New grad & I just got a job- I need advice

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Geriatrics, In-Home Care, Community Based Nursing.

Hey everyone! As I stated in the title, I'm a new grad (YAY!) and I finally was able to get my first clinical nurse job. Its at an extremely prestigious hospital.

I already got the position and start in November byt I am about to go in for my pre-employeement visit where they'll be doing a physical, drug test and what not.

I was filling out some of the paperwork in preperation for the physical and it asked about current medications. I have ADD, anxiety and depression so I listed the medications; by the way I am prescribed for them.

I also take suboxone. I take it for 2 reasons- I have fibromyalgia and it helps with some of the pain without having to take painkillers like Percocet, etc. I also take it because about 6 years ago I used pain meds to self-medicate my fibromyalgia, depression and anxiety; I obviously got off of the pills and started suboxone as a way to come off the pills and manage my pain. Also, It's prescribed.

I do not want to put down that I take suboxone because there's a HUGE stigma that comes with being on suboxone and I don't want to be judged, I'm also scared that they will tell me that I'm not hired anymore...

I understand why there is a stigma, but I don't fit it and I'm scared that they wont see that. Because I already have 3 other medications that are listed, I don't want them to think im incapable of the job...

I personally feel like I shouldn't have to explain myself as long as I have valid prescriptions for my medications and valid reasons for taking them; but they might not see it that way.

should I put include my suboxone on the list? I don't want to lie and feel like it's bad karma to lie to them right off the bat, but I just don't know what to do.

I really need some advice...

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Specializes in Hospital medicine; NP precepting; staff education.

If they're doing a drug test on you, you'll have to show them all of it. (Unless their UDS does not check for that specific metabolite.) But it's hard to say if they do. They won't advertise if they are.

I have no advice, but do wish you well. Good luck!

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should I put include my suboxone on the list? I don't want to lie and feel like it's bad karma to lie to them right off the bat, but I just don't know what to do.

I really need some advice...

It has nothing to do with karma- if they're drug testing you, you need to list every drug that you're legally taking. I definitely wouldn't mention the history of self-medicating to anyone, though.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, In-Home Care, Community Based Nursing.

Thank you for your advice. So I'll list the medication; do I explain the reason for the medication right off the bat or should I wait and see if they ask?

Can they 'rebuke' my position, because I have already been hired and signed the paperwork, based solely on me being prescribed suboxone?

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Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

Suboxone shows up on a lot of screens, even the simple one we do in our clinic....

i would not not mention self medicating for whatever reason,

just your prescribed meds.......

but it it is my understanding that many BON, do not approve of suboxone.....I would search your BON website online, and see what you can find out......

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Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

It may not be up to them, it may be your BON position, thus my prior post suggested

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Thank you for your advice. So I'll list the medication; do I explain the reason for the medication right off the bat or should I wait and see if they ask?

Can they 'rebuke' my position, because I have already been hired and signed the paperwork, based solely on me being prescribed suboxone?

Don't explain too soon and don't over explain. A little research, as sally suggested, may not be a bad idea though.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, In-Home Care, Community Based Nursing.

Okay, great advice guys, thank you so much! You're absolutely right, I certainly wont go into detail in regards to self-medicating.

And what do you guys mean when you said, "BON position" and "BON, do not approve of suboxone"?

does that mean that some states literally won't let you get hired as an RN if you're on suboxone?!?!

Goodness, I'm literally freaking out right now...

That's crazy to me because there's many people on suboxone that are on it for other reasons that substance abuse.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, In-Home Care, Community Based Nursing.

I'm having a hard time locating where on the BON site it has this information on.

Also, when I was filling out the paperwork, where is says to list my medications- I was going to write in what i was prescribed each one for, but after what you guys have been saying, should I just keep it simple and short and just list them?

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Specializes in Geriatrics, In-Home Care, Community Based Nursing.

I did find one piece of information on it. I found something on my state's BON from 2011 and it said that at that point, they didnt have any 'rules' against it. So im hoping that they haven't changed it since then..

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I'm having a hard time locating where on the BON site it has this information on.

Also, when I was filling out the paperwork, where is says to list my medications- I was going to write in what i was prescribed each one for, but after what you guys have been saying, should I just keep it simple and short and just list them?

I did find one piece of information on it. I found something on my state's BON from 2011 and it said that at that point, they didnt have any 'rules' against it. So im hoping that they haven't changed it since then..

Good luck! And yes, keep it simple. If it does become an issue at any point, you may even want to seek legal advice to ensure the best outcome. When you're talking about using suboxone to "come off the pills" you were self-medicating with, that sounds like something that the BON would have already required disclosure of when initially applying for a license. Tread with caution.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, In-Home Care, Community Based Nursing.
Good luck! And yes, keep it simple. If it does become an issue at any point, you may even want to seek legal advice to ensure the best outcome. When you're talking about using suboxone to "come off the pills" you were self-medicating with, that sounds like something that the BON would have already required disclosure of when initially applying for a license. Tread with caution.

thank you very much!

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