I used to work a a hospital where I was considered fairly good at my job and had worked there before and then got rehired after travel nursing for a while. Some big changes started happening in my unit and I guess I was not the most supportive, but I suddenly came back with a positive urine drug screen for opiates, specifically one that I am allergic to. Anyway, I was fired from that job, though I was told by the CNO that my performance was not in question and there was no questions about me diverting drugs.
Immediately after, I had a clean hair follicle drug screen and have had three urine drug screens since that have all been clean. I have been traveling and have been asked to extend my contract, but my family needs me to be near them, so I would like to get a job nearby. The problem is, the only hospitals around my family are ones owned by the same company.
If they did this to her once, who is to say they wouldn't do it again? She is lucky she didn't get an action against her license. I get we all gotta work to pay bills but she needs her license to do that. Testing positive if she did not take anything is a huge deal and I wouldn't think it would be wise to return and risk that again. But to each their own I suppose. This could come back to haunt OP and her future career. OP that's the only reason why I would seek legal counsel.
Specializes in Allergy/ENT, Occ Health, LTC/Skilled.
Poppy seeds will test you positive for opiates
right which is why OP should get this cleared up. I just would NOT be ok with this being on my employee record, especially if it were not true. Regardless of what made her test positive, if she didn't do drugs, she needs to get her name cleared. I guess this is only a big deal to me lol but good luck OP.
If they did this to her once, who is to say they wouldn't do it again? She is lucky she didn't get an action against her license. I get we all gotta work to pay bills but she needs her license to do that. Testing positive if she did not take anything is a huge deal and I wouldn't think it would be wise to return and risk that again. But to each their own I suppose. This could come back to haunt OP and her future career. OP that's the only reason why I would seek legal counsel.
Either you have missed the point or I did not make it understandably. Only two hospitals exist in OP's reasonable driving distance. TWO, both run by the same company. Given that an obvious oversight/mistake/error in adequate communication has happened here (accidental, or by conspiracy theory, intentional), this needs to be sorted out. OP needs to clear his/her name to be able to move forward. OP's ability to get hired depends on this.
Btw, in case you missed it, OP is not trying to get hired by the hospital that got the failed test.
Also, isn't there a sort of self report clause in some BON states? For example, even if OP's job did not report her for this, she is held responsible to report it to the BON herself....
I've never heard of this before, but my knowledge is extremely limited on this. Considering OP has grounds for appealing the result, I wouldn't be rushing to the BON quite yet.
You should talk to you old boss that you worked with in that place first and let them know you want to come back to work. I think they will say something first before you apply. If getting a job in that place is out weight other optional choices (getting a job far from family), you should give it a shot. You are the person who going to deal with all of the challenges, stresses and changes. Good lucks!
I don't want to sue, I'm not really interested in giving them that much energy. that being said, Im not looking to go back to the same hospital. The company that owns the hospital is national and, unfortunately, own the hospitals near my family. I just wonder if an ineligible for rehire is system wide, or only applies to the hospital that fired you?
The only people who can accurately answer your question is the health care system you are considering applying to. No one on the internet can give you an accurate answer.
Some big changes started happening in my unit and I guess I was not the most supportive,
I don't know what you specifically mean by not being "supportive," but it seems that could be just as likely to get you labeled as ineligible for rehire in that system as the positive tox screen could.
Not everyone is so lucky to have multiple options for employment. If I relied on public transport, I would have literally one option for hospital-based employment.
You are right I forget about having so many options in my area.
Thank you, everyone for your advice. I didn't expect this much. I do have a lawyer as the hospital had to inform the state board and I am being investigated. I was sent to an addiction specialist for an evaluation and was declared as far from an addict you can be. As for not being supportive, I should have gone about things differently, but there was danger to patients due to lack of education before these changes were made.
Anyway, since it was a new hospital, I thought there was a chance to be hired, but if anyone knew about this kind of thing I didn't want to waste anyone's time.
I live in an area where all the hospitals are owned by the same company. They even own several out patient centers and when you are on their do not hire list, that goes for every establishment they own. I live in Florida though so that may not be the case where you live. Also you can always call human resources and ask. Hope that helps.
cindy_rn456
41 Posts
Poppy seeds will test you positive for opiates