Drug urine test after 12 hour shift

Nurses Recovery

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Specializes in Surgical, Home Infusions, HVU, PCU, Neuro.

After the completion of my shift I was escorted by the house supervisor to another floor where a woman, hospital security, and house soup for the next shift waiting for me. I was told on the way there that several reports was made about me "acting more nervous than normal" and "uncontrolled twitching", so I was asked to give a urine sample. The testing company lady asked what medications I took and wrote those on her paper, added a substance to the toilet water and accompanied me in the bathroom for me to give my specimen. I was contacted by my superior stating I was suspended until the results came back. I called HR the 2nd full day after and inquired about the tests and was informed there was not anything under my name at that time. I emailed my superior again and was told HR would be the ones contacting me when the test came back. I also emailed HR just trying to find out what the time frame was for this, and if I needed to be doing something in the meantime, I was finally told by HR the test results can take anywhere from 3-5 days. I was called at almost 5 one afternoon with a message left to call back and nothing else. The next day I received an email and phone call that they wanted to meet with me. I was escorted to another office where my superior and another in a management position told me my test results came back positive. I was told my test showed methadone and benzo. I asked if the test could be reran, take another test, hair follicle test and/or polygraph and was told no. I was given information on TPAPN, a copy of the signed termination papers, and handed over my badge. I told them that I have never taken any of those drugs and told that "that's not what the test shows." I was informed I would be reported to the board and my best bet was to self enroll in TPAP. They stated they was going through my charting as well and my medication charting was "sloppy", which I'm not quiet sure how to take. I have since emailed and requested a copy of the reported drug test results and have not heard anything back yet. The MRO never contacted me during this process (after much googling I'm not 100% on the process) I take benadryl, nexium, sleep aid, tylenol, ibuprofen, and or tylenol. I'm not sure on my course of action at this point. On the way home I bought an at home test from CVS and took that test in front of my husband (I know this will not help my case at all at this point but I needed to know) that test was negative. I plan on getting my own hair follicle test on Tuesday at a DOT facility, I'm sending another email for a request in writing for another test to be ran on my sample I gave. I did sign the hospital consent and the paper from the testing company although I did not initial or sign anything after the sticker was placed on top of the specimen cup. I'm so furious at the whole process of this and feel like a dog chasing it's tail because I don't know what else to do. Has this happened to anyone else? I'm going through this tunnel just trying to locate the light at the end.

Oh my, the anxiety you must be going through, so sorry. I Never face such a situation. You absolutely need legal counsel. Call your BON they should have a list.

Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

Personally, I would do whatever I had to in order to clear my name of the drug accusations. After all, that's my livelihood that's at stake. After that, or aside from that, I would seek employment elsewhere because it appears they want you gone for some reason or another. I wouldn't waste one second on the clock for an employer who doesn't want me there. Best of luck to you..

First off, what substance would they need to add to the water? My advice only and just my opinion but send them an email telling them you have hired an attorney ( even if you haven't) who will request copy of drug screen and what the substance was that was added to the water. Also go to your doctor in the morning on walk in basis or see if you can do a drug screening test or call a urgent care center to see if they offer it. You must get tested as close to the time frame of the one the employer took to help prove that your test results are altered somehow. If your innocent of taking these drugs, it's pathetic that someone is out to get your licensed suspended based on lies.

Specializes in Surgical, Home Infusions, HVU, PCU, Neuro.

Thank you! I contacted TPAPN when I retured home to see if they could point me in the right direction and they told me to call the Board. Called them, they checked my license and told me there wasn't anything filed against it ( i could have told them that much since the time lapse was maybe 2 hour) and all they said was if they do turn it in to them it would be looked at to determine if further investigation needed to be done and if so I would be notified in writing. I didnt even think to ask them for a direction with legal counsel, I will be doing that Tues. If there is a level above anxiety Im pretty sure that's about where Im at right now

Why 3-5 days on results, at my job you get your results right there after they collect urine sample before your sent back to your work unit. Sending you home and saying they will contact you sounds fishy to me, they should of known the results before they even told you you were going home. Maybe I'm wrong but I've always got same day results right at testing site if I was tested while on the clock. In my opinion for them to go several days without giving you results could possibly leave you with no proof to any legal council that the drugs weren't actually in you system if that drug only stays in system short time after taking it and you retest a week or two later for your own documentation and test negative. Maybe that was their motive for waiting so long to give results to you, that you would have no proof the test was incorrect.

Specializes in Surgical, Home Infusions, HVU, PCU, Neuro.

Im not the least bit interested in reinstating my position there. Im concerned about the drug accusations, and the threat to my license.

Oh I agree, do not go back there. Also agree that you should stand up for and protect what you worked so long and hard to for, your license.

Specializes in Surgical, Home Infusions, HVU, PCU, Neuro.

the testing company came and collected at 8 pm Sunday night. I was told it had to be sent off to be tested other than that I have no clue why it took so long although the therory you said makes me wonder. I was going to go to an off site drug testing facility after I was told the results but thought that even if I did another test Friday somewhere else that was still 5 days after the work urine test was collected which could be argued and would not prove anything about Sunday and that drug test. That is why I'm going to have a hair follicle test done which covers a larger time frame, including the day I was tested at work. I dont know what other options I have

I did read a article online that on some urine testing a blue dye is added to toilet water to prevent a urine sample from being diluted with water.

Specializes in Peri-Op.

Being a traveler, I have to take at least 4 piss tests a year. Never an issue, I get my results right then for "trace" and if there were "trace" they send it out for lab testing and it takes 24 hours. Something about this entire thing is fishy, that whole one side of the story anecdote fits.

blue chemical/dye is to prevent dilution, water is usually turned off in the testing room, hands are washed prior, pockets are emptied.

I think the 3-5 day wait was to ensure that they could argue the test was positive when they collected it even if a later test was negative. Get a lawyer and fight for yourself. I don't care if you have to work doubles in a facility you hate to pay for it. DO NOT think that the board is on your side because they are not.

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