day period. I know this has happened to several nurses and they were NOT on drugs, in fact, one was a nun.

I want to wish you good luck in your new job. Let us know how it goes.

I am an LPN for a company. I do a majority of the pre-employement health screens. We do ask if you are currently taking any medications. We do a quick test and if it is pos. for opi, amp, thc, etc. we will ship it to a "lab" far away from us. The lab will be able to tell the amount and what kind of medication you have taken or are taking. Don't worry. The medication you have taken will most likely be out of your "system" by the time you test. I am not a doctor, but I have never heard anything about Motrin? affecting a drug test. If anyone knows about this let me know.

I have had to defer people because they have had "false" positives. We generally , if you have available, will get a release of information from the Pt. and make a copy of the prescription. We will keep this on record because when the "lab" calls we can verify that we do have a copy of the medication. They will be able to tell what kind of med it is though. I have been told by my co-workers that the "lab" is so good they can tell (THC) what type and if it was second hand, columbian-cut, etc. PRETTY COOL! :rotfl:

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