Kicked out of CNA because of RX

[Shannon RN 2be]

Yesterday I started a CNA class. It is a required class to have to get into a local nursing program. During orientation the instructor starts to talk about drugs not being allowed in class then goes on to say that ANY medications are not allowed to become a CNA... She explained that because YOU wouldn’t want a CNA to care for YOU if they were on meds so we don’t allow it. Well after class I went up to her and asked her what I should do. I am on several different pain medications like the patch. She told me I would have to call this number and talk to a lady then get back to her. Well today I called and got no answer so I left a message, I called back again later and still got no answer. We were home all day and no one called. I went to class tonight and she took me outside as soon as I walked into the room and told me I wasn’t allowed to go to class because I was on medications. She also LIED and said that the lady tried to call me and could not get a hold of me. Is this really legal? Can she not allow me to take a class because of DOCTOR RX's? I am calling up to the Continuing Education department tomorrow and try to talk to her boss but I have a feeling that’s who lied today and said she tried to call me. Does anyone know if this is legal? I am freaking out because if I can’t get this CNA class done I will not be able to apply to the nursing program. Help please!

Hugs :icon_hug:

Shannon

PS We are also talking about finding a lawyer to see if this is legal or not we do not believe it is legal.

[1Tulip]

Whoa, wait a minute. Are you using a fentanyl patch? If so, do you have short acting opiates for break-through?

I have two real concerns here.

1. I agree with the posters who've said there are good and proper constraints on clinical practice while taking opiates.

2. You haven't said what your chronic pain is from. Is it a back problem?

Hon, if these two things are going on... a chronic back requiring long-acting opiates with short-acting ones, then I would openly question whether you're a reasonable candidate for nursing school. The job requires some lifting and shoving and stretching over beds to reach parts of the patient. It's just unavoidable. If you have a "failed back" you need to consider other career options.

Give us a little more info. I could be totally off base. Maybe you have localized neuropathic pain and use a lido patch. That would be trivial and wouldn't be an impediment.

And lawyering-up should be a last-ditch thing. You might lose (any competent lawyer will warn you about that.) And even if you win, it could be a pyrrhic victory.

[1Tulip]

This concerns me and I hope I don't face it when I start my nursing degree (in 5 weeks and 5 days but whos counting). I have Bipolar and Graves Disease which I need to take medication for. If anything these medications help me to function normally. And I would personally rather be treated by someone who was taking medications for certain conditions than being treated by someone who wasn't. Can you imagine being treated by someone who was in pain becuase they weren't able to take their medications?

Michelle, if your conditions are well controlled on medication, you shouldn't have any problems with school or practice. If they refused every one on medication, there would be NO nurses.

[Undecided7]

1. Get a lawyer to at least give you a consult. That part is usually free and they evaluate what kind of a case you may have.

2. Many nurses are on psychotropic, antianxiety, pain meds, etc. There is a big difference between being properly medicated (with the appropriate monitoring and doctor care), and being impaired. I've seen nurses who are so tired they can barely move or even worse- go off and hide somewhere to sleep and basically abandon the patients. Impairment can be caused by a lot of things. Working in severe pain or emotional distress can seriously affect your critical thinking skills. Taking a Lortab may not.

3. Is that the only nursing program in your area? I never had to take a CNA class to become an RN.

4. There are many areas of nursing that are easier on the back, esp. if you get your BSN. You don't have to work in a hospital.

5. Do people stop to think what kind of drugs the DOCTORs- even SURGEONS are on??? If you think all the docs are clean- please tell me in what fairy tale land you are living.... I know an EYE surgeon that is a cocaine and crack addict and hires prostitutes. He worked something out with the board and still has his license. And remember- he was just one that was CAUGHT (speeding naked down the road actually )

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

I think you ought to find out what your state's law are pertainting to CNAs. If there is something in the state law prohibiting healthcare workers from taking certain medications while on the job, there is probably nothing you will be able to do. I wouldn't waste my time and money on a lawyer. Bottom line is that you need to have a CNA course under your belt. Go find another CNA class. If you're worried about this coming up again, discuss it with the program director before the classes even start. This time, ask why if the drug thing comes up again. It may just be a specific program requirement for that particular class that you ran into. Anyway, how could you pass a drug screening exam? You are going to run into that little problem eventually. Some employers have liability and worker's comp insurance that specifically prohibits them from hiring people who they know are taking narcotic pain medication on a regular basis--too high a risk for injury on the job. I agree with 1Tulip. If you require pain medication, are you going to be able to do the physical work? You really need to be thinking about that.

