Failed preemployment drug test in Florida

Nurses Recovery

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So I failed a preemployment drug test in FL and know that I'm most likely going to get reported. I want to know what I can do and what's going to happen. My main concern is being suspended and being on the FL boards of nursing website where everybody can see. Please help. I am not an addict, one time thing, I love my job and have a pretty good one. I just don't want my reputation ruined. When I get a lawyer what do I tell them ? Where do I go from here ??

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I would call IPN anonymously to find out about their alternative to discipline program. Ask about what kind of stipulations you might get besides random drug testing.

https://ipnfl.org

I did a quick search about IPN on allnurses and it appears that what some have said is that when you go for an evaluation, try to find a doctor that is not affiliated with a treatment facility. If the doctor owns their own treatment facility they surely will recommend their services. I'm sure you'd end up getting some treatment either way but try to find someone unbiased or you might get more treatment than you need.

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SW Florida IPN Nurse here! So I got hurt on the job and tested positive for marijuana. Just something I did occasionally as socially, never came to work high and would never consider doing something like that.

So I got a call from the doctor who does the drug screens, he asked if I had a prescription for it, I said no. Then he had to report me. Then a few days later my job called me and they put me on a leave on absence. Thankfully they did not fire me. I had 3 days to call IPN and begin the process.

They'll send you for an evaluation with an addiction specialist. They gave me a list of 3 providers near me so I called them up and asked about their rates and what would happen.

Tampa - ~$800

Sarasota - ~$1,200-1,500

Miami- $~2,000

(Tampa price included the cost of drug screen. I don't recall of the Sarasota or Miami pricing included the cost of drug screens, so be sure to ask when they call)

Needless to say I chose the Tampa one. HOWEVER I had to wait a little over a month to do my evaluation. Whereas the other places has a more open availability.

So that day I went in and provided a urine sample (they watched me pee, a little awkward). Gave blood, and a hair sample.

Then I talked to their Psychologist. Explained what lead up to my injury, what happened after. He asked if I had any addictions that run in my family, if I had any mental health issues, when I started smoking weed, if I did any other drugs, how often I smoked weed, and how much.

Then I had to do this computer test with like 300 questions and basically it's a bunch of questions that figure out your type of personality. Nothing hard, but annoying nonetheless. Questions about usage, scenarios, things like that. They also ask you to provide 2 people as references they can call to ask about you, if you have any issues or problems.

Then the Dr makes his report with suggestions and submits it to IPN.

I ended up on a 5 year contract. I was required to complete an 8 week Outpatient Program before being able to return to work. They give you a list of places you that are IPN approved. So I called around to the facilities and asked about their pricing and if they offered payment plans. Everyone I spoke to was so hesitant to tell me the cost and acted like they didn't know. Or said they'd get back to me, which they never did. They were so quick to talk about the effectiveness of their program but once I started asking about money (which I have the RIGHT to know) it was like pulling teeth and a huge turnoff!!!!

Anyways, one of the places were in Port Charolette and I ended up picking that one because the Psychiatrist was SO KIND and actually answered all of my questions. She explained the cost ($3,800) and allowed a monthly payment system at whatever cost you chose. As long as you sign a contract saying you will pay her back, she will indeed work with you. She's so understanding of the entire process. Right now I am only paying her $25/month just because I have had some major financial hits lately. My insurance only paid like $500 of the treatment because it was out of network, but that's ok. Anyways she sets up meetings with you and is pretty flexible with her schedule. You go through this book with sections and lessons and whatnot. She truly cares about you. Once you're done you do another urine drug screen, and she submits her recommendations to IPN and they will clear you to go back to work.

Once you're in IPN and back to work. You will likely have to attend a 1hr weekly support group meetings with a facilitator and other RN's. My group was $20 each session, but have since moved to another group and its $12.50 each session. You may have to go to AA meetings which are free.

And you WILL get randomly drug tested.

You must check into IPN's system (which you can download on an app) M-F from 4am-2pm and see if you will be tested that day. If you are tested it's usually urine and you have to pay IPN $55 each time you get tested. But they can do hair, blood, anything at any time (this is usually rare. I'm in since October and have yet to have this happen). You get tested at least 2 times a month. Most Ive gotten was 3-4 You must go to a Labcorp location. If you go to a different location you have to pay the $55 plus whatever cost the location itsself charges (usually an additional $20) and you have to fill out this additional form. Once you do your test you enter your form number on the IPN App.

Oh also, Labcorp has a contract with IPN and even if you don't have an appointment they HAVE to take you right away. This is so nurses who work day shifts can get tested immediately and can get right back to work. If they give you issues, tell them about the contract. If they still give you issues, call you IPN case manager and she will contact them so they will take you immediately because IPN pays them for this service and they cannot break their contract.

I personally work nights so I don't have this issue. I usually just make an appointment or go first thing when they open.

