Nurses struggling with mental illness - Page 4

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  1. Feb 12, '05 by
    icusleep says: "drug tests are usually 5 panel; they look for marijuana, cocaine/amphetamines, opiods, pcp, and barbiturates."

    don't make the dumb mistake i did! do not eat anything, for instance a muffin, that my have poppy seeds in it!i think it would appear you took an opioid.

    they never told me why i was not hired after the drug screening. but they really wanted me with them before the urinalysis, and then suddenly, i couldn't be hired.
  2. Feb 12, '05 by
    I think screening for benzos is common also. For nursing students: the common benzos are Valium, Ativan, Versed, Klonopin, Xanax. They should all show up.

    If you have a script for a med that shows up in your urine, then you're covered. It's legal prescription medication. But if you took your sister's Vicodin for a pulled muscle, you're screwed.

    I live in an area where drug testing is uncommon, I don't know why. I don't think I've ever done it. If I did, I wish I didn't have to show them my Ativan bottle, but I'd rather have a job than keep my issues a secret.
  3. Feb 12, '05 by
    Quote from arnpsomeday
    icusleep says: "drug tests are usually 5 panel; they look for marijuana, cocaine/amphetamines, opiods, pcp, and barbiturates."

    don't make the dumb mistake i did! do not eat anything, for instance a muffin, that my have poppy seeds in it!i think it would appear you took an opioid.

    they never told me why i was not hired after the drug screening. but they really wanted me with them before the urinalysis, and then suddenly, i couldn't be hired.
    that wellbutrin, being close to amphetamine, might show up on amphetamine tests. don't know for sure; haven't had any drug tests--but nursing school knows what i am on.

    nursefirst
  4. Feb 12, '05 by
    Quote from ICUsleep
    Hi, Trulie.julie!


    Please don't stop taking your meds! At most schools you need to let them know what meds you are on for safety reasons (your own, mostly, ie; if something should happen to you they need to know your med history so they know how to help you/what not to give you in the case of an emergency).

    As far as drug tests, I'd like to tell you that these things won't turn up in your urine, but it really depends on what your school tests for. I have NEVER heard of drug screening so comprehensive as to look for antidepressants.I can't imagine how expensive that would be for the school and students. Drug tests are usually 5 panel; they look for marijuana, cocaine/amphetamines, opiods, PCP, and barbiturates. If you aren't doing any of these, I wouldn't worry about the drug test. Some of the tests DO test for benzos...frankly, I'm not sure Ativan would show up, but if it does, you have a script for it, so no problem.
    I took my drug screen test for nursing school 2 days after taking Xanax and Vicoden. Apparently they didn't show up, but they also weren't high doses, and I did have prescriptions for both.
    We are supposed to inform our school of meds we are taking, but I have not had the balls to tell them I take Xanax. It is probably not a big deal to tell them, but unfortunately Xanax is so demonized nowadays. I just don't want to call attention to myself...I'm sure I wouldn't be the only person in our class to be taking Xanax, but I just can't bring myself to let the school know. I figure if I take it and I'm fine, then why tell them? I know that contradicts a lot of what I wrote earlier. Apparently, I am better at giving advice than taking it. It is sad that only some health conditions are "acceptable" and that others remain hidden for fear of persecution. Everyone working in health care should know better, but for some reason mental illness is still judged so harshly even in the health care industry.

    I didn't know they were drug testing for nursing school! geez. I wouldn't worry too much about it though. When I got my hospice job, I had to be drug tested. I didn't tell them what meds I was on, I don't think. I was taking wellbutrin, zoloft, klonapin, and zyprexa, and I never heard a thing.
  5. Feb 12, '05 by
    Just need to plunk down my 2 cents here Any and every person who is breathing meets the DSM-IV criteria for SOMETHING-- night terrors, various forms of insomnia, nicotine addiction, caffeine addiction/ abuse, dyslexia, dysgraphia, sibling rilvary, phobias, fetishes (I admit to a serious pen fetish!! Also veins. I do stop to admire a total stranger's veins-- never stooped to actually palpating yet, just coveting them for my next lab draw orders LOL). Some of us just have more visible "issues" than others and quite frankly, I'd rather work with someone who's been labeled and treated than someone who has the symptoms but is in denial (I'm sure we can all conjure up the OCD or Narcisstic Personality supervisors we've had). I'm adult ADHD (at least the adult status has come thru age alone other people I know would debate use of that title when referring to me).
    newrngrad, CNA student, and letarn2b like this.
  6. Feb 12, '05 by
    I live with bipolar, PTSD, and temporal lobe epilespy. I have even been involuntarily committed to the state hospital for two months (long story). I work hard to keep my demons at bay by taking my medications, going to therapy, and trying to remain grounded in my career and personal life. Mental illness is much like diabetes, asthma, and allergies, it really cannot be cured but it can be managed. I take paxil, lamictal, and neurontin. I also have klonopin, ativan, seraquil, and sonata that I take PRN. Some days (any more very few) life is bad but for me life is wonderful most days.
    There is no reason to let mental illness chase you away from your dreams. With the right med./therapy/life combo people can live a very wonderful life.

