False positive drugs alcohol on job

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Specializes in ICU.

I am an ICU RN for 8 years in CA. March 26, 2024 after my 12.5 hr shift I was asked absurd questions (if I was intoxicated, what medications I'm on, if I'm an IV drug user, etc) I voluntarily suggested to just get screened. They drew my blood alcohol, stated my level was at 0.325! I weigh 85-90lbs and I definitely wouldn't be coherent, able to walk, able to complete my 12.5hr shift, and would probably be a hot mess/close to being in a coma/blacked out. I requested to complete my urine drug screen (I hadn't used the restroom the entire shift and got taken off the floor at the end of shift doing my closing notes) and absolutely no specimens were labeled. They said I was positive for COCAINE! I've never done it in my life. I requested a retest, they said the test was accurate, made me speak with a social worker regarding addiction for cocaine and alcohol, then sent me on my way home once someone from the unit brought my belongings down. No paperwork other than rehab sources and let me just drive home. I got retested elsewhere and got all negative results. Only the alcohol test I couldn't get drawn without a requisition. I did my own home tests and recorded them (didn't show any of my goods) but through the whole process it is clear that nothing was tampered with. I also bought a breathalyzer within 50min of leaving work and showed a level of 0.00. I'm now in a situation where I know I'll be reported to the board and my wellbeing, career, and passion is now at a really high risk of being taken from me. I just got accepted into CRNA school and now I am in a situation where I'm still waiting for the BRN to contact me. 
 

(I already got a lawyer but haven't paid to obtain counsel given I'm waiting for something to come through from the BRN. 

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Time to contact company if you have it.  Listen to lawyers advice. I'd suggest date edit of your post for increased annonimity as any public posting like on this site discoverable along with unidentifiable user name.

Hope you've written out account of above issues for your records including list of names of staff you worked with that day for references re your behavior and vouching skills/care you provided that day.   Your not the first person to post here that end of long 12+hr shift relieved for suspicion of drug use.  Could easily have seen this happening to me when I worked in the hospital years ago night shift and new mother.  

Consider counseling for dealing with stress over situation for optimal emotional well being.  ((HUGS))) to you.    Vent away anytime.  Please keep in touch to update your situation. 

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Specializes in ICU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH! I will definitely keep in touch. But I'm so grateful to your guidance. I appreciate you🙏🏽🤍

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Specializes in ICU.

Oh and it was after my night shift too! Someone from day shift made an accusation and they interviewed only 1 nurse from my shift (charge nurse) and then day shift nurses. My charge obviously said I was perfectly fine (otherwise it would only be appropriate for her to do something about it during our shift for pt safety). 

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Specializes in Prior military RN/current ICU RN..

Yes if you had a positive alcohol at work and you popped for cocaine at work that is not good.  I guess you may need a lawyer.  The liability issues of drug/alcohol use at work are immense.  Multi million dollar lawsuits have been filed over medical staff being under the influence of drugs/alcohol. Even a patient where nothing happens decides their care was compromised could sue (they say they received poor care and it caused x, y, or z).  Good luck.  

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Hard to believe it was a false positive.  More likely It would have been due to mixing your sample with someone else's maybe from the ER who was a drinker on drugs and for that to happen I would think that would be deliberate.  So do you think there is someone at your workplace that would try to sabotage your job and career to that extent?  Don't know how you can prove that though.  By now the blood sample has probably been discarded so you couldn't check it to see if it was your blood type or DNA I would imagine.

Only thing I can say is get a lawyer now, one familiar with nursing board issues, don't wait till the BON contacts you as that could be a year from now.  You could get a hair test to show you never took coke but don't know how that would help regarding alcohol unless you are not a drinker at all.

This will seriously impact your career as a nurse and your ability to go to CRNA school.  

For anyone else that ever would find themselves in such an odd situation, the only thing I could suggest is go to the ER and try to get another alcohol, drug screen at another hospital.  Of course, that would cost money and no guarantee they agree to do it.  I would think they would call the police to keep you from driving if you had a high alcohol level and then they could check it as well to hopefully prove it was a false positive.

To the OP if you do drink as someone who weighs less than 100 pounds it wouldn't take much alcohol to raise your level.  If you had drunk the day before, it might take a while to get out of your system.  I hope you can get this fixed with the help of a lawyer, but you may end up in a monitoring program of 3-5 years if you can't prove it wasn't your blood.

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They thought you were > 0.3% and let you drive home? Something smells.

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Sounds like you were screened with an ELISA dipstick? These are a screen only. Many drugs can cause a false positive. They are presumptive only, until a GCMS lab confirmation is performed.

I'd also ask to see the chain of custody forms.

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Specializes in Nurse Attorney.

Did you actually see the lab report?

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