Denied employment at agency due to ordered prescriptions

Nurses Relations

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Hello everybody. First of all I would like to say I think this website is great. I've been using it throughout RN school, and recently I decided to make an account after getting my RN License.

So, here is some back ground...

a) When I applied to RN school, I fully disclosed all medication that I was taking, which is also by order of a providers prescription. (Vicodin, on rare occasion if needed for breathrough pain, valium 5mg prn, and ambien 10mg prn insomnia)

b) In light of this information, RN school accepted me nevertheless. Throughout RN school I excelled. I maintained a 3.7 GPA, worked an average of 20 hours per week (in pharmacy), and I excelled in safe patient care, getting several recommendations from my instructors and preceptor.

The situation is this...

My final semester ended in December. I was literally sought out by the Director of the acute-care floor where I did my preceptorship to start working as soon as I had my RN License. I completed all the paperwork for hire, took the NCLEX in January & passed in 75 questions, and informed my other job, of 8 continuous years, that I would be moving on to be a newly employed RN.

a) As part of the conditions of starting, like everyone else, I had to pass the pre-employment physical, etc. Within the process of filling out this paperwork, I honestly completed it the same way that I did my paperwork for RN School.

(in other words: I was forthright about my legally prescribed medications, before I took my drug test)

The drug test showed positive for benzodiazepines,

but the test was deemed negative because I have a prescription for them.

b) The offer was withdrawn.........

c) I stated to the Doctor denying me clearance, "How is it possible that I have done approximately 500/1,000 hours of the BRN prescribed clinical hours, at this hospital, and there was never an issue when I wasn't being paid?"

The doctor responded "they probably didn't know you where on these medications".

I told him my RN program was well aware of it, and furthermore, I was one of the minority of students in my school that never got written up for making ANY minor or major errors: throughout my entire program, and I had practically almost all straight A's.

*Nevertheless, the job where I was going to be doing what I love, & make appx 35/hr, was pulled from me just a few weeks ago,

and I have been left stunned.*

If I were a threat to myself or others, i could understand the offer being pulled.

But come on, the Doctor actually just simply told me "if you were off the medications, you probably would have gotten the job".

Now I ask for your help my fellow RNs...

My question is: do you or anybody you know, who takes occasional AND LEGALLY prescribed controlled substances have a job as an RN?

If so, did you disclose this in your pre-employment physical?

Your input will be greatly appreciated...

However, I do ask for those of you who may want to say something presumptuous or rude, please keep it to yourself.

Sincerely,

RNwithHonors

(p.s., for those of you who may wonder: I NEVER have ingested ANY controlled substance at while at clinical or while working in the pharmacy in 8 years)

Happened to me too. My dream job down the tubes. Lesson learned. Don't disclose anything. They ask you to list your meds like it's no big deal. A negative drug screen comes back but then the employer pulls out the list you wrote and says, so what about these meds? It's a big farce when people tell you "as long as you have a legal RX, no problem". The nursing shortage is over. The days are gone when as long as you were an RN and breathing, you were hired. When I first graduated, I was offered jobs at every single hospital I applied to. I could be picky. I'm even thinking of applying at wal mart and Mcdonalds just to have a paycheck. Sad.

The situation is this...

My final semester ended in December. I was literally sought out by the Director of the acute-care floor where I did my preceptorship to start working as soon as I had my RN License. I completed all the paperwork for hire, took the NCLEX in January & passed in 75 questions, and informed my other job, of 8 continuous years, that I would be moving on to be a newly employed RN.

I can't add anything that hasn't already been said. I think you are wise to wean off your controlled substances, even though theoretically you shouldn't have to.

But this is the second thread I have come across where someone makes a point of how they passed NCLEX in 75 questions as though this is something which should figure in hiring decisions or which should indicate the competence of the nurse. I'm really puzzled by this. Are nursing schools pushing this train of thought?

I wish you good luck and hope you come back and post when you do find a great job!

