Negative drug screen and jobplace still wants me to meet with IPN

[Cpblondie81]

Two weeks ago I started acting confused at work they sent me to the ER where I wasn't even able to tell them that I hadn't taken anything. The house supervisor just came in and kept saying that my pupils looked very dilated. My drug screen came back negative but I had mentioned to my boss the next day that I had a script for Xanax. She just called the other day and her and employee relations feel I need to be assessed by IPN I know I didn't take anything and have a neurology app but not until the end of March my question is can they make me do this. If I refuse to do this and choose to take another job can they really report me to the board?? Please I need advice!! Thanks

[Guest849204]

Most hospitals (and I believe state boards as well) require you to disclose any medications you take that could be impairing, especially ones that show up on a drug screen (like xanax, weird it didnt come back positive) because they need to have proof you have a valid prescription You are probably going to get in a bit of trouble but I highly doubt they would suspend or fire you unless its a mandatory policy thing. Unless your taking methadone or suboxone for addition treatment, most if not all hospitals will allow you to work provided you disclose the meds you take and take them as prescribed.

To be prepared, I would ask the doc who prescribes you the Xanax to write a letter, get a copy of your current prescription, and get a printout of the pharmacy record. Get as much of that as you can before the meeting, it might lessen the blow!

P.S. Not to scare you but did you physically look at the test results? If not, its possible it actually came back positive. I can't imagine them not testing for benzos because they are common in abuse and overdose and almost all standard drug tests include benzos like Xanax.

[Guest849204]

If she has a valid prescription she will most likely be able to continue to work. The only problem is you are supposed to bring proof when you are first hired.

[catsmeow1972, BSN, RN]

Even if the screen was positive for benzos, there's a valid prescription and prescriber's opinion that it's not being abused. The crooked excuses for evaluators would twist that into a need for monitoring. This is why people in her position need to be able to have impartial evaluations. Based on what she's written, it does not sound like there's any immediate concern for abuse.

If IPN were allowed to "evaluate" every nurse that took some kind of scheduled thing for some reason, well, holy P tests Batman, there'd be miles long lines at every LabCorp in the state.

[Randomnurse3]

I have worked at many hospitals and have never had to disclose any medications I take. I have never even been asked what type of medications I take. Strange that a job would require you to let them know your personal medical information.

[Guest849204]

RELAX AND READ THIS!

1. They just need to document your side of the story since the incident probably triggered some policy.

2. Your boss said something about the Xanax and they need proof of a valid prescription.

3. You looked up your own medical record and are in pretty serious trouble, although if it was this it would most likely be dealt with immediately.

4. You actually tested positive on your drug screen. If you took any Xanax 14 days or sooner before the test, it could show up and all hospitals test for benzos in a standard drug screen. But again, this would be dealt with immediately

5. The incident triggered some other minor thing.

If they are allowing you to continue working and haven't taken any immediate action, it can't be anything too serious. If they thought you were using drugs illegally they would immediately suspend you until proven otherwise. If you did anything that could get you fired, you would know by now.

My advice is to submit proof that you are prescribed Xanax ASAP (call HR and ask what they require for proof) because you should have done so when hired. Forget about hiring a lawyer, if it were anything that a lawyer could help with you with then would already have been fired (also a lawyer would only help if you were charged criminally or wanted to sue the hospital). Also, ask your boss is she can tell you anything about the meeting and if its mandatory for you to go.

Again, relax! If you were getting fired you would know by now.

[Guest849204]

@Randomnurse Your are always supposed to disclose medications you take before taking a drug screen, especially if its something they are testing for (like Xanax). That info remains HIPAA protected, but you need to bring the required proof of having a prescription before being tested for, especially when its the official drug screen you take when you are hired because if you don't they are required to report a positive result even if you bring proof right away. Once the sample is collected and processed, any positive result without proof of prescription is reported as a positive drug screen. If you bring valid proof before hand, its HIPAA protected and they just report that your drug screen was negative.

No institution is going to require that you disclose the meds you take unless its something that you would get in trouble for taking without a valid prescription.

[Wizard 1]

Do not fall for it. Get a lawyer pronto. Don't contact IPN.

[SafetyNurse1968, ADN, BSN, MSN, PhD]

Consult a lawyer. You can google Lorie Brown - she is an attorney AND an RN - she will talk to you by email or phone and give you some good advice. I did an interview with her about how to keep your nursing license (you can read/listen to it at safetyfirstnursing.com). She had a ton of great advice for when you think you might be at risk. Be pro-active - don't wait.

[Cpblondie81]

Why is that I've gotta make some money

[Cpblondie81]

I provided my script to the people that run the drug test, I even emailed them and asked them if they told my place of employment about the script or gave me a negative result they said they simply sent a negative result to my company

[catsmeow1972, BSN, RN]

That is usually how those work. The independent lab that runs the pre-employment testing sees a positive for something. The MRO reviews it against a valid script provided at time of testing. Result is qualified, negative is posted to employer. The employer has no business knowing what a person is taking and the prospective employee should not be required to share that information. We do still have some rights, y'know.

[mmutk, BSN, RN, EMT-I]

Self reporting to the IPN will save you allot of trouble. If the board has to make you do it, it will likely affect your license (probation).

Beware though the IPN is notorious for being money hog. They will likely require you to take drug tests just to make money. I know I had a direct experience with this.