Can I lose my license over this?

[wafiyyah]

A couple of days ago I made a really grave error. One that I've never made in 15+ years of nursing. I had a narc error. A couple actually. I was on a temp assigment at a prison. I've never worked in a prison before and thought I was there to assist in the clinic not push the med cart. As a result of the med/narc error, I was pulled from that case and called into my agency. They took my statement ( which I honestly admitted my carelessness and oversight and not knowing all the procedures of the prisons documentation), then they sent me for a drug screening. Most likely to see if I had opiates in my system. I know there is no opiates in my system but there is weed.

My questions are:

Can I lose my license due to this?

Will this be reported to the BON?

What other jobs can I do besides nursing? (for over 20yrs I've always worked in healthcare)

I am so depressed that I put myself in this situation. After not smoking in 10yrs I pick now to do so, after having an impeccable nursing record for 15 yrs I made a dumb med error.

Any suggestions or advice???

Please don't say....stop smoking. I am waaaay ahead of you there.

Thanks all

[roser13, ASN, RN]

I don't think that any of us on the internet can knowledgeably predict what actions, if any, the agency who employed you will take. You will have to have patience and see what happens.

[Davey Do]

I know there is no opiates in my system but there is weed.

impeccable nursing record

im·pec·ca·ble

imˈpekəb(ə)l/

adjective

(of behavior, performance, or appearance) in accordance with the highest standards of propriety; faultless.

Please don't say....stop smoking. I am waaaay ahead of you there.

With all due respect, I'd say your hindsight is 20/20, wafiyyah!

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

Well if it turns up on your drug test it's VERY reasonable to expect you'll be fired. Depending on your state, your employer may or may not be mandated to report you to the BON. If mandated they should. If not, they may or they may not. We cannot guess the future, but if it is reported it's likely you'll be required to go before your BON. Speak to or take a lawyer with experience.

Even if stips are placed on your license you can still work as a nurse. It's just the area may be more limited.

[Wolf at the Door, BSN]

They took my statement ( which I honestly admitted my carelessness and oversight and not knowing all the procedures of the prisons documentation), then they sent me for a drug screening. Most likely to see if I had opiates in my system. I know there is no opiates in my system but there is weed.

My questions are:

Can I loose my license due to this?

Will this be reported to the BON?

What other jobs can I do besides nursing? (for over 20yrs I've always worked in healthcare)

Why did you agree to the drug test? When was the last time you smoked weed? Are you a chronic smoker, regular, sporadic etc? Without better understanding of the error I can't see why they tested you.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

They tested her because a big med error was made. At most facilities that is the first thing they do when a big error is discovered, particularly involving narcs or staff injury. Refusing the drug test was not an option.

[bsyrn, ASN, RN]

Fired for the med error, probably not. Fired for the drug test that will most likely show pot...probably. Hopefully you won't be reported to the BON. I am sorry this is happening to you.

[AliNajaCat]

Any thought that the recent pot consumption (after ten years of abstinence, if I read this correctly) might have contributed to the error?

I woukd expect any nurse who who goes to a new, unfamiliar milieu would be extra-careful to be sure about med policies, and insanely careful about narcs. And ... in a prison??

[Wolf at the Door, BSN]

They tested her because a big med error was made. At most facilities that is the first thing they do when a big error is discovered, particularly involving narcs or staff injury. Refusing the drug test was not an option.

You can always refuse.I know someone who has and they had nothing on them to prove drugs to be the problem. BON trip=clean urine. You can always just quit prior.At that point you are not employed no need to provide drug test.

Was this employer testing because missing meds or too many narcs were given. I guess it doesn't matter.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

You can always refuse.I know someone who has and they had nothing on them to prove drugs to be the problem. BON trip=clean urine. You can always just quit prior.At that point you are not employed no need to provide drug test.

Was this employer testing because missing meds or too many narcs were given. I guess it doesn't matter.

Depending on the state, this is terrible advice. In many states, refusal to submit to drug testing when there is a suspicion of impairment or diversion will be considered a positive result and can result in disciplinary action against the nurse/license.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

We can't tell you if you will be reported or lose your license. There are a lot of variables involved.

Did the narc error result in a discrepancy?

Surely you are crazy with worry. A lawyer consultation may help that.

Best of luck, let us know how it's going.

[Wolf at the Door, BSN]

Depending on the state, this is terrible advice. In many states, refusal to submit to drug testing when there is a suspicion of impairment or diversion will be considered a positive result and can result in disciplinary action against the nurse/license.

Varies state by state. Maybe not the best advice, but he is practicing without any repercussions. Just putting it out there..I also worked with two other female employees that were diverting and zelch happened..I guess if you lucky you just are.Depends on the employer. Nobody has the right answer to this dilemma.