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
Happened to me too. My dream job down the tubes. Lesson learned. Don't disclose anything. They ask you to list your meds like it's no big deal. A negative drug screen comes back but then the employer pulls out the list you wrote and says, so what about these meds? It's a big farce when people tell you "as long as you have a legal RX, no problem". The nursing shortage is over. The days are gone when as long as you were an RN and breathing, you were hired. When I first graduated, I was offered jobs at every single hospital I applied to. I could be picky. I'm even thinking of applying at wal mart and Mcdonalds just to have a paycheck. Sad.
Disagree. OP's test came back positive for benzo's. What if she hadn't disclosed her script? I suppose in this case the outcome is the same in either scenario, but I'm certain that in most cases, failure to disclose scripts can only lead to trouble.
Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
Disagree. OP's test came back positive for benzo's. What if she hadn't disclosed her script? I suppose in this case the outcome is the same in either scenario, but I'm certain that in most cases, failure to disclose scripts can only lead to trouble.

I agree. Either way the OP's test would have been positive...better the employer knew upfront about why than for them to be blindsided with it after the fact, because after seeing an unexpected positive they may not give the OP a chance to explain.

And in most cases, the OP would not have had any problem with the positive if they knew she had a legit script for the meds. Unfortunately, different facilities have different standards regarding positives, and having a script isn't always bulletproof protection against disciplinary action :(

OP: I hope you find something soon. Best of luck as you keep hunting!

Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

they probably have a policy based on company's contract with the hospital. In other words, you are a risk because you have the potential to be loaded when you work, take more than prescribed, steal from patients---Not that you would, but they have id'd you as a risk.

The topic at hand is your use of controlled substances. Your grades in school, your school's treatment of your situation, how well you did in clinical, your job while in school, all had nothing to do with the fact that you tested positive and the employer chose to apply their own criteria to that fact.

Specializes in Med-Surg/Peds/O.R./Legal/cardiology.

Didn't you know that nurses are superhuman and are never to be on controlled meds for any reason? :rolleyes:

I think you'll only get the answers you're looking for by consulting a lawyer who specializes in employment law, particularly the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

The only way the Americans with Disabilities Act would come into play here is if there were reasonable accomodations that the employer could make that they are refusing to. There is no reasonable accomodation in nursing for testing positive for benzos if the employer policy is to not hire those with a positive drug screen for any reason. Being on narcotics for anxiety and pain are not protected disabilities, particularly not in nursing, in which the potential for impairment is high. I think pursuing this legally would be expensive and futile. Best to move on and find an employer who isn't quite so uptight.

I know that the biases of Employers such as the one who previously denied me employment

are secondary to the long documented history of FAR TOO MANY RN's who were in fact impaired while

at work. I mean, for heavens' sakes: look at the CA BRN for the month of March alone in the disciplinary

actions portion of their website (so many poor examples of RN's who get high at work, false documenting and stealing meds etc)

It's a bit of a culture shock to me, as in all of my years in pharmacy I have never stole any medication..

Not even a single Claritin! lol

But I digress..

I guess it's always seemed common sense to me that to work with a patient

I must have a clear and sharp mind. (whether in pharmacy or nursing)

Metaphorically speaking: I never drink and drive because I dont want to die or harm any others; I never ingested prescribed psychoactive substance while working with patients because I care for them and their well being..

However, after the 30 year+ Epidemic of RN Drug Abuse... I don't blame any institution who is "uptight"

in their selective process.. Hypervigilence naturally develops after recurrent trauma (RN administrators are people too).

Again I don't blame the hospital, I see the bigger picture.

Btw, I will be happy to let you know once I'm lucky to get my first RN job. = )

Im applying "hypervigilantly" ; )

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

it really does seem unfair. years ago, you would have just been asked to provide prescriptions for any meds that showed up on your test. this day and age, it seems like they can bounce you for just about any reason.

Specializes in FNP, ONP.

Why not stop taking them? I wouldn't hire someone on benzos either. Jus sayin.

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