Waiting for the Results of a Drug Test. I'm Freaking Out!

[lorenwithano]

I'm a recent nursing grad and had an interview at a great hospital about a month ago. I was offered the position and went in on January 22nd for a physical and drug testing at a facility called Concentra (I believe they have many locations around the country). Three days prior to this test, I had been around a group of people who were smoking marijuana 2 days in a row (common excuse, I know... But I have never done drugs)... Enough smoke was in the room. I was very nervous that I might not pass because I have heard second hand smoke can cause you to fail. So I took an at home drug test for marijuana and I passed it fine.

So... Back to my drug testing at Concentra. The physical went great. The MA asked me to give a urine sample to test for glucose.. I told her it may not be much because I really didn't have to use the restroom, and she said this was fine, however, I could not leave the facility until I gave a urine sample for the drug testing, otherwise it would be considered a refusal to test and I would fail. So, after the glucose test... I sat in the waiting room, and so was nervous that I wouldn't be able to provide a sample... I drank 40 ounces of juice in about 10 minutes! 45 minutes later I let the MA know I was ready. So I give my sample and it was practically water... Very clear with very little yellow. I left.

Now I know Concentra express ships samples to a place in Memphis to be analyzed... But I took the test on January 22nd and it is now February 1st and I haven't heard anything from my soon to be employer (hopefully). I am nervous about 2 things and maybe some of you can offer me some of your insight on the situation:

1. I tested positive for THC? Even though I passed the at home drug test.

2. The sample was so clear that they thought I was trying to fool the test?

3. The hospital has not called me back yet. So I am wondering how long urine drug testing usually takes.

I'm just very nervous and making myself absolutely sick over it. I don't do drugs!

Thank you everyone!

[chenoaspirit, ASN, RN]

"Nary a one" is a phrase I haven't heard since my grandmother died. lol. I'm sure no one would want to admit they smoked pot, but at the same time I'm sure there are those who truely didn't smoke it. We all have those friends who we are around that make poor judgements.

[GilaRRT]

However, no body forces us to stay around these so called pot head friends. The OP could have hit the road when these guys started to light up. It sounds like a the OP decided to stick around these people. Regardless of you feelings on the subject, smoking pot is not legal. Again, good luck; however, bad decision to be around these activities.

[lorenwithano]

Yes, it was a bad decision to be around people smoking, but sometimes there are circumstances which are out of ones control. I was at a wedding out of state and shared a hotel room with friends (so no way home, no way to go anywhere really, and i couldn't ask my friends to not do something that they choose to do...if that's the way they let loose, that's their thing, not mine). Its unfortunate,... And I think people who are in careers other than the health care field sometimes don't understand. However, i made a great decision not to smoke or drink alcohol and for the future ill just have to put myself in better situations. The end.

I am still wondering though... Is it unusual that my test would take this long? I mean, it was on January 22nd, and was sent out to Memphis (i live in New York)... I feel like I should of heard something (pass or fail) by now. I guess I will wait until this Tuesday, and if not... Give another call to HR. The suspense is just killing me... I have to base everything in my life right now around if i get this job... Or not!!!!

Tisk tisk on me.

[JustJen, BSN, RN]

CAll HR!!!

Iwas once not called back after a drug test....wanna know why? My signature on my application (really neatly written) didn;'t match my signature at the drug testing lab (tired, long day of interview). If I hadn't called, talked to HR , and agreed to do ANYTHING including retest , I doubt I would have landed the job. They have so many applicants, why call the "problem:" applicants.

Call.

Jen

[lpnornot]

Urine is urine even if it is dilute.

[traveljen]

lpnornot said:

Urine is urine even if it is dilute.

Actually not quite i work in the lab and if the urine is to dilute it can be considered an adulterated specimen. What that would mean is people are trying to make the urine to dilute so they can pass a drug test.

[inland18mempire]

I wasn't born yesterday to know that your source of anxiety isn't coming from hanging out in a room full of pot smokers. I think there is more to this than you're letting on!

The reason Human Resources hasn't contacted you can basically be to two reasons: 1) They are still processing paperwork, or 2) your drug test was positive and your application was shredded.

With that said, I think drug screenings are an invasion of privacy and only justified if there is a sufficient cause, such as obvious impairment.

Just curious, why in the hell were you hanging out with pot smokers (but not participating, of course!) prior to a drug screen/during the interview process? Bad judgement, don't you think?

Never ever submit to a drug test if you know you will fail (provided that you don't have a prescription). The consequences are far greather than simply leaving/quitting the job and finding work elsewhere. If you test positive, that will follow you around wherever you go for A VERY LONG TIME.

[lorenwithano]

inland18mempire said:

I wasn't born yesterday to know that your source of anxiety isn't coming from hanging out in a room full of pot smokers. I think there is more to this than you're letting on!

