Drug tested question

Nurses Recovery

Published

So embarrassed to be writing this and will make it as condensed as possible. Many year impeccable reputation, earned. Husband died, moving away to start anew . Walked into great job. Nite before, bad anxiety and had left script Xanax in other home/state. Took a .25 Valium( no script). Oh my sad luck. Orientation and She comes up missing ativan. Piss test...positive thus suspended until lab does their thing. I am so ashamed and stressed. So my pitiful question is: are they going to look SPECIFICALLY for ativan ( I hope) or is it a "catch all?"

Specializes in Emergency Care.

When it comes back positive for Benzos they will break it down for the specific drug. The MRO of the lab will then call you and ask for a script before they report to your employer. If will still be considered a failed test and reportable if you so not have a script. At least in FL that's how it works.

Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
So embarrassed to be writing this and will make it as condensed as possible. Many year impeccable reputation, earned. Husband died, moving away to start anew . Walked into great job. Nite before, bad anxiety and had left script Xanax in other home/state. Took a .25 Valium( no script). Oh my sad luck. Orientation and She comes up missing ativan. Piss test...positive thus suspended until lab does their thing. I am so ashamed and stressed. So my pitiful question is: are they going to look SPECIFICALLY for ativan ( I hope) or is it a "catch all?"

You will likely test positive for Benzos - The lab may test for specificity but they may not. What I want to know is where the Valium came from and why knowing you would likely be tested you took it? I have both chronic pain and anxiety and take medication almost daily and even though I have legit scripts for everything I would not take them within 3 days of knowing I was likely to test.

Anyway what's done is done you just have to wait for the other shoe to drop.

Good luck

Hppy

As RNMOM said, once it comes up positive for benzodiazepines, they'll find out which specific one you took. So, if you don't have a script, you could be in big trouble.

What comes next depends on whether your employer reports you or not. If they don't, just take this as a lesson learned--if you don't have an Rx for a drug, if you take it you're breaking the law and may have to suffer the consequences. If they do report you, you will need a lawyer to help you get the best possible outcome of the investigation or hearing you will be facing. You may have to be evaluated by someone in addiction medicine, and may wind up in a monitoring program. Boards are not understanding about these things--they have to err on the side of safety, which means considering any illegal action involving drugs a possible sign of substance abuse. You could get lucky, but don't count on it.

Don't stress about it, though. Whatever happens, you will get through it. Nurses are tough cookies. Best of luck to you!

+ Add a Comment