Help I took a percoset and Im a new Hire!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hi I need your advice

Today I was offered a position at a Dr Office and I was given a saliva drug screening (rapid test) and I passed, but i had to give blood today and i didnot ask what it was for becuase i didnt think anything of it. Im just a little worried becuase on saturday evening(today is monday) I took one of my husband generics for percocet for this unberable pain i had in my back. I dont know if shes doing a blood test for drugs or something else. I just wanted to know if anybody knows the average half life of oxycodone I did some reaserch and the internet says it can be an average of 4 -5 hours but im unsure and also do you guys know what employers test for when they do a blood test. I'm so nervous and need some advice

thanks

Specializes in Telemetry, ICU.
...and after I became a nurse...well, I worked too hard to get my license to give it away by being foolish...

Same here!

I was selected for a random screen about a month ago, and they drew blood and took a urine sample. Both negative :D because I'm a cool kid who doesn't do drugs... lol

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Good luck!

(I typed a post where I shared a story of how taking a pill prescribed to someone else hugely impacted my life but decided it was too personal. Sorry..)

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Specializes in Addiction, Psych, Geri, Hospice, MedSurg.
Do all of you mean to tell me you have never taken a pain pill that was in your family's medicine cabinet if you were in severe pain? I would never ever advise doing this on the regular, but come on.

Do you mean you do? You risk a random drug screen. You risk your license? And "severe pain," if I were in severe enough pain to want to steal a PAIN pill (narcotic) from one of my family members, then I think it would be serious enough for me to go to the doctors or ER...

But, I am one of those people who still believe advil and aleve can do amazing things... and "moderate to heavy" opiates are for just that - mild or severe pain... And, most should be seen first before willie nilile taking them.

Not trying to be "holier than thou" or a prude, but dern, really? A little bit of pain is worth risking your nursing license? Why not just go smoke some weed every now and again, too... it is just as illegal (unless you have a prescription).

Just my $0.2, which is worth just that.

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Specializes in Student.

Yea I have, but just like the others say; if u r looking for a job in the medical field, u should've hold out, or if the pain was that bad u should've went to your doctor, so if they ask any question u could've had proof without worry. Good Luck!!!!! :nono: :up:

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Specializes in Telemetry, ICU.
...or if the pain was that bad u should've went to your doctor...

Agreed. If it was un-controlled by OTC meds, then it is serious enough to be evaluated by a physician...

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Ummmmm - if y'all can go to the ER and be evaluated for something that is not life-threatening then you have more money or better insurance than I do! No, it wasn't good to take another person's Rx for a narcotic when you can get drug tested at any time, but I can tell you won't be doing that again, so give yourself a break and just consider it a lesson learned!

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.
The blood is probably for vaccine titers.

.

That makes a lot of sense :up:

Of course the moralistic saber rattling elsewhere in this thread isn't helping Cindy's anxiety any.

She made a mistake in judgement...let it go.

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That makes a lot of sense :up:

Of course the moralistic saber rattling elsewhere in this thread isn't helping Cindy's anxiety any.

She made a mistake in judgement...let it go.

No kidding! I can just see them looking down their noses at the OP while wagging their finger as they type...:) Some may even be sipping a little booze (because its legal right) at the same time while chastening. OP I would also think the blood test is not for a drug screen. You might want to get that pain checked by an MD so you dont have to worry about this in the future if it occurs again. Good luck with your new job.

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Never heard of blood testing for pre-employment drug screening. In my corner of the world, they use urine for pre-employment drug testing. I've given blood to my employer for immunization titers, though.

I, too, have taken a Vicodin offered to me by a family member when I was having uterine fibroid pain that was unresponsive to ibuprofen. I had a doctor's appointment already, and sorry, but I am NOT going to the ED for uterine fibroids. I have a high pain tolerance and generally won't even take ibuprofen for mild to moderate pain, but after three days of unrelenting abdominal cramping, I grudgingly took the offered med, and was glad when it worked and I was able to get a good night's sleep.

However, I might have cause for pause if I were seeking employment and thought I might be subjected to a pre-employment drug screen, even though I am against them philosophically, as I believe they violate our right to privacy.

But since I like to live in a house and have food to eat, I pee in a cup.

Anyway, to the OP, I wouldn't worry too much. It's probably for titers, but lesson learned, right?

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.
Do all of you mean to tell me you have never taken a pain pill that was in your family's medicine cabinet if you were in severe pain? I would never ever advise doing this on the regular, but come on.

Cindy - Hello. I have been there, done that. I took one of Dad's Tylenol no. 3 when I couldn't even get in touch with my PCP. I knew it wasn't a good idea, he even tried to make me feel better, "oh, 1 won't matter!"

He was right, I didn't get called for a drug test at work, but I could have.

3 or 4 yrs later, I was caught diverting and had to enter the state' RNP. That was a LONG 3 yrs!!

I'm not saying this will be u in the future, but I didn't think it'd be me. Personally, ur probably ok, but heed all the posters words of "wisdom".

Anne, RNC

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Hopefully it was just for the titers. If so then you have learned a valuable lesson as to what NOT to do before a job interview. Good luck at your new job, let us know how it goes!!

Pink

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Specializes in Family Practice, Mental Health.

I did not look to see what state you reside in, however, there are guidelines that are generally followed regarding the collection of a sample for drug testing.

In order for a sample to be upheld as unadulterated in a court of law, a "Chain of Custody" form is completed at the time the sample is collected. Data is gathered and entered onto this form at many stages from sample collection to final reporting of results. This form usually requires your signature on it verifying that you, indeed, belong to the sample that is about to be collected.

The individual should be made aware of the testing of drugs in whatever sample is given - there are numerous, numerous medicines and preparations that will give a false-positive drug test. Ingest enough poppy seeds on that bagel that you ate last evening, and you may very well show a false positive for Opioids. Got something nasal going on and taking sudafed? - you could test false-positive for Amphetamines. Got menstrual cramps really bad and taking a lot of Pamprin - guess what - you could show a false positive for - - - - - - - - - - - Marijuana!

You really need to be given the opportunity to list the medications - both Rx and OTC that you take before a sample is taken for a drug test, and if you do get an undesirable result, you should be informed as such, and given a chance to retest - although it will probably be on your own dime the second time around.

As for the opioids such as Percocet, the metabolites may very likely be detectable in steadily decreasing amounts for up to 5 - 7 days.

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