drug screen results reported to state

[rnquestioningmyright]

i am an RN who took a pre-employment drug screen test that came out positive. i have medical reasons for the prescriptions and could have provided them had i been given the chance. instead my employer who i had worked two days for let me go and they then sent my test results to the state nursing board. i thought they were confidential first of all, and secondly doesn't the MRO have to contact me directly before reporting positive results to review my medications that could have caused false-positives. i dunno what to do with this. any ideas?

[cutelilmiss_2000]

i am an RN who took a pre-employment drug screen test that came out positive. i have medical reasons for the prescriptions and could have provided them had i been given the chance. instead my employer who i had worked two days for let me go and they then sent my test results to the state nursing board. i thought they were confidential first of all, and secondly doesn't the MRO have to contact me directly before reporting positive results to review my medications that could have caused false-positives. i dunno what to do with this. any ideas?

first of all, you should/could have had the oppurtunity to write down those prescriptions in which you were taking at that time. Second, the test people should have called you and gave you that same oppurtunity prior to sending it to the state. there is no such thing as confidentiality when it comes to healthcare profeesionals. hippa and state laws require the facility in which the test was taken to report it to the state r/t fines and stuff. If they didn't now you were a healthcare professional nothing would have been sent to the state, but since you are, the confidentiality paper that you sign clearly states that all substances will be reported if you are a licensed healthcare proffesional ; it's to safeguard the patients. Even your own doctor can legally tell because you may put pts in harms ways under the influence. Just be careful and if those prescription drugs aren't needed...don't take them. now the state will contact you in about three months and will send you to an evaluation in which you will probably pay about three hundred dollars for a two hour session, if that intake nurse suspects or you exhibit the s/s of a drug seeker or user, they will send it to the state, they are also going to send you to have a drug test and if it doesn't come back positive, you are free. Case closed. But if you fell that test, and you can't provide the documentation or the prescriptions for the meds you were taking you will be monitere for 2-5 yrs. can't pass narcotics. Good luck and always tell what drugs you take prior to testing so it won't be any misunderstandings.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

I'm confused about this ... if it was a pre-employment physical, didn't they ask you to fill out some paperwork regarding health history, medications, etc. ?

[mommatrauma, RN]

Any time I've had to take a drug test for a job, I had to fill out a form stating what medicines as part of the consent to take the test...prior to taking the test...

[SWRN84]

I just took a pre-employment drug test, also. They did not ask me if I was on any prescription meds, but did state if anything came up positive I would need to show prescription bottles with my name on them. The last time I took a drug screen, I was also not asked about any meds I was taking. When I questioned it, they said if anything came up positive, they would ask about it then. So I guess it just depends on who/where the tests are being done.

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

I just took a pre-employment drug test, also. They did not ask me if I was on any prescription meds, but did state if anything came up positive I would need to show prescription bottles with my name on them. The last time I took a drug screen, I was also not asked about any meds I was taking. When I questioned it, they said if anything came up positive, they would ask about it then. So I guess it just depends on who/where the tests are being done.

Somehow (and I can't explain how or why I think this) not being able to tell up front what you're taking seems unfair - almost as though if the test comes up positive they're already biased against you before you have a chance to tell your story.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

Somehow (and I can't explain how or why I think this) not being able to tell up front what you're taking seems unfair - almost as though if the test comes up positive they're already biased against you before you have a chance to tell your story.

Inefficient & costly too - to have to go back & ask the test-ee about it, possibly verify when prescriptions were written, etc.

[RN4NICU, LPN, LVN]

Anytime I have had to do pre-employment drug screening, they have made it clear that if you are taking any medication, you should declare it before the test. You will have to produce the prescription if the test is positive, but you are not given the opportunity to say "oh, I have a prescription for that" if you did not declare it before the test.

That seems like a much more efficient way of doing things than to try to piece things together after a test has been positive.

[nursejennie76]

When I took a drug test fro my most recent job they never asked abotu scripts!! I was not at all concerned but if I would have been on something that may set of alarms I would have said something up front.

[plumrn, BSN, RN]

The last time we did drug testing, we were told it is no longer necessary to list medications you are on. They're only concerned if something comes up positive, then they will want to see the bottle/prescription.