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

Cpblondie81 · Feb 12, 2018

But can the board make me do it when I had a negative drug screen

Lisacar130 · Feb 13, 2018

It is possible they can make you do it... even with a negative drug screen. The eval could say for mental health reasons. Or that you were abusing your Xanax (it is possible that someone with a valid script can still abuse it by taking too many at once) and the eval would be asking you questions like how often you take it and how long you've been on it. I would recommend a lawyer.

chare · Feb 13, 2018

But can the board make me do it when I had a negative drug screen

Only your state's board of nursing can answer this. However, in my opinion, yes they can if your employer reports you. Again, in my opinion, the fact that you had a negative drug screen is irrelevent when you consider that you admitted to your boss that you had a prescription for Xanax. They could maintain that you had taken a Xanax sometime that day, and that was the reason for yor confusion. And, HIPAA is not applicable here as you volunteered the information.

If it were me, I would consult a lawyer with experience handling this type case before your state's board of nursing. He or she would be able to review all pertinent details and advise as to the best course of action.

Best wishes as you work through this.

Lisacar130 · Feb 13, 2018

...they could also give you a hair test and see if there's anything else you took in the past. They can ask for your medical records from the physician that prescribed the Xanax.

catsmeow1972, BSN, RN · Feb 13, 2018

This all goes back to why you should not submit to any IPN evaluation with an attorney in your corner. Any crooked, excuse me, irresponsible evaluator (see the interview I cited further back in thread) can take a legit script for Xanax and hair test showing a couple taken in the last few months and twist it into a report of misuse of the medication, thereby claiming need for a contract. I guarantee you they would completely ignore the notion that a neurology consult had been suggested.

HIPAA is plenty applicable. Her employer does not have a right to her medical records, neither does the BON unless she consents. Merely stating a fact does not abrogate your right to privacy.

She needs that lawyer. Pronto!

Randomnurse3 · Feb 13, 2018

Being you had a negative drug screen a lawyer could most likely get you out of any trouble you run in to.

morte, LPN, LVN · Feb 13, 2018

Only your state's board of nursing can answer this. However, in my opinion, yes they can if your employer reports you. Again, in my opinion, the fact that you had a negative drug screen is irrelevent when you consider that you admitted to your boss that you had a prescription for Xanax. They could maintain that you had taken a Xanax sometime that day, and that was the reason for yor confusion. And, HIPAA is not applicable here as you volunteered the information.
If it were me, I would consult a lawyer with experience handling this type case before your state's board of nursing. He or she would be able to review all pertinent details and advise as to the best course of action.
Best wishes as you work through this.

the Xanax would have shown up in the testing, it has a very long half life.

Wizard 1 · Feb 13, 2018

Did you keep a copy of the specimen you submitted?

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

Cpblondie81 · Feb 13, 2018

I have their email and I'm going to get a copy of it from them

GuyRN2003 · Feb 18, 2018

I would speak to a qualified attorney. Say nothing else, contact no one else. Follow the attorney's advice.

Kooky Korky, BSN, RN · Feb 18, 2018

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

Why were you acting confused?

Why are you supposed to see a Neurologist?

You need a lawyer - several of them to compare opinions/advice. Do it right now and quit fooling around getting opinions from other nurses here. Yes, it's ok to compare notes, I guess, but what you really need is legal advice, not anecdotes.