Concerned About Drug Screen

LPNweezy · Apr 1, 2011

If they do, thats illegal. They cannot discriminate against you for this. if you have a prescription, bring it in asap so they can get a copy for your files. You will be fine. if your not hired because you take valium, contact a lawyer. :)

Hay Nars, RN · Apr 1, 2011

if you have a prescription and take it as prescribed then there should be no problem unless it impairs your ability to do the job which you were hired for. good luck!

RNMarie · Apr 2, 2011

Thanks for the replies!! Should I let my new employer know about the medications or wait until the results of the screen and then present them the prescriptions? To tell you the truth, I would feel uncomfortable letting them know personal medical information like depression. Although well controlled, I don't want to be "labled." Thoughts?

ann4997 · Apr 2, 2011

If you haven't taken the drug screen yet, make sure you take your prescription bottles with you so they can make copies of them. I would not give your employer a heads up (it is really none of their business as long as you take your meds appropriately) because you are right, you don't want to be labled (unfortunately, some people have firm thoughts on these things). The health officer will verify your prescritions either with the prescribing doctor or the pharmacy and that should be the end of it. As other people said, it is against the law for them to deny employment for someone with a valid prescription.

If you already had the drug screen, the health officer will still call you and then it is just a matter of getting them the info they need to verify your prescription. Unfortunately, sometimes the employer finds out that the screen was positive before you have a chance of clearing it up. But again, they still aren't supposed to deny employment.

Hope this helps...good luck

RNMarie · Apr 2, 2011

Thank you all for the replies so far. They are of great help! I'm still stressing myself out over this believe it or not! I'm just so thrilled with the job offer that I don't want anything to ruin it! I think I'll just go take the dog out for a much needed walk, and calm myself down! LOL!!!

MariaAnderson · Apr 2, 2011

Hi! Of course you can still get the job. Remember that the doctor prescribed the drug to you because you need it. So relax and calm down

tyvin, BSN, RN · Apr 2, 2011

Don't take a list of your meds into a potential employer; you have a right to privacy. When you take the drug screen and something comes up positive the lab's doc will call you so you can give him the verification they need to tell that your RXs are legal ones. Then the screen goes back to the employer as a negative because you didn't have any illegal drugs in you. It's a right to privacy issue and you don't have to reveal what meds you're on to any employer.

The Valium will show up so expect a call from the lab. I wouldn't tell my employer that I was on Valium; they may perceive you as unreliable and drugged. Especially in Hospice where you will be exposed to many drugs at the home of clients.

Yea I wish this was all fine and we could all just be fine with some people on medication but the truth is many people don't want to hire someone who takes benzos for whatever reason. The employer never is informed of what meds you are on by the lab that would be a big nono and grounds for a law suit. Just relax and go take the test and wait for the phone call. If you have RXs to cover what comes up positive you will be fine and your potential employer will not be informed but only that you are negative. The lab doc will want your docs number, name, etc... I would think long and hard about divulging what meds you're on when you don't have to.

RNMarie · Apr 2, 2011

Thank you everyone for your input! Much appreciated!!!