Telling current employer about Adderall XR script

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hello everybody! I just have a quick question. I have been working at my current job for about a year now and my Dr. recently prescribed me Adderall XR. I have had ADD all my life, and have been on ADD medication before but not when I got hired (and did my pre employment drug screen) because I didn't have insurance at the time and so I never had to bring it up. We do random drug screening so I was wondering if I should tell my employer now that I'm on it and provide the script information or should I wait until I get a random drug screen and then provide the information and bring in the bottle? I love my job but they are pretty judgmental here, they still talk about an old employee and bring up all the time that she was on adderall (not sure why it matters?!) My supervisor and all of my co workers knew about it. I don't want to be judged for being on a medication I am prescribed but also don't want to get in trouble for not telling them. I have to double check but I think in the employee hand book it says to tell the supervisor about any medications you are on. Any advice would be great, thank you!

springchick1, ADN, RN

1 Article; 1,769 Posts

I don't take any prescription medications but I'm not sure I would want to work at a place where I have to tell my employer what medication I'm on. I don't see that it's any of their business as long as an not impaired and can do my job. If policy says you have to inform your employer then you need to tell them. If not, I wouldn't say anything. You can prove you have a prescription for it. There are lots of nurses out there who take medication for ADD. and you may not be the only one where you work.

edmia, BSN, RN

827 Posts

Specializes in Emergency, ICU.

Your medical records are confidential. Don't share this information with your employer unless needed. When they do random drug screening, do they send you to an outside lab or do it in house? If it's an outside lab, they only report whether you passed or failed (and if drugs you are prescribed show up, you pass). In house lab, I'm not sure if your information would remain private as we all know people talk. But hey, if people do talk, you can sue their butts off ;)

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Specializes in ICU.

It doesn't matter WHAT policy says. That is your medical information and is private. I would only disclose this information if asked for a random drug screen. None. Of. Their. Business.

PsychieZ

2 Posts

I'm pretty sure they would do it in house. I work at a addictions treatment center and we have to drug test patients all of the time so they have access to everything they need. I think they just 10 panel it and then send it into a lab for confirmation.

edmia, BSN, RN

827 Posts

Specializes in Emergency, ICU.

Oh I missed the part about it being required to share what meds you take. That is a strange policy but I guess they don't want you dealing to patients or something like that? If it is policy, I guess you'd have to disclose then but I am not comfortable with this at all. It really is none of their business!

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