Prescriptions and Drug Testing

Nursing Students General Students

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So I will be starting nursing school Fall 2014 and one of the requirements for the program is a drug and background test.

A while back my physician thought that I may have a mild case of ADHD and prescribed Vyvanse to see if it would help. It didn't so I quit taking it.

Because vyvanse is an amphetamine type drug, I know that it gets flagged on drug tests. I haven't taken it in several months, however, and I'm worried about the perception my teachers would have of me if they knew I had at one point a treating psychiatrist and vyvanse prescription.

So what do I do? Hope it's out of my system and the drug test doesn't take hair? Or disclose it up front even though it likely wouldn't show up on a urine screen?

Thanks for your help

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Chances are you'll be asked about any prescriptions before you take the drug test. Honestly, it would be really petty and ridiculous for any of your teachers to say anything about amphetamines being in your system (let alone having a psychiatrist) when you've made it clear you had a prescription- like ridiculous to the point of taking it to the Dean if there are any problems that arise from it. That would be discrimination based on mental illness (or a diagnosis made), which is not legal. They may ask for your doctor to sign a form saying "yeah, so-and-so took vyvanse" but other than that... nah, no one would say or do anything. Schools are used to dealing with these kinds of things. Plus, if they're requesting UA I'm pretty sure you're safe. I just took a drug test and I wasn't flagged for amphetamines, and the last dosage I took was May 28. If you're really worried, you need to talk to your counselor about this! They'll help you more than a forum can. :)

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.

Disclose disclose disclose. You disclose to the nursing board, not your teachers. When you disclose to the BoN you just tell them that you were diagnosed with ADHD took this medication for a certain time period and no longer take it.

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.

As car as the urine screen they will contact you if it pops positive and ask you to provide documentation for whatever was positive. Fir example , I take fioricet for migraines so I popped positive for butalbital. The testing company called me and I had 72 hours to provide them with a dr note or Rx file from the pharmacy. After that was received I was cleared and the test result was sent as "negative" to my employer

Even though you are a student your health record is still protected. You only have to disclose things (medical or legal) to the board and to a designated person at your school. You still have privacy rights.

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

Disclose for sure, just in case. Plenty of nurses and nursing students have psychiatric diagnoses, and/or take prescriptions for various issues. We're human, just as our patients are. :) Don't stress about it.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Disclose that you had taken it in the past. And don't be ashamed of needing to take something for ADHD. They can't discriminate against you for it. I also take Vyvanse & also am prescribed PRN Ativan for sleep. Disclosed both to the school and then to the hospital I now work at.. No problems. It will only be a problem if you don't report it and then test positive!

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In our school, you take the drug test and then if you show positive for anything, you provide the RX. I will say that I was unaware until recently that if you take anxiety drugs such as Ativan, you can not perform your job with it in your system. Makes sense, I just never thought about it and I wonder what people do who take it PRN for panic attacks?

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Specializes in Cardiac.
In our school, you take the drug test and then if you show positive for anything, you provide the RX. I will say that I was unaware until recently that if you take anxiety drugs such as Ativan, you can not perform your job with it in your system. Makes sense, I just never thought about it and I wonder what people do who take it PRN for panic attacks?

I have taken some form of anxiety medication since I was 16. Now that my anxiety is under control, I usually just take my Ativan for sleep. Occasionally I need it for anxiety but not often.. I have had to take it at work once. I had a mild panic attack after my first code.. But then again it doesn't impair me.. It just relieves my anxiety then makes me sleepy, but not to the point where I'm like passing out.. I agree it could be dangerous to work on benzos, but I don't think it's a rule saying you can't take these medications and work if you need them. Also, everyone is different... If someone has been taking them for a long time, they may not get the same effect as someone who just started taking them. I would say don't work on them until you've been taking them a loooong time and know exactly how they effect you!

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Specializes in ER.

How long ago did you quit taking it?

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How long ago did you quit taking it?

A few months

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Specializes in ER.

I'd just disclose it when drug testing and include the last time you took it. Most drug tests are urine and I don't think it'll show up if it has been a few months. Also, your clinical instructors are not privy to your health information.

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I realize this is a week later, but you do not need to disclose the faculty. You also, likely, do not need to disclose to the person who takes your urine from you. I have never disclosed any medications as it would be a HIPAA violation (their words not mine). The person who analyzes your urine and may contact you if positive requesting an explanation. Although, it seems like with prescriptions being in an online database, they rarely contact you. I have to take one medication that is scheduled and should trigger their screening, but I've never once had to give an explanation at multiple facilities providing the drug screen. They will always report negative as long as you have a prescription or proof that you should be taking that medication.

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