drug diversion vs practicing without a license?

Nurses Recovery

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[TD=class: post2, width: 100%, bgcolor: #F4EBE7]I have been a nurse for 20 years and due to much stress at home and more stress working in the Emergency dept, I started taking tramadol for the last year from work. the pharmacy reported me . I did a UA which I am waiting to hear back on. I hadn't taken tramadol for three days so not sure if it will even show on my UA, but they have pharmacy records showing that I signed out tramadol on many occasions without an order. I told them I had given them all to patients and just forgot to get the order, but there's a pattern of this, about 2 to 4 a week for about six months or more. is there any chance I will be able to talk them into NOT reporting me to the board of nursing? I don't even mind getting fired or not being a nurse any longer, but I just don't want to go out with an ugly reputation, after 20 years of being a great nurse. I live in a small community and know many people here. Everybody will be shocked if this comes out. I am so scared!

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Tramadol won't show up on a UA.

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Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.
Tramadol won't show up on a UA.

It does on the more comprehensive 16 panel screens.

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Specializes in Outpatient Surgery, Psych, Emergency.
Tramadol won't show up on a UA.

It showed up on mine when I got busted and fired from my ER job. And I had not had any in about three days.

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.

Tramadol can show up and is included on most panels these days since it's a drug of choice for many.

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Specializes in ED, Trauma, Swat,Critical care, Peds.

I wish you well on your road to recovery and I'm sure you overcome this obstacle.

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they sent it to a lab that does check for tramadol but still didn't show up as it had ben three days

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it did show up even after three days?! what happened to you and your license?

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thank you all for the time you have taken to reply

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thank you all for your concern and advice. they did terminate me and reporting to BON. will they automatically do an investigation or can I just surrender my license without it going further?

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Specializes in ED, Trauma, Swat,Critical care, Peds.

Yes you do have the option of voluntary surrender.

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Dont just surrender your license. You are in no position to make that decision now. Take a breath. Most of us felt the way you do now when wevstarted. Its going to be ok.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ER and Administration.

In Washington and Mississippi your employer is required to report. I don't know about other states but they probably do as well. I've investigated a number of employees in your circumstances. I've found that both the employers and the boards are more likely to be lenient if you are honest and come forward. If they perceive you are being dishonest or trying to hide things from them it will be far worse.

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