I am an RN for 2 yrs now and recently had a nurse claim narcs were missing when she was given meds. It was fine when we counted them after my shift, but she claims the count must have been wrong.
I do not do drugs and would not. I worked ten years for my education while being a single parent to three kids, no way would I risk it.
They asked me and the nurse prior to my shift to do a drug test. She got hers back yesterday - I am still waiting on mine.
I gave them a list of all the supplements I take (vitamins, fish oils etc) and mentioned that I drink some herbal teas. Out of sheer anxiousness I started looking on the net for what could cause false positives on tests. Imagine my surprise that a tea I drink might show a positive test for cocaine!!! OMG!!!
The tea I drink is made by Teavana - a chain of premium tea stores. It is called "My Morning Mate" and is touted to have as much caffeine as coffee but with less jitteriness.
No, I don't think the specific drug is in a 9 panel drug test. The thing that got me though....The nurse who discovered it missing was not tested. Who is the first person cops suspect when a kid is reported missing...the parents. Why not test the very person who claims it was missing? esp. after a count had been done and was correct by both oncoming and offgoing nurses. After I am cleared, that is one question I will be asking!!
No offense (and I truly mean that), but my thought after reading the OP was... "she sounds like she knows it will come up positive and is looking for a reason to explain it away"...
Maybe because I'm not a nurse yet? Maybe because I have not been under the pressure of the evil healthcare managers that care nothing for nurses and all about their paychecks? Mostly it's probably because I'm just naive..... Dunno but.....
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
No offense (and I truly mean that), but my thought after reading the OP was... "she sounds like she knows it will come up positive and is looking for a reason to explain it away"...
Maybe because I'm not a nurse yet? Maybe because I have not been under the pressure of the evil healthcare managers that care nothing for nurses and all about their paychecks? Mostly it's probably because I'm just naive..... Dunno but.....
Wait wait wait. So you are missing narcs on the floor and you are worried about popping positive for cocaine? What are you guys medicating your pts with?
For those that doubt me, I worked hard in school and graduated with a 3.8. I tested clean for school, clean for jobs and I will likely test clean now. My paranoia comes from reading about this tea after taking the drug test. This tea I started drinking since I was getting an upset stomach from the coffee I was drinking to stay up all night. Teavana (the store where I bought the tea) told me it had antioxidants and as much caffeine as coffee, but without the side effects. I tried it and I liked it.
I was suspended until the results come in. I hope it will be today. Soon. My co-worker told me they notified her at 10 am. It is 10:30 now.
Maybe because I'm not a nurse yet? Maybe because I have not been under the pressure of the evil healthcare managers that care nothing for nurses and all about their paychecks? Mostly it's probably because I'm just naive..... Dunno but.....
I wouldn't call my DON and ED evil - they are just doing their jobs the best they can and are caught between the pressure keeping their jobs, providing good care, state regs, and the corporate offices saying reduce costs! I actually told them to test me, I have nothing to hide. But, then I found out about the tea.
Actually, I think it's very odd that you were suspended until the results come in. Are you suspended with pay? Is that the policy whenever a count is off?
It's even more strange the person reporting the error wasn't tested (maybe because she didn't ask to be tested??).
You probably have nothing to worry about. Best of luck to you.
I'd be more ticked about being suspended.. Whats this do for your reputation on the floor? Talk about guilty until proven innocent! This sounds harsh but from a military view--the fact that you were "suspended pending the results of a UDS" makes you a druggie in alot of peoples eyes.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Every time I do a drug screen (never a random, it's always been for employment) I get nervous. I don't do drugs. This past time, I was especially nervous because I've been taking some medications for back spasms/sciatica (not narcs, only Flexeril and Indocin). And that's all I could think about for 48 hours afterwards.
So to the person who suggested she's nervous because she's guilty of something....pbpbpbpbphh! (that was me blowing a raspberry)
Platypus
161 Posts
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No, I don't think the specific drug is in a 9 panel drug test. The thing that got me though....The nurse who discovered it missing was not tested. Who is the first person cops suspect when a kid is reported missing...the parents. Why not test the very person who claims it was missing? esp. after a count had been done and was correct by both oncoming and offgoing nurses. After I am cleared, that is one question I will be asking!!