? about FirstLab or drug testing...

Future NP., ADN, BSN, CNA, LVN · Sep 5, 2011

@TXRN2.... i understand.. so the doctors office faxed over the labs.. my case manager receives them and now is requesting a summary of the results. so i call my doctor and he states this sounds like a legal matter so he wants my case manger to fax over an official request from tpapn stating why they need a summary of my recent lab work..so i tell my case manger and she states that she cant do that,... so im like what am i supposed to do?! spend more money to see my doctor again and ask them to interpret my labs in writing?! i just want to get through this without pulling out all my hair!! my case manager emailed me my dilute urine specimen reults so i could show my doctor.. dont know what good that would do..i guess the only good thing bout this dilemma is that my case manger does not suspect that im using. which im proud to say im not.today i am 18 months clean and sober. i have come too far to throw my career away..i understand she has to follow rules n what not.. i just want to get through this!!! ..

TXRN2 · Sep 6, 2011

congratulations on your 18 months!!! that is the most important thing here! when i started TPAPN, i had to see my primary & had to have her sign a consent to communicate with TPAPN. wouldn't that cover this issue with your doctor? sounds like he doesn't have a very good understanding of what is going on here. he should just fax them the results as asked, the consent covers any legal issue- the bigger issue is maintaining your license. best of luck! keep us posted.

luvche · Sep 29, 2011

I used to never have to worry about dilutes. I could pee no matter what. Now, I am nursing a newborn. I don't hydrate as I should, so I only pee once or twice a day....the rest is keeping my milk supply up for my baby. SO, when I DO drink enough water to keep my supply up AND be able to pee.....it is VERY pale. I have been so afraid of getting dilutes. But, like I said, with breastfeeding taking up all my extra fluids...in order to be able to pee on a day I am called (since I usually only have to go in the morning and evening) I have to drink so much it turns the urine pale. Grrrr. No: A doctor saying I have to drink that much water is NOT considered sufficient. Yes, we have determined nothing is wrong with my kidneys that is causing me to only urinate once or twice a day. It's just all going to my child. I stress every time I get selected now, and am so glad I only have a couple months left. Because supplementing with formula or giving up breastfeeding totally is NOT an option for me, just because It keeps me from peeing normally. Nope. Just stressful

cosmicseeker · Oct 15, 2011

Im a nurse in NC with a DWI. I'm yet to be convicted. Anybody know the difference between the IP program and the AP program, and any idea which I will have to do, if any? I will get a lawyer soon, but am very confused by the NCBON website and program stipulations. thanks

ontheupside · Oct 16, 2011

Hi, cosmicseeker,

NEVER go to the board without an attorney ESPECIALLY in NORTH CAROLINA with the NCBON, NEVER!!!!! see Jack Stem website!!!

recovering nurse · Oct 18, 2011

Im a nurse in NC with a DWI. I'm yet to be convicted. Anybody know the difference between the IP program and the AP program, and any idea which I will have to do, if any? I will get a lawyer soon, but am very confused by the NCBON website and program stipulations. thanks

The AP is a non published, non discipline program. The IP is the Illicit Drug Program. I am in the CDDP and the restrictions/requirements are the same. Go here for the jist of what's required for both the AP and the CDDP.... http://ncbon.com/content.aspx?id=952

packfan007 · Oct 18, 2011

In NC, if you have proper representation, you may get nothing or be a probation Screener (you will be required to take the urine tests for a time). Either way, if you can avoid the restrictions, do whatever it takes. The Drug Screens are not bad (unless you really like to drink). Go the the NCBON site and you will see that the punishment varies a bunch. I know of a nurse with 3 DUI's ond a clean nursing record.

Probably the best advice is to do everything possible to get the DUI reduced to anything else!

tiredoftesting · Dec 8, 2011

was fired for taking percocet from job as ICU nurse Sept. 05. charged with felony theft in march of 07. finished 1yr probation early in 08. started with firstlab pre getting rn license reinstated. license reinstated nov.09. have a permanent narc restriction that can't be modified or removed. continue with first lab. all urines have been negative. don't know when it will end. wished I had gotten a lawyer at the beginning. looking for work. not sure what I can find to do with the permanent narc restriction. have been clean and sober over 6 years and due to restrictions can't work in dialysis, home health. need suggestions. one from me is don't do what I did.

packfan007 · Dec 8, 2011

was fired for taking percocet from job as ICU nurse Sept. 05. charged with felony theft in march of 07. finished 1yr probation early in 08. started with firstlab pre getting rn license reinstated. license reinstated nov.09. have a permanent narc restriction that can't be modified or removed. continue with first lab. all urines have been negative. don't know when it will end. wished I had gotten a lawyer at the beginning. looking for work. not sure what I can find to do with the permanent narc restriction. have been clean and sober over 6 years and due to restrictions can't work in dialysis, home health. need suggestions. one from me is don't do what I did.

What state are you in? There are lots of jobs for nurses that never have to touch any meds. You would work as a consultant nurse or for pharmacovigilance.

As a consultant nurse, you speak with patients and HCPs that call with questions or concerns about meds. You report adverse events that people mention to you when they call about the meds (to pharmacovigilance), discuss off-label uses of medications when the information is requested by HCPs, discuss extended stability and storage of products outside of ranges listed in the package inserts (questions like, "I received a shipment of this drug that is supposed to be kept @ 36-42 degrees and it was left on my doorstep for 24 hours. Can I use it?"

All drug companies are required to report adverse events that occur after the drug is released for sale. An adverse event could be something as simple as "When I use the insulin pen, and stick myself, it hurts or bleeds, etc".

Pharmacovigilance usually requires experience as a consultant nurse for a year, but I have seen them hire without experience. They have to call persons that report Adverse events and obtain additional information. They also report the information to the FDA.

Anyway, I did not know that these type of jobs existed 5 years ago. The pay is fair to very good, you work 9-5ish, and you get off holidays (and paid for it). Also, you get to dress in normal work clothes and don't have to undress in the garage because you are afraid of what you may be bringing home. Don't give up! Many of the companies that hire nurses to do this type of work hire nurses with restrictions because they know that they won't quit in 6 months and go back to hands-on nursing.

I hope this helps!

Keep testing!

tiredoftesting · Dec 9, 2011

thanks packfan007. I am in Columbus, Oh. I have been loking for work for the last couple of years. I had over 15 yrs nsg experience before I lost my job and because the license restrictions none of that matters. I appreciate your response. It gives me an avenue to check into.

tiredoftesting · Dec 10, 2011

I have been testing since May '08. My license was reinstated Nov. '09. All my urines have been neg. Does anyone know how long testing goes on? I can see if you find a job and they take over. However, if you are still job hunting as I am, how much longer do I have to do this? For me here in OH, I drop at LabCorp and don't have to pay them anything. All this time I've only been tested on options 1, 2, once in a while 7 and my charge has always been $41 a month. With only my husband working, forclosure pending on our home and other issues going on, that $41 could be used elsewhere. I'm trying to find a non clinical nursing job. If anyone has any ideas I would appreciate it. Besides the permanent narc restriction I also have a theft on my record that could have been expunged March of this year but we couldn't get the $500 to start the process. That's making it even harder to find any job. I have over 15yrs. nsg experience and think I deserve a second chance to use it. Thanks to whomever is reading this and might respond.