? about FirstLab or drug testing...

Nurses Recovery

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Just wanted to know how often you get selected for testing. I am really short on money and need to budget an amount for these random drug screens.

Any info would be greatly appreciated!

Specializes in ICU, psych, corrections.
My tests were on a quarterly basis so I only tested four times a year but three different times I had to call on the very last day or they would have forgotten to call me. it's YOUR responsibility to make sure they don't forget. If I hadn't called I would have been in deep trouble.

They call you? That's nice. I have to call in daily, 365 days a year to find out if it's my day to test or not. On the weekdays, it's not so difficult to remember but weekends, I tend to lose track if I don't do it FIRST thing in the morning. I've got a Post It note up on my bathroom mirror now to remind me! :D

Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

I like checking in online...........:heartbeat

Specializes in Derm/Wound Care/OP Surgery/LTC.

Just a quick aside?

They have now given nursing schools the okay to randomly drug screen students in the Florida nursing programs.

Things are getting a little strange in Florida as of late.

They call you? That's nice. I have to call in daily, 365 days a year to find out if it's my day to test or not. On the weekdays, it's not so difficult to remember but weekends, I tend to lose track if I don't do it FIRST thing in the morning. I've got a Post It note up on my bathroom mirror now to remind me! :D

Yes, as I said, I am only tested quarterly, four time a year and they are supposed to call me randomly sometime in the quarter but sometimes they forget and I have to call and remind them.

My testing is actually pretty cool ( as cool as one of those places can be I guess!) If I am short on money the day I have to test, they will hold my check till my next payday!

Specializes in ICU, psych, corrections.

Ugh, I had to spend $150 last month on my drug tests (I was picked three times...lucky me!) and so far this month, $100 (twice during October). Nice that they are testing me so frequently right before holiday season! Glad I have a job :D

Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

I thought it was just me, I am supposed to be on quarterly, several twice a month and once each week for the last two weeks, I am an Admin. Nurse, I do not pass meds and decades of sobriety..... well at least I do not have to worry about the results...... come on May 1st, my 3 yrs. stipulation will be completed.......

I am in SC. Use First LAB. Does anyone out there know what option#7 is? It is that sorry ETG>

Specializes in Mental Health, Short Stay.

I have no idea what option 7 is? To me, it really doesn't matter what the options are because I doing the recovery thing. It really shouldn't matter other than what it costs me to test. I've been doing this testing thing for 3 years now and it is becoming routine. It none of my business what the options are.

GEE..........aren't you the righteous one. Just wanted info. Have a nice day!

Specializes in Mental Health, Short Stay.

I am sorry if you are offended. Just out of curiosity, why do you want to know what option 7 is? I suppose you could ask your case manager or your monitor what the options includes? For me, it really doesn't matter other than what it costs me to test. I always get tested with option 3 and have no idea what that test includes. Good luck ;)

No offense taken. I believe that I have the right to know what I am being tested for because after all I am the one that pays for it. I have been doing this since 1999......yep, that's right. I am finally finishing up a screwed up program that has done nothing to support my clean time nor my self esteem. I have spent tons of dollars, taken lie detector test, hair test, etc. ALL of which proved my innocence. I remain clean and sober for my personal choice and quality of life, not because of AA, NA, or the freaking monitor program that I have a contract with! So I quess you think it is perfectly fine to be paying for a UA test and not knowing what you are being tested for? If you are chosen to test, you go test, just as I do. We have to keep our mouths shut, ****,and ask no questions. PLEASE!

Specializes in ICU, psych, corrections.

I'm always told to check Option #1 on the COC forms...lol. I never really thought about what it meant but I assume I'm being tested for everything. I don't take anything that could potentially cause a positive and my doctor is always very careful to double check before he prescribes anything and even then, fills out a report sheet stating what he's giving me and why (such as the ABX he gave me yesterday for a UTI). Sometimes, I hate having to be so careful, like when I'm having to deal with a God awful sinus headache and I can't take anything with pseudoephedrine in it. But it's easier dealing with something like a sinus headache than having to explain to the BON why I tested positive for amphetamines, etc. :rolleyes:

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