Cost breakdown

Evaluation: ~$800-~$2,000

Outpatient Program: ~$3,800

Monthly Support Group Meetings: $50-100/month

Random drug screens: Minimum $110/month

NOW!! A few things to consider

1) You need to get the ball rolling ASAP. You have like 3 days to call IPN to get your list of evaluators, I waited until the third day. I'd advise you to call right away. IPN is VERY slow when it comes to getting around to you. So they took a few days to get back to me and communicating with them is not all that easy as they usually respond slow.

2) Once you get your list of evaluators call ASAP. And if you CAN afford it. Take whoever can see you first. I waited a month just to save some money but it was SO not worth it because it meant 1 extra month of me not working.

-- Also on the topic of evaluators. I hated my guy in Tampa (idr his name but I think it was XYZ.) honestly he made me feel very uncomfortable. I was already as nervous as it was. He definitely had a huge ego so I didn't feel comfortable talking with him and telling him my story, and in the end slapped me with a 5 year contract because he thought I was lying. When it really should have been 2, but whatever. I mean, idk, he just made me feel so uncomfortable that i didn't want to tell him the whole story. Which in hindsight wasn't that bad. I liked smoking weed, did it socially since late high school/early college, sometimes daily, sometimes not. Didn't like drinking alcohol. Never tried any other drugs. Then when I got into Nursing I definitely cut back a lot. And was ironically quitting when I got hurt. Go figure!

-- Also DO NOT try to dilute your urine tests. At any point. They test for it. So those over the counter things you can buy at GNC, don't even bother. It'll come back negative for drugs, but positive for dilution so it's an automatic fail. That's another thing that got me the 5 year contract. Mine was dilute because I stupidly had a "**** it" night 2 weeks prior to my test and smoked a few blunts with my friends. So I drank one of those. Dumb move.

3) Ask everyone the cost of everything. You have the right to know what you're paying!

4) be very patient. IPN is slow and so is the initial evaluation. My guy took almost 2 weeks to submit my recommendations to IPN then it took IPN a few days to send me my list of Outpatient programs. My OP lady was VERY fast though, I cannot say a bad thing about her. But after my OP program, IPN took another week or 2 to allow me to return to work.

Again, please be on top of things. What took me a long 4 months really should have only taken 2-3 had I 1-started from day 1 and not waited 2- not waited a month to go to Tampa just to save some money.

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Also I wanted to mention that you may not always show up on the BON website as such. My license is clear/active with no instances.

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Did you self report yourself to the board? Trying to decide for myself if I should self report.

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I wouldn't report myself to the board. If you are self reporting to IPN, you are doing everything you've been instructed to do. IPN is in lieu of reporting to the board.

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Some states you don't report to the board, you report to the alternative program instead. Other states, you do report to both. In my state, you must report to the board for it to count as a "self report" and his is the only way to qualify for alternative to discipline. In my state, you if you self report after someone else reports you, it doesn't count and you lose your chance at the alternative to discipline. You have to do it before, with a few exceptions (like if you were hospitalized during the time someone reported you). Anyway, these programs are all different with different rules so please look into the specifics of your state's program.

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No I'm just playing the waiting game. But my lawyer said it's going to happen.

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How long did it take for you to get your letter of investigation ?

SW Florida IPN Nurse here! So I got hurt on the job and tested positive for marijuana. Just something I did occasionally as socially, never came to work high and would never consider doing something like that.

So I got a call from the doctor who does the drug screens, he asked if I had a prescription for it, I said no. Then he had to report me. Then a few days later my job called me and they put me on a leave on absence. Thankfully they did not fire me. I had 3 days to call IPN and begin the process.

They'll send you for an evaluation with an addiction specialist. They gave me a list of 3 providers near me so I called them up and asked about their rates and what would happen.

Tampa - ~$800

Sarasota - ~$1,200-1,500

Miami- $~2,000

(Tampa price included the cost of drug screen. I don't recall of the Sarasota or Miami pricing included the cost of drug screens, so be sure to ask when they call)

Needless to say I chose the Tampa one. HOWEVER I had to wait a little over a month to do my evaluation. Whereas the other places has a more open availability.

So that day I went in and provided a urine sample (they watched me pee, a little awkward). Gave blood, and a hair sample.

Then I talked to their Psychologist. Explained what lead up to my injury, what happened after. He asked if I had any addictions that run in my family, if I had any mental health issues, when I started smoking weed, if I did any other drugs, how often I smoked weed, and how much.

Then I had to do this computer test with like 300 questions and basically it's a bunch of questions that figure out your type of personality. Nothing hard, but annoying nonetheless. Questions about usage, scenarios, things like that. They also ask you to provide 2 people as references they can call to ask about you, if you have any issues or problems.

Then the Dr makes his report with suggestions and submits it to IPN.

I ended up on a 5 year contract. I was required to complete an 8 week Outpatient Program before being able to return to work. They give you a list of places you that are IPN approved. So I called around to the facilities and asked about their pricing and if they offered payment plans. Everyone I spoke to was so hesitant to tell me the cost and acted like they didn't know. Or said they'd get back to me, which they never did. They were so quick to talk about the effectiveness of their program but once I started asking about money (which I have the RIGHT to know) it was like pulling teeth and a huge turnoff!!!!