    Fuzzy
  7. Feb 12, '05 by
    Quote from celticbombshell
    throughout my teen years i was very depressed but unlike most people with depression instead of being mopey and sad, i became angry and violent. when i finally was ready to face up to the fact that i had a problem i was put on prozac and i thought that was that. but what i didn't know was that i wasn't just depressed i was bipolar, it turns out many, many people are misdiagnosed because most only go get help for the depressive side and don't explain the whole picture to their doctor. also being only on a drug like prozac can make you cycle more rapidly. :angryfire

    in aug of this year i was finally properly diagnosed by a psyciatrist and was put on lithium and prozac. they help alot and i am almost normal, the only thing is i still have anxiety problems and a very hard time sleeping. i stay up for days sometimes and then i sleep for days as well. i am hopfully going to acheive my dream of becoming a midwife, before i'm 30. i have basically flunked out of school twice due to the fact that i start my classes and do well but then i get depressed and loose momentum. do any of you have any ideas on how i can make the third time a charm?

    i have just moved home to stay with my mom so that i can get my life together and hopefully learn to control my mi if not overcome it completly. also as i am still young and hope to have kids someday in the near future. do any of you know of a bipolar medication that is safe for during pregnancy. my step mother stayed on her meds while she was pregnant with my half brother and now he is having alot of developmental problems that could be atributed to the lithium and all her other meds. :uhoh21:

    one more question and then i'll give it a rest. have anyof you heard of meetup.com it is a site where people who share the same interests and.or problems can get together and chat and even meet in person. i was wondering if any of you would be interested in starting an group for people in the medical profession with mental illnesses? anywho let me know and i can set it up as i belong to a few other groups in my home town.

    celtic bombshell

    hey, i love your name. i am really into my celtic heritage and all things celtic, but thats ot.
    i wish i had some magic pill that would put everything together for you. unfortunately this is a process and psych meds are not perfect. all i can say is stay on your meds and get them tweaked or changed if they are not helping you to function well. also, usually meds alone don't get you very far. i can't say enough about a good psychotherapist. i have no idea about the meds in pregnancy thing. i have 3 children, but i had them before any of this stuff really took knocked me down (i was by no means healthy then, though).
    the best advice i can give you is that you are your own best advocate. read books, and work on things yourself. there are a lot of tools. i have a workbook that i never finished (go figure, thats a big habit for me) called the depression workbook, i think. in the hospital i did some stuff out of it and it was pretty helpful.
    just know that you can't push yourself too hard. get to know your body and mind and what triggers episodes for you and what gets you escalating. meds don't really work alone. it takes a lot of personal work on your part to function well with mi. i suppose its like that for any chronic illness.

    i love your idea of meetup. i may try to pursue that. the only thing is that it is hard for me to be part of any group, since i work the evening (3-11:30) shift. most groups meet on weeknights.

    severina
  8. Feb 13, '05 by
    Quote from arnpsomeday
    icusleep says: "drug tests are usually 5 panel; they look for marijuana, cocaine/amphetamines, opiods, pcp, and barbiturates."

    don't make the dumb mistake i did! do not eat anything, for instance a muffin, that my have poppy seeds in it!i think it would appear you took an opioid.

    they never told me why i was not hired after the drug screening. but they really wanted me with them before the urinalysis, and then suddenly, i couldn't be hired.
    i have heard a lot about poppy seeds causing positives, so yeah, avoid 'em!:chuckle
    there are many substances that can cause false positives, actually. at our school, if we tested postivie for a substance they were testing for we were given the opportunity to explain why that substance might be in our system....and of course you needed a script or a damn good reason.
    btw, did anyone from the lab ever call you to inform you that they found a substance in your urine? i thought the lab had to call the person and inform them before they informed the employer. maybe just in florida...don't know.
  9. Feb 13, '05 by
    I applied for a job in september. When I took the drug screen test they told me not to eat anything with poppy seeds prior to the test. When I took the test I asked the nurse supervising the test if the meds that I was taking would show up on the test, as I wanted privacy about my Klonipin, effexor and wellbutrin. She said as long as I stated that I was on the meds in my health history and I had scripts for them there would be no problem. I was concerned about other people finding out that I was on these drugs and the effect it would have on my employment. She assured me that I was covered by HIPPA laws and what was discussed with her and put on my form was a matter of privacy. I trusted this, disclosed on my health history my meds, took the test, no problems. I was hired! I just made it through a tough orientation. I got alot of support from the staff development nurses who would come by to check up on the orientees.
    Bottom line...Take your meds. List them in your health history. Seek out the people who will support you. Use all resources available to you. It is possible to have a good life while managing an illness.
    pyriticsilence and KaroSnowQueen like this.
  10. Feb 15, '05 by
    Quote from zoeboboey

    Doc is now talking about ECT which scares the living .... out of me...
    hi zoey,

    ect does sound horrifying, doesn't it? but i want to share a story with you.
    i had a patient who was so depressed that she wouldn't eat, talk or ambulate.
    it was suggeste she receive ect- her son consented.

    i don't remember how soon it was, but it was early in treatment that this pt. was smiling, eating, and ambulating with her walker. she had a song in her voice. 100% turnaround. so in this case, the ect was wonderfully successful.

    just thought i'd give you something to think about. and when they say you lose your memory, that is only temporary.
    you really have nothing to lose- it certainly wouldn't make you more depressed.

    take care and don't lose hope....

    leslie xo