NEED ADVICE!!

[Ciprea37]

Going to try to make this short: 10/16 weeks into 3rd quarter, LPN to RN program. Graduate May 2020. Due to attempting to be wonder women, I have 2 small children and a full time job to maintain. I work for a Home Health company and would do visits between dropping the kids off in the morning and when school started at 1pm (clinicals) and 3pm (class) during the week. I was late for clinicals 3x. 1st- IV patient I sent to ER sepsis, 30 min late, 2nd (less than 3 min late, traffic) 3rd time: stopped for gas (was due to arrive 26 min early, scam reader on pump, Bank caught 3 transactions before I was able to input debit card for a second time, searched for cash, got gas and was 11 minutes late). That was the 3rd and the policy for this semester changed from last semester. Last semester we were allowed 2 absences. 3 tardies =1 absence. This semester the rule changed for everyone. Zero tolerance for absence or late. So here I am flipping out, 11 min late. Instructor sent me back to school. (She had no choice). Filled out the extenuating circumstances form that was required. (When the new policy was explained to everyone, we were told "do not flip out or worry, as long as you weren't at the beach you would be ok" 3rd tardy was week 6. Advance 4 weeks later. Doing clinicals at the Children's Hospital (14hrs) had a voice mail from the receptionist stating I had a meeting to discuss my extenuating circumstances. This was Wednesday, meeting scheduled for Monday. Walked in to the office and the Dean and assistant Dean introduced themselves. I figured I may be put on probation or suspension. Dean flips over a drug screen paper, (due to your excessive absences and tardiness we have reason to believe you're under the influence and you have 30 min to get this test done. Ok that's fine I guess. I pay for the screen and drive to the lab. After 8 cups of water I am ready for the test. I start removing items from my pocket and the lab tech says "you dont need to do that, I am watching you the entire time. So I said (excuse me?) She then says "I'm going to watch the urine come out of your urethra" I responded with "excuse me, no ma'am you're not, that's very excessive for a few tardied" the lab lady writes down the refusal. I drive back to school because truly I was thinking there had to be a misunderstanding. I get there and was asked if I did it. I stated No, not w someone watching me. They then try to convince me to take the test. I was so angry I told them no. She then said I would be dismissed for the program. This happened last week. I've missed the week and recieved the letter of dismissal yesterday.

I understand the refusal for the lab tech to watch me makes it look like I would of failed, that is not the case. The shock of being watched made me said no. Of course I regret it now. Have not stopped crying all week. I can pass a drug screen no problem, I was there to do it. I have taken multiple drug screens in my lpn days. (15 years) never "monitored".

On another note, how can you require a screening for "cause" but wait 4 weeks after the last tardy. Everything I have looked up says for "cause" is immediately. For work, a "cause" drug screen is done unmonitored and the employee is not allowed to return to work until the results are in. I was at Clinicals and the Children's hospital after the 3rd tardy. I just can't understand if they truly believed I was under the influence, shouldn't they pull me immediately and do the screening?? Also the college policy defines excessive as missing more than 20%. My percentage is 12%. I asked if I could take a regular screen and was told no. I also have a diagnoses of ADHD, i never did any of the paper work for the school because it was not a issue. But i did realize today that we have switched medication twice in the last 3 months. For all my appointments, I put in 30 minutes early so I am not late to them. I tend to run late the majority of my life (adhd, believe more can be accomplished in a certain time frame).

WHAT WOULD YOU DO??

File Appeal? Argue "cause" ADHD (medication change, tardiness)? Take the penalty for my refusal and attempt to apply in 1 year? Attempt to apply to another RN program, although it appears you "must be in good standing w prior nursing program" before being accepted into new school program.

Super disappointed in my self and the school.