Drug Screen question

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Hello,

I currently have prescriptions for Ativan for anxiety, and Lortab prn for migraines. I can prove that I have prescriptions if these show up in the drug screen. My question is if hospitals are hesistant to hire health care workers in a hospital who are taking benzos or pain meds?

thank you :)

You may have to do a prehire drug screen, and also complete a health history. If you take these meds and work, you should also know what your state's BON says about narcotics and working.

Yes! I have to do the prehire drug screen, and the complete health history? Is this bad? I don't know what the policy is in Nevada :confused:

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Anyone else think I should worry about the prescription Lortabs? Still worried. My health check, immunizations, and drug screen is at the end of this week. :confused:

thx :)

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I still say you should check on the BON website. Some states DO NOT allow nurses to work while taking narcotics and/or benzos.

The fact you have a prescription for them doesn't matter.

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I still say you should check on the BON website. Some states DO NOT allow nurses to work while taking narcotics and/or benzos.

The fact you have a prescription for them doesn't matter.

I just can't seem to find any information online. Does anyone know what the policy is in the the state of Nevada? :cry:

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Specializes in future OB/L&D nurse(I hope) or hospice.
i just can't seem to find any information online. does anyone know what the policy is in the the state of nevada? :cry:

hi, i was wondering the same thing and so i looked on the nevada bon website. it you look up nac 632.890 it says this: ( i have copied and pasted it)

10. practicing nursing, if any amount of alcohol or a controlled substance or dangerous drug that is not legally prescribed is present in the body of the nurse or nursing assistant as determined by a test of the blood, saliva, breath, hair or urine of the nurse or nursing assistant given while the nurse or nursing assistant is on duty.

11. having present in the body of the nurse or nursing assistant, alcohol or a controlled substance or dangerous drug that is not legally prescribed during a test of the blood, saliva, breath, hair or urine of the nurse or nursing assistant given as a condition of employment.

so, i hope this helps. i would suggest you call the bon just to make sure, but it looks like to me it's ok if it is legally prescribed.

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Specializes in Infectious Disease, Neuro, Research.

Contact your BON via email, and telephone(as in , "get the response in writing...").

On a personal note, you might want to investigate non-narc migraine tx (e.g., triptans obviously, topiramate prophylactically, etc..)- see what your doc/neuro suggests. Narcs tend towards severe rebound, over time, and you won't have the legal concerns over impairment.

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I've been worrying about this too! I have to do a drug screen for my nursing program. I talked to the nursing admissions counselor and the company who does the drug tests and they both say that as long as I declare what I'm taking (I am on Tenuate for weight loss - CERTAIN that is going to come up as an amphetamine since it IS!) and it is confirmed by the prescribing doctor it's fine. I'm still really nervous though, even though I've NEVER taken ANYTHING that wasn't prescribed to me!

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