Just took random drug test

[learninglessons12]

Hello everyone.

I was working last Sunday and at the end of my shift the OA came up to me and asked me to walk with her. I asked her if I had done something wrong, she told me I was fine but she escorted me off the unit. She then told me that one of my patients family members stated that I looked like I was under the influence. She told me I had to submit to a urine and blood test immediately. I told I did not want to and she stated that I would be reported to the BON if I refused. Long story short, I was not inebriated but I smoke weed on my days off. It is now Thursday and I still haven't heard anything back. My manager called me before I was scheduled to work to tell me not to report to work until the situation is resolved. I fully expect the test to come back positive for THC. I am so scared and I do not know what to do. It feels like the end of the world. So what can I expect to happen next? Will it be easier to pursue another career than to go through TPAPN? I have researched the TPAPN process and it seems so humiliating. I don't know what to do. I know I need to admit I have a problem and I am almost there but not quite. Any advice, Please?

[oldERrn]

I had a problem with prescription drugs about 2 yrs ago. I went in for detox and while in the hospital asked every nurse I came into contact with about TPAPN and if I should self report. Well, many of the nurses didn't even know what TPAPN was. I did my own research when I got home and decided that it was too much for me to endure, I thought it to be too punitive. I had been on sleep medication and or benzos since that time with occasional pain meds. Needless to say, it escalated and finally affected my job performance and I too was asked to submit a UDS and I did refuse and quit my job! Not a very smart thing to do but a I acted out of fear. My employer notified TPAPN directly and I got started on it with in 3 weeks after the incident. Since my participation in TPAPN I learned that 3rd party reports are referred to the board but self reports are not reported to the board unless there is a noncompliance issue. If you havent gotten info from TPAPN yet I would recommend you do some research on it, maybe call TPAPN anonymously and try to get info out of them then make your decision. Do get a job ASAP as when you are enrolled in TPAPN you have to disclose your TPAPN paticipation in the interview and believe me it is VERY hard to get a job. I have been trying for 2 months with no luck.

[sasha2lady]

Hmm..not to sound harsh here but you're a nurse...you know illegal drugs of any kind are just not kosher in this profession and by smoking weed on your off days put you at risk regardless.

First off, Id seek help with the weed problem if you see it as a problem..if you want to continue to smoke Id say you need to find another profession fast because as long as you continue to smoke it, you will put yourself at risk in ANY job you hold as a licensed nurse.

Where I work, they only drug test upon hire and for workers comp.....the DON wont usually allow staff to be drug tested otherwise...I had an incident a while back where some aides got missing,and they had went to get something to eat supposedly...but upon their return almost an hour later, they appeared high as a pine to me and the other nurses and had no food or drinks with them...we called mgmt and the ADON sent them for drug testing at the hospital....they admitted to us that they had smoked weed while on break after the fact, yet somehow managed to pass a pee test....My honest opinion is that they had someone meet them and pee for them because it wouldve been impossible to pass it otherwise. The third girl failed hers and was fired immediately.

One girl even admitted she'd done coke the day before, which miraculously didnt show up either?

The administrator and DON were against us on this matter, the other 2 are still employed somehow.

[learninglessons12, BSN, RN]

Havent hear anything and my nerves are bad though because I still havent heard anything from the board. Thats the worst part is waiting. I have a lawyer on standby waiting for the bad news to come if it ever comes. Does anyone know how long it takes the board to get back to u? Just wondering.

[southernbeegirl, BSN, RN]

It took the board over 8 months to assign someone to investigate the complaint against me. My advice is to self report to peer. That way when the state investigator calls you, you are allready working the program and your license will be fine. Either way, you are going to have to go thru Peer to keep your license. Why wait?

[learninglessons12, BSN, RN]

So i never heard anything from the board directly, they just referred me to tpapn. I went for my eval and was diagnosed with cannibus abuse disorder. so i was accepted into tpapn and have to do the 12 steps and iop. i have to tell my current employer where i have been employed 2 years about this. i am nervous. can they fire me? i have no practice violations that i am aware of. the job where all this happened was a new job but i never left my old job (thank god). at this point i am wondering can they fire me since i now have a disability?

[gmkj]

do you have a union? if so tghey may be able to helpyou. they can fire you if you were under the influence.good luck,let us know how you make out.

[LilRedRN1973]

What disability do you have?

[rnbob]

I really hope you are able to surrender to the tpapn, once you do life is sooo much easier.

People fight for years cheating on tests and trying work arounds sadly it always works for a while, which just encourages people to try to find an easy way. I got clean without trouble but fought the endless meetings, reports, groups etc. when they told me I had to see a shrink I couldn't take anymore-after all I was clean. So I gave up my license started a new career, bankrupted myself and my family, and after 8 years came groveling back to the nursing board. NOTHING compares to being a Nurse!!

[learninglessons12, BSN, RN]

First off I would like to thank everyone for all the support and encouragement. This has been a very difficult time in my life. I don't feel I have a problem because I really just smoked recreationally and havent touched it since this happened. But I was told I have a problem because I was honest in my eval and admitted to smoking at a party and that my dad may be an alcoholic. The counselor told me that because of my poor judgement and the fact that my dad is an alcoholic, she thought IOP would be "great" for me. I feel some kind of way about sitting in all these meetings with people who really have a problem. However if I really do have a problem and I am just in denial, I will have to face that in the recovery process. I am however seeking a second opinion because the counselor who diagnosed me was cursing at me in the evaluation and I dont feel comfortable with HER judgement. No matter how frustrated I get with one of my patients, I can never curse at a patient. I guess at this point if I have to go through tpapn, I am worried about how long this will follow me. I am worried about keeping my job with my current employer. I love nursing but if I can't really work is this all worth it?

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

As to whether you have a "problem" or will be able to hold on to your job, that I do not know. A lot depends on your employer and they vary, as far as the job.

One of the measurements of whether you have "a problem" often is, "Does the use of the substance impair your life or your ability to do the constructive things in life you desire or value?"

You know as a nurse that you CAN NOT use illegal or nonprescribed substances. Everyone can argue the rationality of the illegality of MJ till the cows come home but the fact is, it is illegal and use barred by your employer, yet you made the choice to use it anyway. The fact that you chose to do so, to most recovery groups indicates that you DO have a problem .... that use of the MJ in your personal judgement was more important to you than following the law, more important than your job/career as a nurse, and more valued than those vulnerable pts that you care for. It does make them question your judgement. Please see that from their viewpoint, as unfortunately, that is the one that counts as far as being a nurse.

I have a loved one that had a highly distinguished career as a police officer - decorated for his service. Once after being involved with reporting child neglect by a family member, the family member in retaliation, accused him of drug use. He was asked to provide a UDS and in his anger of the unfairness, refused to provide it. He, of course, was canned. In the 9+ years since that, he has been refused jobs in many sectors - where he agreed to provide UDS - because of that serious black mark. There has been a lot of money spent in legal fees try to clear is name.

Actions speak to the authorities, fair or not. And use of drugs as a nurse "speaks" to how you value your social life vs. work and its rules.

[keepcalm,carryon]

In my experience, it's best to contact the Board yourself, it shows that you are proactive and want/need their guidance and advice- this is your license, livelihood, you need to go after it- do not sit back and wait for them to contact you- take the reigns and show them that you are willing to do whatever it takes to get back on track.

[keepcalm,carryon]

and as to the fact that "I don't really have a problem" I agree with caroladybelle- I mean come on, yeah it's "just" MJ- but it is an illicit substance that you chose to smoke- knowing full well that this could cost you your job.... it's time to seriously look at Step 1.