Anyways, one of the places were in Port Charolette and I ended up picking that one because the Psychiatrist was SO KIND and actually answered all of my questions. She explained the cost ($3,800) and allowed a monthly payment system at whatever cost you chose. As long as you sign a contract saying you will pay her back, she will indeed work with you. She's so understanding of the entire process. Right now I am only paying her $25/month just because I have had some major financial hits lately. My insurance only paid like $500 of the treatment because it was out of network, but that's ok. Anyways she sets up meetings with you and is pretty flexible with her schedule. You go through this book with sections and lessons and whatnot. She truly cares about you. Once you're done you do another urine drug screen, and she submits her recommendations to IPN and they will clear you to go back to work.

Once you're in IPN and back to work. You will likely have to attend a 1hr weekly support group meetings with a facilitator and other RN's. My group was $20 each session, but have since moved to another group and its $12.50 each session. You may have to go to AA meetings which are free.

And you WILL get randomly drug tested.

You must check into IPN's system (which you can download on an app) M-F from 4am-2pm and see if you will be tested that day. If you are tested it's usually urine and you have to pay IPN $55 each time you get tested. But they can do hair, blood, anything at any time (this is usually rare. I'm in since October and have yet to have this happen). You get tested at least 2 times a month. Most Ive gotten was 3-4 You must go to a Labcorp location. If you go to a different location you have to pay the $55 plus whatever cost the location itsself charges (usually an additional $20) and you have to fill out this additional form. Once you do your test you enter your form number on the IPN App.

Oh also, Labcorp has a contract with IPN and even if you don't have an appointment they HAVE to take you right away. This is so nurses who work day shifts can get tested immediately and can get right back to work. If they give you issues, tell them about the contract. If they still give you issues, call you IPN case manager and she will contact them so they will take you immediately because IPN pays them for this service and they cannot break their contract.

I personally work nights so I don't have this issue. I usually just make an appointment or go first thing when they open.

Cost breakdown

Evaluation: ~$800-~$2,000

Outpatient Program: ~$3,800

Monthly Support Group Meetings: $50-100/month

Random drug screens: Minimum $110/month

NOW!! A few things to consider

1) You need to get the ball rolling ASAP. You have like 3 days to call IPN to get your list of evaluators, I waited until the third day. I'd advise you to call right away. IPN is VERY slow when it comes to getting around to you. So they took a few days to get back to me and communicating with them is not all that easy as they usually respond slow.

2) Once you get your list of evaluators call ASAP. And if you CAN afford it. Take whoever can see you first. I waited a month just to save some money but it was SO not worth it because it meant 1 extra month of me not working.

-- Also on the topic of evaluators. I hated my guy in Tampa (idr his name but I think it was XYZ) honestly he made me feel very uncomfortable. I was already as nervous as it was. He definitely had a huge ego so I didn't feel comfortable talking with him and telling him my story, and in the end slapped me with a 5 year contract because he thought I was lying. When it really should have been 2, but whatever. I mean, idk, he just made me feel so uncomfortable that i didn't want to tell him the whole story. Which in hindsight wasn't that bad. I liked smoking weed, did it socially since late high school/early college, sometimes daily, sometimes not. Didn't like drinking alcohol. Never tried any other drugs. Then when I got into Nursing I definitely cut back a lot. And was ironically quitting when I got hurt. Go figure!

-- Also DO NOT try to dilute your urine tests. At any point. They test for it. So those over the counter things you can buy at GNC, don't even bother. It'll come back negative for drugs, but positive for dilution so it's an automatic fail. That's another thing that got me the 5 year contract. Mine was dilute because I stupidly had a "**** it" night 2 weeks prior to my test and smoked a few blunts with my friends. So I drank one of those. Dumb move.

3) Ask everyone the cost of everything. You have the right to know what you're paying!

4) be very patient. IPN is slow and so is the initial evaluation. My guy took almost 2 weeks to submit my recommendations to IPN then it took IPN a few days to send me my list of Outpatient programs. My OP lady was VERY fast though, I cannot say a bad thing about her. But after my OP program, IPN took another week or 2 to allow me to return to work.

Again, please be on top of things. What took me a long 4 months really should have only taken 2-3 had I 1-started from day 1 and not waited 2- not waited a month to go to Tampa just to save some money.

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No I didn't called a lawyer

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Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.
SW Florida IPN Nurse here! .......

WOW! What a superior pain in the azz. Thank you michelle4SN for the full breakdown of the process.

I am getting so disgusted with the "recovery" process for nurses. It really is just a system of punishment and money grubbing.

I will keep this thread handy as a go-to link for the folks out there thinking of trying to combine recreational drugs with a nursing career.

I live in Washington State where weed is legal by state law but very much a no no for employers.

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I read that and it's terrible. Those fees are outrageous. It does sound like excessive punishment, and for something that is legal in so many states.

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