MedTox non-negative Pre-employment Drug Screen

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I am new to the forum and am in need of some insight.

I have been a nurse for over 8 years and recently wanted to switch hospitals. I wanted to go to a larger institution for more opportunities.

Today I went in for the pre-employment drug screen knowing that the urine test would be positive for medication. I have prescriptions for Norco (due to knee surgery/hip scope from about 6 months ago), Ambien (PRN to sleep), Xanax (PRN anxiety) and Gabapentin (daily for Fibro) in my possession. Of course I didn't come up "clean" for the test. I wasn't asked prior to producing a sample if I took any medication only after it was dipped did the tech ask. I had the pill bottles with me but she did not copy from the labels as to the amount or drug that was in the container. The company did not go any further with the physical portion of the test due to the non-negative test. I explained that I wasn't aware of the policy and asked if we could finish the height, weight, physical assessment portion because I had driven over an hour and half to the testing site. The LPN called my perspective employer and told them I was "extremely upset" with their policy. Not true just asked to finish the second portion of assessment due to my proximity to testing site.

Now my question is....what will happen with my urine and drug screen?, did that phone call to HR flag me as a drug user?, and should the LPN have disclosed a test prior to MD signing off of it?

I was always told if you had a prescription and used accordingly then a drug test wouldn't be a problem. I am confused and concerned that I will miss an opportunity. Please no comments as to why I use the medications or personal opinions about the medications.

Please and thank you for your responses.

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I would have demanded they write them down BUT at my hospital ( I take Vyvanse) for adult ADD and only take while my college is in session, they sent my drug screen off and a few days later a rep from the hospital called me and asked me any meds I take, when I mentioned the Vyvanse he asked me for a pharmacy repost which I faxed to him. It shows how much you get of the med, how often you get med, etc. When I faxed it a coulple of days later HR called me and said when can you start. Maybe that is how they do it?

Good luck either way!!

PINK

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You were misinformed. I had taken Ambien - 10mg - for fourteen years and was told the same thing as you As long as I had an order from my physician and did not doctor shop, refill early or switch pharmacies - there would not be an issue. THAT was a big, fat lie. As you have probably figured out by now, this is a huge money making scam on the part of the state, the testing sites, the administrator (First Lab), the so-called addictionologists and anyone else that can make a buck off you. Here in SC, we are tested no less than twice a month and the test range from $76 to $133. Shockingly, this random method seems to always pull a $122 at least once a month. It is an outrage. Totally, disgusting outrageous behavior on the part of these people that hide behind "protecting the public". The Doctors they send you to for an evaluation do not have legitimate clients. They are all either court ordered or there on behalf of some BS advisory board. At this time, I can take 100mg of Benadryl to sleep. My doctor argued for over a year that they were going to cook my kidneys. They don't care. Worthless.

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Specializes in u name it.

Why you use these medications is no one's business except your's and your prescribing physician's. It is not the business of your employer for sure. Why is it that the medical system's beloved HIPIAA protection seems to stop where a nurse's employment or license starts? Would they have treated an applying MD the same way for legally obtained and responsibly used medication? I think not.

It is not just the profession of nursing that is facing this injustice. My son returned from 3 tours in Iraq as a commissioned officer with a serious case of PTSD. He soon found out if he was going to protect and forward his military career and still get help, he must seek medical attention off base, with a civilian doctor who was "discreet", on his own dime (cash), and under an assumed name with a fake ID. So much for enduring the horrors of war to serve your country and protect all of it's "freedoms"

This "salem addict witch hunt" mentality is a huge reason folks walk away from nursing or returning war heros end up committing suicide. We are human..we have health issues too. Don't make us afraid to "heal ourselves".

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I really want to change jobs. I have been doing the same job for 14 years and I am burnt out. I am to the point that my doctor has me on fmla right now to get my head straight. I have talked to her about the meds I take and she assures me that if I have legal rx that I can get a job, but I am afraid. I have a telephone interview with a new job in a new state in the morning, and I'm scared. I want to pack up and move closer to my family, which is part of the reason I want to move, and I want to get away from the job that has eaten me alive after 14 years. It's just time for me to move on. There are 2 positions that I am very qualified to do at this new agency in the new state, but I am so afraid this is going to happen to me. Once I get offered a job (hopefully) then I am sure I'll have to endure the pre employment screen. I take Adderall for ADD/ xanax for anxiety/ ambien to sleep... and multiple other drugs that probably would not show up on the drug screen, but I am sure I will fail this drug screen and I'm so afraid they will not offer me a job. Any suggestions? I really need to get out of my current job and I really want to move closer to family. I'm so nervous about how to handle this situation. It further Pi$$es me off that I take care of multiple medicaid/welfare recipients that smoke crack and marijuania and collect checks that I PAY for every month, while I can't even switch jobs to save my sanity because I have medical issues. HELP???!!!!! How do I approach this, I want to disclose as little about my medical problems as possible, yet I really really really, did I say really do want a new job. Any suggestions?

OP: I am sorry you have to go through the same crap. I hope you get the job and everything works out.! This is a messed up system that we have going on and I don't know how to fix it, I just want to live through it and be successful!!

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.
You were misinformed. I had taken Ambien - 10mg - for fourteen years and was told the same thing as you As long as I had an order from my physician and did not doctor shop, refill early or switch pharmacies - there would not be an issue. THAT was a big, fat lie. As you have probably figured out by now, this is a huge money making scam on the part of the state, the testing sites, the administrator (First Lab), the so-called addictionologists and anyone else that can make a buck off you. Here in SC, we are tested no less than twice a month and the test range from $76 to $133. Shockingly, this random method seems to always pull a $122 at least once a month. It is an outrage. Totally, disgusting outrageous behavior on the part of these people that hide behind "protecting the public". The Doctors they send you to for an evaluation do not have legitimate clients. They are all either court ordered or there on behalf of some BS advisory board. At this time, I can take 100mg of Benadryl to sleep. My doctor argued for over a year that they were going to cook my kidneys. They don't care. Worthless.

The OP in this 6-month old thread discussed an experience with a pre-employment drug screen. Your situation sounds more like ongoing monitoring as part of a mandated peer monitoring program.

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