Help! What's next?

Nurses Recovery

Published

My employer is turning me in to the state because I refused a drug screen. Long story short.....I refused because I was angry, not because I would have been positive. I didn't know this would happen, I just thought I would be terminated. Can anyone please tell me what the next steps with the state or TNBON are and what I can expect to happen? Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You probably want to find a lawyer immediately that deals with nurses.

They will assume you're guilty and you will end up on a program consisting of random drug tests, where you won't even be able to drink a sip of wine on your birthday on your day off, and NA/AA meetings. There is a good chance you'll end up with a permanent mark on your license too, making it very hard to get a job. I don't know about Tennessee but you'll want to ask a lawyer that deals with nurses in your state if you should contact the board first to report yourself or if you should get yourself a hair drug test (if you really are innocent).

Please call a lawyer immediately.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

You should consult an attorney familiar with your state's BON. I strongly recommend that you do.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Also... post your question in the recovery forum for more answers.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My employer is turning me in to the state because I refused a drug screen. Long story short.....I refused because I was angry, not because I would have been positive. I didn't know this would happen, I just thought I would be terminated. Can anyone please tell me what the next steps with the state or TNBON are and what I can expect to happen? Thanks

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics, LTC, Internal Medicine, FP.

I would immediately go and get myself a drug test… Depending on how long it was that they tried to test you and your fuse, I would get a hair follicle test. That will take away any suspicion that you might've been positive and it might now be out of your system. Good luck and keep us posted

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Unfortunately, I cannot afford a lawyer by any means. Do you think a hair follicle test would really make a difference? I could do that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think my employer is going to report me directly to the TNBON instead of the TnPAP because I refused a UDS. My question is....Will the board make a final decision based on what they know, or will they give me an opportunity to go to TnPAP to preserve my license?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have no idea if it would help or not. Well, I would try to get a recovery friendly job as soon as possible. Once the board does their thing and potentially puts your license on probation with limitations, you'll want to already have a job that will likely be ok with this. If you are working in a hospital by this point there's a good chance they will fire you. I would try to get a job immediately in dialysis or some other job that does not deal with controlled substances. Hospitals have been known to not want to deal with nurses being on probation so I would try to get something else. I say dialysis because they are known to give second chances in this scenerio but I would recommend getting in now while your license is clean because even that might be hard to get once your license has a mark on it. You could try calling a lawyer anyway, pretending like you might hire them and try to get some preliminary free advice. Some lawyers will talk more than others for free but I did get some free advice that way before hiring one.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Also, it can take the Board months to actually contact you and set up the hearing, depending on the state and how busy they are. It took them 4 months in my case from my self report to the hearing and I've heard of much longer but it varies. I dont know about TN though. But you hopefully have enough time to get a job (don't tell them about this in the interview). Maybe you will have enough money for a lawyer by the time you have to go before the board. Another reason to have a recovery friendly job is that the board will ask you what job you have at the hearing and it will look bad if you're passing controlled substances.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.

Well my only question is simply this: why on EARTH did you refuse? If you refuse a breathlyizer, it's an auto guilty- for example. Granted, hopefully they report to your tpapn, but you KNOW that refusing a test is equal to a positive/ guilty test. But tpapn will NOT be pleased. And the board, even less so.

Good luck- im honestly curious

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I have no idea if it would help or not. Well, I would try to get a recovery friendly job as soon as possible. Once the board does their thing and potentially puts your license on probation with limitations, you'll want to already have a job that will likely be ok with this. If you are working in a hospital by this point there's a good chance they will fire you. I would try to get a job immediately in dialysis or some other job that does not deal with controlled substances. Hospitals have been known to not want to deal with nurses being on probation so I would try to get something else. I say dialysis because they are known to give second chances in this scenerio but I would recommend getting in now while your license is clean because even that might be hard to get once your license has a mark on it. You could try calling a lawyer anyway, pretending like you might hire them and try to get some preliminary free advice. Some lawyers will talk more than others for free but I did get some free advice that way before hiring one.

Also, it can take the Board months to actually contact you and set up the hearing, depending on the state and how busy they are. It took them 4 months in my case from my self report to the hearing and I've heard of much longer but it varies. I dont know about TN though. But you hopefully have enough time to get a job (don't tell them about this in the interview). Maybe you will have enough money for a lawyer by the time you have to go before the board. Another reason to have a recovery friendly job is that the board will ask you what job you have at the hearing and it will look bad if you're passing controlled substances.

Lisacar130 - I'd like to thank you for this well written recommendations concerning prudent future actions for all of us to use!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment