Drug urine test after 12 hour shift

Nurses Recovery

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After the completion of my shift I was escorted by the house supervisor to another floor where a woman, hospital security, and house soup for the next shift waiting for me. I was told on the way there that several reports was made about me "acting more nervous than normal" and "uncontrolled twitching", so I was asked to give a urine sample. The testing company lady asked what medications I took and wrote those on her paper, added a substance to the toilet water and accompanied me in the bathroom for me to give my specimen. I was contacted by my superior stating I was suspended until the results came back. I called HR the 2nd full day after and inquired about the tests and was informed there was not anything under my name at that time. I emailed my superior again and was told HR would be the ones contacting me when the test came back. I also emailed HR just trying to find out what the time frame was for this, and if I needed to be doing something in the meantime, I was finally told by HR the test results can take anywhere from 3-5 days. I was called at almost 5 one afternoon with a message left to call back and nothing else. The next day I received an email and phone call that they wanted to meet with me. I was escorted to another office where my superior and another in a management position told me my test results came back positive. I was told my test showed methadone and benzo. I asked if the test could be reran, take another test, hair follicle test and/or polygraph and was told no. I was given information on TPAPN, a copy of the signed termination papers, and handed over my badge. I told them that I have never taken any of those drugs and told that "that's not what the test shows." I was informed I would be reported to the board and my best bet was to self enroll in TPAP. They stated they was going through my charting as well and my medication charting was "sloppy", which I'm not quiet sure how to take. I have since emailed and requested a copy of the reported drug test results and have not heard anything back yet. The MRO never contacted me during this process (after much googling I'm not 100% on the process) I take benadryl, nexium, sleep aid, tylenol, ibuprofen, and or tylenol. I'm not sure on my course of action at this point. On the way home I bought an at home test from CVS and took that test in front of my husband (I know this will not help my case at all at this point but I needed to know) that test was negative. I plan on getting my own hair follicle test on Tuesday at a DOT facility, I'm sending another email for a request in writing for another test to be ran on my sample I gave. I did sign the hospital consent and the paper from the testing company although I did not initial or sign anything after the sticker was placed on top of the specimen cup. I'm so furious at the whole process of this and feel like a dog chasing it's tail because I don't know what else to do. Has this happened to anyone else? I'm going through this tunnel just trying to locate the light at the end.

Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.

That sounds sus. The one time I had to have a urine drug test they read the results right in front of me.

All the best OP and ring your malpractice insurer/get a lawyer

Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

Bummer, Kallie.

You sound like you're on the best path to take and know what you want to achieve.

I hope the very best for you and can only add to the advice you've been given would be to request copies of pertinent documentation and take notes whenever speaking to anybody with quotes, times, and dates.

Good luck, and keep us up on your status!

Specializes in Neuro, Telemetry.

Also, if they were so concerned, why wait until your shift was over to test you? If you were truly a risk to patients by being "impaired". I mean we obviously know they didn't want to have to cover your shift, but that is just shady all around.

Specializes in Neuro, Telemetry.

Also, some drug interactions and even metabolites if single drugs can sometimes show up on U/As as positive for illegal substances. You should be able to request for your sample to be sent in for an in depth screen that shows exactly what drugs were positive or if it was a false positive. If they truly tampered with your urine sample then that won't help though.

Also, initially the sample once it's sealed is to verify it is your urine. Without that, they could have used anyone's urine. You may be able to fight the results based on improper procedure and handling of your sample if the board contacts you.

In in any case, consulting a lawyer seems the best bet after you get your hair follicle sample done ASAP. Good luck with this crappy situation.

You must get a lawyer. I would not spend one more moment pondering,what if this, what if that. Bottom line. You know the truth. Don't doubt yourself.

Our results aren't immediate FWIW.

If I were pulled to give a sample for suspicion, I would be confident that I hadn't purposefully taken any substance but I would be freaked out enough by the suspicion that I would have already obtained legal assist and had a second test performed before the delayed results. I couldn't stand to not be proactive on my own behalf.

Specializes in School Nursing.
Our results aren't immediate FWIW.

If I were pulled to give a sample for suspicion, I would be confident that I hadn't purposefully taken any substance but I would be freaked out enough by the suspicion that I would have already obtained legal assist and had a second test performed before the delayed results. I couldn't stand to not be proactive on my own behalf.

Hindsight is 20/20 for the OP. I've never worried about failing a drug test. I'm thinking the OP wasn't worried about failing the test, confident in her innocence as a non-drug abuser. Now she's got a trumped up accusation and is probably wishing she'd have done things differently immediately.. I don't see how you're helping by saying all the things *you* would have done in the situation.

Get an attorney, yes, and if you have your own professional insurance, now is the time to call them. They help you with action against your license.

i do tend to be a little paranoid, did they need clean urine, and some scape goat to protect someone else?

Contact your carrier and get the name of a local attorney that specializes in nurses dealing with this specific issue. You must speak to an attorney immediately about this matter. No amount of internet advice can truly help you, only an attorney can.

Hindsight is 20/20 for the OP. I've never worried about failing a drug test. I'm thinking the OP wasn't worried about failing the test, confident in her innocence as a non-drug abuser. Now she's got a trumped up accusation and is probably wishing she'd have done things differently immediately.. I don't see how you're helping by saying all the things *you* would have done in the situation.

I think it IS helpful to anyone reading this thread who face such a situation in the future.

Specializes in Critical Care.

Best advice here is to get a lawyer. Like yesterday.

If anyone else is reading this in a similar situation - get a lawyer.

If anyone thinks there's a chance they might be getting into a similar situation - get a lawyer.

Seriously. Don't ask us. We should be asking you. Sorry this is happening :/ best of luck to you. Please keep us updated.

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