increased drug testing in CA

Nurses Recovery

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Hi all

I made a previous post about testing positive on a PETH test in the state of CA while on probation. This was back in September.

So for the month of October, I was tested a total of *8*, yes eight times. This comes out to over 500 dollars in FirstLab fees. 600 if you include the collection lab fees. I called my case manager asking if the number of my random drug screens were increased and he wouldn't give me a clear cut answer, only telling me to call FirstLab.. I call FirstLab and the lady says "I'm right at where I should be". I've talked to other nurses on probation and they only got tested 3-4 times in the month of October. I was tested on Oct 30th (Sunday) and today November 1st so I know this BS isn't random and that they are trying to catch me dirty since it was Halloween weekend.

Does anyone know if this is a normal outcome after being tested positive on a PETH? And also, will I continue to be tested 8 times a month or will it decrease starting this month atleast? I don't understand how the board expects me to pay 600 dollars a month in drug testing fees alone when I can't even work as a RN. (the positive was due to an honest mistake of drinking non-alcoholic beer not that it matters to the board). If I continue to get drug tested 8 times a month I'm going to just say **** it and surrender my license cause I don't know how the BRN expects me to comply with the terms of my probation yet I can't even work as a nurse. I have to wait for paperwork from the attorney generals office and who knows how long that is going to take. This whole thing is a joke and I regret choosing nursing as a career.

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I feel your pain. I was tested 6 times in August alone and I am not working as well. It is impossible to pay $600.00 a month on no income. It is a ticket for failure. It doesn't matter if you are doing your best to follow all the requirements it seems like a punishment for good behavior. Why isn't there financial assistance or a scholarship to help during the time we are not allowed to work? The stress of not working is bad enough, the humility of losing a job, losing our reputation is all too real. And supposedly there is No stigma attached to this disease?

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Specializes in OR.

There is no kind of financial assistance because nobody cares that you are a thin thread away from being homeless. These programs are about $$$$$$$ and power. It seems to a problem that is endemic to all of these programs. They are setup so that you puke up a lot of money and then either go broke or give up in frustration and walk away.

They may claim otherwise, but someone, somewhere is making a killing off of us. Whether it is ownership in Affinity or another one of those setups or financial interest in some treatment facility that gleans most of their business from IPN/PRN referrals, or people that work for these things that have to justify the existence of their job, or even individuals with a wide sadistic streak (I got screwed by this so I'm gonna pass it on.)

I suspect that very few people enter the world of these programs without having some kind of addiction/mental health issues in their background, whether family or selves. It perplexes me that such people would have zero compassion for others in the same situation.

Addiction/mental health is a disease unless you are a healthcare worker. In which case it is a moral failing and you should be mercilessly punished. Makes a lot of sense, right? Not!

I have come to the conclusion that all this is another example of the poison and greed that has infiltrated the American healthcare system. Few really give two shakes about anyone else unless there is some advantage to themselves to be had. Sad.

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Yes- that is normal to have the frequency of testing increase after a positive test. The terms were spelled out from my testing provider- first year monitoring 24-36 tests, if positive a minimum of 52 tests...

It seems the frequency goes down fairly quickly.

The program can be punitive, I had to cash out my 401k, credit cards, etc... but I made it through with my license clear, (I haven't worked as a RN since...)

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Specializes in GENERAL.

OP,

Seriously OP, you're putting the adoring audience on. Aren't you?

If you're clean, why have suspicions the suits are picking on you?

Look I'm a full-fledged anarchist, gadfly about superfluous drug testing but at this point if you're loaded or semi-loaded OTJ how are you or the institution going to explain why the Nipride drip mysteriousy bolused and killed grandma?

There are enough snakes behind every tree in the hospital setting without tempting this devil.

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It doesnt have to do with "being loaded".... if you understood this program you would know the hassle that comes witb drug testing so frequently... gotta make it to your particular site by a particular time, always have cell service, always checking in, always having your forms, id, etc. Oh and my drug testing cost me $800 /mo the past two months. I am always a "new-old" grad never worked as an RN with duis 12yrs ago. So there is more to it then just being loaded....

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