Failed pre-employment drug screen

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I am so freaked out. I was hired, conditionally, for a job I really want. Today I found out that I failed the drug screen because it showed Darvocet. I have prescriptions for Percocet because I recently broke a bone in my foot. Over the weekend prior to the drug test, a family member gave me a couple of their pain killers until I got mine filled. I didn't put it all together until today, but apparently I took the Darvocet without thinking it would cause a problem. I am not sure yet what will happen, but I fear I will lose the job. Even worse, I am afraid of being reported to my nursing board. Any suggestions? I am feeling like a royal loser. I have never had a problem with any other drug screen in prior jobs or nursing school.

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Don't think I can give you any sympathy here. This was a stupid mistake, and the object is to learn from it. The lesson here is NEVER!! take prescription meds that are for someone else. I would honestly be shocked if the hospital hired you.

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Darvocet was removed from the market d/t associations with heart problems.... the relative needs to ditch the stuff.... and not hand out their pills :down:

See what happens....if you have the legit rx for Percocet, and it's a cheap general opiate screen, you're fine.... if it's more specific, it depends on if they still test for propoxyphene napsylate.

Wait and see what happens. If this is all there is to it, and you explain it to them, they may let it slide- but don't fall apart until you know the results- OR you don't "pass" the conditional offer. Then you have nothing to lose by telling them what happened, and reassuring them it won't happen again- and will do random drug tests if needed..... but calm down for now :)

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Specializes in Hospice / Psych / RNAC.

Stay cool and don't tell anyone about the darvocet. You have a legal Rx for an opioid and that's what the drug screen will show; an opioid. The only opioid that can be singled out in a routine drug screen is methadone and places don't usually test for it because it's super expensive. The lab will call you and you tell them the docs name so they can verify it with your doc. Your employer should not be told anything until the lab has had a chance to verify things with you and then the lab will have to send your test as a negative for drugs since you have a legal Rx. They have absolutely no rights to tell any employer what the results were unless they were in fact positive with no legal Rx. Your privacy is protected and if they tell your employer anything before verifying with you it's time to see a lawyer.

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Drug screens can isolate propoxyphene (the metabolite)....I would hope they don't now with it being recalled.

http://thewestgroup.com/urine_drug_screens.htm

http://www.utmb.edu/lsg/chem/PROPOXYPHENE%20SCREEN.html

http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.com/content/83/1/66.full

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If you tested positive for opiates they would have said you tested positive for opiates. The fact that they said you tested positive for darvocet makes me think that they isolated the chemical and know you took darvocet, and it would be impossible to get a prescription for that drug. I doubt you will get the job if you are taking controlled drugs not prescribed to you. This is the whole purpose of pre-employment drug screening, to find people who use narcotics illegally, which is what you did from the post. Taking other peoples prescription is against the law. Not sure if they can report you to the board of nursing.

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If the urine drug screen was sent out (vs a dipstick) propoxyphene as a STANDARD med tested for - and came back on a regular lab printout. It also had specific other opiates on it.

If it's a cheap dipstick= yeah- speed, coke, benzos, opiates, THC, - just "groups"....

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Specializes in Hospice / Psych / RNAC.

Ohhhhhh....most places just do the general one before but my goodness I didn't know they could isolate propoxyphene (very good info :up:). Looks like you might be cooked on this one.

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Specializes in LTC.

OP a friend of mine did the same thing. She actually delayed the drug screen until the non-prescribed drug was out of her system...

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I agree with XT....the drug is off the market, Why did you take it? I doubt they will take it to the board they just won't hire you. I hope everything turns out OK......just tell them the truth, you broke your foot and a relative gave you something to help with the pain and you did think it was wrong until later when you were not in pain. I mean really.....I have watched family members pass meds around like a yankee gift swap and yes some of them nurses :uhoh3:....I just never participated....:smokin:. I'm sorry you are going through this.:redpinkhe

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

:hug: My sympathies to you; this is a mistake that anyone could make. I mean, if my foot were hurting like heck I would do the same thing, honestly.

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

It's sad this is happening. I think Esme's words ring true--tell them the truth if they ask you, and see what happens. I have a problem with trying to dance around the truth, or avoid it because it seems less than honorable.

I hope it works out for you. It will depend on the policy of the facility...

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