Help! I need advice!

[lildee67]

Hello to everyone,

I have been a nurse since 1997. I got addicted to opiates and surrendered my nursing license.

I completed in patient and out patient treatment. I had a very hard time trying to stay clean. I was diagnosed with bilateral Posterior tibial tendinopathy. It is extremely painful, and frustrating, because I want and need to work, but I have no control over my own feet and ankles. If I am walking around for more than six hours straight they start to swell up to the point where I can not get my shoes off alone. The pain is like having a hot coal poker stabbed into the insides of your ankles and feet. Aleve helps, but not enough.

I can NOT take opiates, and I WILL Not take opiates. After two consultations with orthopedic Doc's, and one consultation with my regular Doc and two more consults with a pain management Doctor, I decided to take suboxone. Taking suboxone for me has been a life saver. I have been on the program for two years. I can manage the pain with 1 aleve and my regular dose of suboxone, and work an entire shift.

I got my nursing license back a few months ago. I live in NY State, on Long Island. My nursing license is not restricted. My employer must submit quarterly reports on my progress, and I attend SPAN or NA meeting at least once a month. I have not had any cravings to use any opiates at all. Suboxone helps me not only stay clean, but it helps me with the pain so I can go back to work and financially support myself. I have been applying for nursing positions every where.

I have been declined work because I surrendered my license voluntarily, and admitted to having an opiate addiction. Even trying to explain to employers that suboxone is not just an "insurance policy" for me, but for where ever I work as a nurse. Suboxone has naloxone with the buprenorphine, I take the strips, and there is no way to remove the naloxone. Naloxone is an opiate agonist, which means that if I'm taking suboxone, I can not take opiates, unless I want to take a trip to the emergency room.

I was interviewed last week, and finally offered a nursing position. I am supposed to start work and orientation this coming Thursday 2/12/2015. I did not tell my interviewer that I am on suboxone. I was not asked any questions regarding medication I take. As I was leaving the interview, so glad and relieved to finally have a job again, I was handed a Labcorp lab slip, to give a urine for a 10 panel drug screen. I was speechless for a second, and then I said "Thank you". I looked up a 10 panel drug screen for Labcorp. The last drug they test for on the panel is methadone. I have never taken methadone in my life.

Three months ago I applied for a nursing position, and they said I tested positive for methadone. I told them the same thing, I have never taken methadone. I told the woman that I was taking suboxone, by prescription, Legally. Needless to say they did not believe me. I am not sure what to do. I researched methadone and suboxone, and they are in the same drug classification. I am not sure though, if taking suboxone will test positive for methadone. I went to my pain management Doctor yesterday, and they assured me that I should NOT test positive to anything on a 10 panel drug screen.

The internet says different, and that people on suboxone will test positive for methadone. My pain management Doctor wrote me a note, stating that I am in a suboxone program. I have been debating all weekend about what I should do. I decided that even though I feel that I have a right to privacy and HIPPA, I will go to the Director that hired me last week, and explain why I am on suboxone, and give her my Doctors note. Then I will give my urine to labcorp, and show them my Doctors note as well. If I am going to test positive to anything, I am going to prove that I take suboxone and I have a legal and legitimate prescription.

As far as the law in NY State, I am not sure if a nurse can be on suboxone. I am guessing that when my new employer sends a progress report to the OPD in NYS, that she may include that I am taking suboxone. I have two questions, and if anyone here can possibly answer them, I will be forever in your debt.

1) What would you do about having to give a urine for a drug screen, while taking suboxone? Would you tell your employer you are on suboxone and give her the Doctor note and then drop off urine to lab?

2) Does anyone know if in NY State a nurse can be on suboxone and still work as a nurse?

PLEASE help me ASAP ! I have to take care of the drug test tomorrow !

Thank you for any help and advice :)

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Welcome!

I moved your thread to it's own thread.

[lildee67]

Thank you Esme12 :)

[CryssieD]

I don't know what the Board will say, but I suspect they will be concerned. Hopefully your prospective employer will not report you to the Board--I don't know if it's mandated in New York that they report positive drug screens. The doctor's note and explanation may help. Have you tried Neurontin or the tricyclics for pain management? They are generally considered safe for people in recovery, and may not be considered "potentially impairing" medications by the Board. Good luck--I hope it works out well for you; I see you putting your recovery first (you absolutely won't take narcotics) and that is awesome--keep it up!