Violation of privacy re: student medications?

[Murse901]

Just wondering what you all think.

Today, our class was told that we need to submit a piece of paper with our name on it and all medications we are currently taking.

We're 2 months from graduation, and they want this now? They won't even tell us why. If your place of employment can't even legally ask you if you're married, I don't think it's quite legal for a school to ask you about your meds.

Fortunately, I'm not on anything.

Also, I don't believe this is for a drug test. We've had 3 DT's so far, and they only ask about your meds if you fail the test. Probably because it's illegal to ask you up front...?

I'm not exactly a legal expert, but something about this just doesn't sit right with me and I wanted to vent.

[RedWeasel, RN]

I had to go for a drug test when I started my RN job and had to list my meds-probably to R/O anything seen as suspect not that I was on anything suspect but I suppose it is to save them time following up all the suspect samples that have medical reasons (on certain meds etc, ritalin or vicodin?) who knows but it bugged me that they ask.

[Since1982]

Our school did the same thing at orientation. Gave us a piece of paper and wanted us to write down all prescriptions we're taking and what doctor gave them to us. I'm not taking any, so it didn't even occur to me that it could be a violation of privacy, I just put n/a and moved on my merry way. They told us it was for future drug tests that may be done.

[Jules A, MSN]

I also filled out what I felt was a fishy file for both LPN and RN school. I don't get why Donald couldn't make a complaint but not give his name?

[ajkamk]

We have orientation next week on Mon and Tues. I take a sleeping pill and an anti-depressant. My doctor said that she would go to bat for me if anything EVER came up and that I am competant enough to go through school, etc. Well, what I was wondering was that we have to give drug tests next week. How does this work? Do they automatically ask for your med list or do they wait until something shows up? I get worried because I have a Rx for Xanax PRN and I wouldn't want to look bad or anything. I know - it is not for them to know what kind of meds I am on, but I have worked really hard to get to this point and would really be upset if I was singled out by a faculty member, etc. I don't want to draw and type of attention on myself. I know I am not the only student or RN, etc to be on a sleeping med or anti-depressants but sometimes I worry, because I don't want anything to happen to my future!...any thoughts??

[shannonFNP, BSN, MSN, RN]

Why don't you write an anonymous letter to the director of nursing at your college? Explain to them that you are under the impression that they are violating your rights and that each student deserves an explanation of why they're being asked to do such a thing. What they are doing might not affect you personally since you are not on any medicines, but someone else might feel more violated. It's only fair to share the idea that something might be wrong with what your administration is asking of you all!

[onyx77]

Why don't you write an anonymous letter to the director of nursing at your college? Explain to them that you are under the impression that they are violating your rights and that each student deserves an explanation of why they're being asked to do such a thing. What they are doing might not affect you personally since you are not on any medicines, but someone else might feel more violated. It's only fair to share the idea that something might be wrong with what your administration is asking of you all!

I like this idea, but, I wouldn't make it anonymous. I know at my school things are taken more seriously if a complaint has a name attatched to it. And seeing it doesn't affect you because you're not on any meds, they may be a bit more reseptive to it because you've got nothing to hide. My school hasn't done this but we aren't allowed to pass meds in clinicals if we are on any pain meds (beside the usual Tylenol and such), but even that is self-disclosing.