The reason Human Resources hasn't contacted you can basically be to two reasons: 1) They are still processing paperwork, or 2) your drug test was positive and your application was shredded.

With that said, I think drug screenings are an invasion of privacy and only justified if there is a sufficient cause, such as obvious impairment.

Just curious, why in the hell were you hanging out with pot smokers (but not participating, of course!) prior to a drug screen/during the interview process? Bad judgement, don't you think?

Never ever submit to a drug test if you know you will fail (provided that you don't have a prescription). The consequences are far greather than simply leaving/quitting the job and finding work elsewhere. If you test positive, that will follow you around wherever you go for A VERY LONG TIME.

Actually, i was interviewed and told i had the job. When i went in to fill out additional paperwork (after the incident of me not smoking... Or smoking, as you are rudely insinuating), i was scheduled for a physical and drug test. I never have done drugs before (which I stated before), nor have I ever taken a drug test (except for the one I purchased from a drugstore prior to the real test), so because I am an excessive worrier and unsure of anything related to pot, second hand smoke, and drug testing... I really didn't know what to expect and freaked. And lets be real, if I had done something wrong, I would be on here asking for real advice, because no one knows me personally anyway, (such as: "I smoked 3 joints over the weekend and failed my home drug test, will I pass my lab urine test?"... It would make no sense for me to lie and say I didn't smoke ((even though "I did")) and then get the wrong advice from others... It defeats the purpose of posting a question) bad judgement or not, whats done is done and my questions had nothing to do with what other nurses thought of my judgement... But what other nurses thought about 3 things: 1. Whether its possible to fail a lab drug test and pass an at home test 2. If samples can be rejected because they are very clear 3. The length of time for urine drug tests. In the future, I will be avoiding these situations, for my own health, and for the sake of my job.

Thank you to the nurses who gave me kind, non-judgemental and courteous advice.

[CalicoKitty, BSN, RN]

I can't say whether passing an at-home test will mean that you don't fail the lab test. One of them may be more sensitive than the other, and thc can stay in your system for a long time (10-30+ days). There may also a minimum time, I think, before it would be detected.

Not to worry you, but I have failed a drug test from hanging out one day with some friends that were smoking (a lot). Luckily, that was only for a group I was in to quit smoking (cigarettes). The woman asked me why my results were positive (I was surprised!), and I explained it, and the issue was dropped (and I continued with the smoking cessation treatment).

I've actually been reading about drug tests, as I need to take one for NS, and I'm concerned about such things as "smelling a guy that was on the train that had a stinky j hanging off of his ear", drinking herbal tea with catnip and taking one dose of diphenhydramine. I may be more paranoid than you!

[winterallsummer]

1. i tested positive for THC? even though i passed the at home drug test.

- If you passed it at home, chances are you are safe, but there always is the chance that your at home test was not as accurate as the employer test. However, most employer tests give a very basic test, not as accurate as a more expensive version someone might get on parole, for example. So going off this I'd guess you're fine. And if you truly were only around it I would also guess you are fine.

2. the sample was so clear that they thought i was trying to fool the test?

- They can negate it as diluted but again, they have no reason to be suspicious, so the chances that they would even consider it are slim to none. This is nothing to worry about.

3. the hospital has not called me back yet. so i am wondering how long urine drug testing usually takes.

- Can take up to a week. How long has it been now?

THC stays in the body 2-3 weeks, but typically if the substance you urinate is composed of mostly water or a juice or soda, it is unlikely that a basic employee drug test would detect it. Of course your best bet is just to stay away from all this in the future if you know you are going to be tested especially, but live and learn.

[lpnornot]

I agree lepspn, the judgmental comments about who you were hanging out with were out of line, arrogant in fact. I hope the second hand smoke didnt effect your test and you succeed in your LPN career!! Best of Luck

[southernbeegirl, BSN, RN]

You bought a home drug screen test prior to taking this test?

I am almost 5 yrs clean and sober. With that experience behind me I say this.....

The only, and i mean ONLY times that my drug screens took a week or more were the ones that tested immediately positive and then had to be sent off for confirmation.

A dilute sample is considered a positive drug screen.

I did have a test that actually got lost in transit once and they didnt call me for 2 weeks to tell me to retest.

personally? i think you should start looking for another job.

and personally, and my opinion only, i think the level of your anxiety is way too high for it to just be about second hand smoke. btw...second hand smoke RARELY causes a positive.

I know, I know, you are going to say to me "i dont do drugs! i was just in the room". you say you had no choice. EVERYONE has choices. you could have walked out of the room while they were smoking if nothing else. if my friends didnt respect me enough not to smoke around me if i was that worried, well, they wouldnt be my friends.