Adderall and nursing school

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · May 7, 2010

If you have a valid prescription for it then you bring it with you to your drug screening to show them. It shouldn't be an issue. Especially since in the right person it is supposed to make you function better. Your best bet is to call the admissions person (you can act like a prospective student if you are worried about them knowing who you are) and tell them you are thinking about it and wanted to know what to do in this situation.

blessed2bfree · May 7, 2010

I was on it when i got accepted, and it did show up on my test. I had to get the pharmacist to fax over my last prescription to the nurse at the lab, and she cleared it for me. You should be ok as long as you show the proof.

noyesno, MSN, APRN, NP · May 7, 2010

Check out this link, it addresses your question! :)

Nurse with ADD - Nursing for Nurses

Intern67 · May 7, 2010

Hi I just recently got accepted to a Nursing Program and I am very stressed out about the drug testing part. Right now I am taking adderall 40mg for my ADD and it's going to show up positive in the drug test. Does anyone know if it is OK to take adderall during nursing school? And do I have to explain to the Nurse in charge of the program?

If it wasn't OK to take adderall (or a laundry list of other prescriptions) during nursing school I think we would lose half our class.

Oh, do try to make sure you are taking only your own prescription drugs! :coollook:

naenae1979 · May 7, 2010

I take it as well! We had drug testing just about 3 weeks ago...all I had to do was tell my instructor I had a valid prescription for it and everthing was fine! U will be fine! NO NEED TO FREAK OUT!! The previous poster is correct. All they will do is askthat you have proof its prescribed...NO BIGGIE!

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · May 7, 2010

Provide the proof from the get go so that it doesn't even have to be an issue.

Ftoll24 · Feb 1, 2011

Provide the proof from the get go so that it doesn't even have to be an issue.

I'm thinking more and more that this is NOT the way to go. It seems to me that this is a privacy issue and unless they (1) ask you to explain a positive result for amphetamines or (2) ask you what medications you are on then you are not obligated to tell anyone anything.

KristeyK · Feb 2, 2011

I disagree- it is always better to open, honest, and up front about it. I discussed this with one of my instructors because I am interested in taking it if my physician agrees w/ me that I am ADD. She said there are a LOT of nurses and nursing students out there who take it, so not to sweat it at all.

CuriousMe · Feb 2, 2011

I disagree- it is always better to open, honest, and up front about it. I discussed this with one of my instructors because I am interested in taking it if my physician agrees w/ me that I am ADD. She said there are a LOT of nurses and nursing students out there who take it, so not to sweat it at all.

Be upfront with it with the school if you're comfortable...sure, once you're accepted. I would feel uncomfortable disclosing a disability in the admissions process though. There's still a lot of misunderstanding about ADHD, I would hate to be even unconsciously discriminated against.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Feb 2, 2011

In our program you didn't even go and take the drug test until after you were accepted into the program. Granted you had to pass the drug screen to continue on, but you were already accepted.

Also, it was the lab itself you were being upfront with and showing any prescription drugs too. There was a spot on the form that told you any prescription drugs that might interfere with the testing and to show proof of prescription. The only information the school received was whether or not you passed or failed the Drug screen and same with the back ground check. They weren't told anything else.