[Cute_CNA, CNA]

Maybe you could ask the Board of Nursing for your state? If they don't allow any kind of medication, that's just ridiculous. The medications you take aren't your instructor's business. However, if they do a physical on you, you should state all medications you are taking, since then there is a reason they need to know about it.

[1Tulip]

Maybe you could ask the Board of Nursing for your state? If they don't allow any kind of medication, that's just ridiculous. The medications you take aren't your instructor's business. However, if they do a physical on you, you should state all medications you are taking, since then there is a reason they need to know about it.

CuteCNA raised an issue that I wondered about. I don't believe that schools can ask you about your prescribed drugs. And I wouldn't have any problem telling the OP to find another CNA program and stay mum about her meds.

But my reservations stand. If you are in a chronic pain situation, resolving that (not getting into school) should probably be your first priority. We're kinda speaking here without a lot of information and we're all speculating. But IN GENERAL any condition that causes you to be in severe chronic pain, probably would also impair your practice, with or without fentanyl patches.

[BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN]

Yes, they can ask you if you are on meds...many places do drug testing anyways, so you might as well come clean. Where I work, there is a list of approved pain management drugs and you have to have a doctors note every month to say you are still on it. Reason....narcs come up missing and you don't have that note and they do drug testing and you are positive, guess who the scrapgoat may end up being?

You need to find out your state laws, and then I'd go to another school...and you have to have this for RN? I've never heard of that before? Good Luck!

[lpnstudentin2010, LPN]

i would not care if a cna was on meds and caring for me. that is as long as they are safe

[lpnstudentin2010, LPN]

(speeding naked down the road actually )

......................:rotfl: :rotfl: :chuckle :chuckle :rotfl: :lol2:

[Shannon RN 2be]

Thanks for all the great responses. I am a chronic pain patient. I am treated for abdominal pain. There is nerve damage to my lower pelvic area. With out the pain meds I can't function so going off the meds unfortunately wont work. I do not take anything for break through pain, I am medicated just with the pain patch and a few muscle relaxers. It maybe a bad time to mention it but I am also on Bi polar medications I don't know if they will have a problem with that too or not I did not ask. I do worry about the physical demands of the job on my body, however I will continue to work on getting stronger. I wont give up simply because I have this problem, I have always wanted to do this and I am not going to give up just because of this nerve damage. I don't want it to ruin my dream.

Today I went into the office of the head of the CNA department at my school and she explained that because my pain patch is considered a narcotic she can't let me stay in the CNA program. She says that it is because the clinics wont let her have anyone who is on a narcotic. She says no matter how I "feel" I am slowed down by my pain medication and I would be taking a chance on hurting my patient because I am on a narcotic. I am upset. I don't feel like I would or could ever hurt anyone. I can drive my car everyday I take care of my children and husband and house. I study and have a 3.5 gpa so I know I am apparently alert enough to go to school, but I am not alert enough to take care of someone? I don't know what to do at this point. I am going to start looking for another CNA program my husband said the local Red Cross will sometimes have classes. I will start calling around tomorrow. I have so many mixed emotions I am so angry and frustrated but mostly just feel like crying. I have to get this CNA class done to be able to apply to the program in May. And now I am worried if I will face the same thing when it comes time for RN school if I get accepted.

Any ideas? I am not sure if it is a school issue or possibly a state issue? I am not sure where to start.

Thanks for all the support and help.

Hugs :icon_hug:

Shannon

[MIA-RN1, RN]

Good luck to you Shannon. I think you should call the school you hope to attend for the RN program and ask them. They will be able to advise you. I admire your determination and I hope it all goes well for you.

[sgckatibug4]

That doesn't sound legal to me. You might want to reconsider and take the class elsewhere.