newly licensed WA RN on methadone

[Washingtonnewrn]

I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this? The Washington application asks as part of the personal data section the following question "Do you have a medical condition which in any way impairs or limits your ability to practice your profession with reasonable skill and safety? The answer I put is NO. (I am not impaired or limited at all by the 10 mg of methadone I take daily, so why would I have said anything else?) My doctor agrees and will support me if needed. I passed the NCLEX and was issued a license. Now assuming I apply for a job and get hired, they will send me for a drug screen and I will list the methadone then. If they rescind the job offer is this grounds for legal action? Wouldn't they be discriminating against someone with a disability? I do plan to see a lawyer for advice prior to even applying anywhere but I just wanted to know if anyone else has experience with this especially in Washington state. I am a nurse at heart, I do not know what I would do if I could not work after all this.

[MunoRN, RN]

Nursing is legally considered a "safety sensitive" job, which means an employer can screen you for even legally prescribed medications and deny you employment if you take a medication that could potentially be impairing. I've never worked at any facility that allowed direct care nursing staff to take any amount of any type of opiate except while on leave. While you may not feel impaired, it's not really possible for methadone to be truly free of any impairing effects.

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

If you declare the medication and have a doctor to back you up, I don't know that there will be a problem. What particular disability would you be claiming, though?

[Washingtonnewrn]

I have had migraines from 8 years old. I am also in my late 40's after having a child my hormones made it worse. Had to have surgery for a tumor in my neck and on my thumb (twice) the scar tissue formed near a nerve and the pain was immense. I was given Percocet and built up a tolerance, after being on it for months until the 2nd thumb surgery, nothing worked for my migraines anymore. Long story short a Dr. put me on 10 mg of methadone every night as a migraine preventative and it worked. Now I would go through withdrawals if I stop, trust me I have tried. He originally started me on a higher dose and I have been able to taper all the way to 10 mg - I still get the occasional migraine on the lower dose but I can deal with that. The stigma regarding methadone was something I really didn't understand until I learned from experience. I believe anyone who is using methadone properly is not getting high as some think...it doesn't work like that. It enables people to live productive lives and reduces the chance of taking something else to avoid the withdrawals. We are a medical profession and we don't penalize diabetic nurses who need insulin. If a diabetic nurse doesn't use her insulin she would be endangering her patients and not practicing self-care. I too would be endangering my patients if I did not take my methadone, because I would have Post acute withdrawal syndrome and that is much worse.

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

We are a medical profession and we don't penalize diabetic nurses who need insulin. If a diabetic nurse doesn't use her insulin she would be endangering her patients and not practicing self-care. I too would be endangering my patients if I did not take my methadone, because I would have Post acute withdrawal syndrome and that is much worse.

Oh man....what a road you've been on. Good analogy. Also....since I am unfamiliar with whether the UDS is actually testing for the metabolites to methadone, or whether methadone would show as something else - I think that question might best be asked of a lab diagnostician. If there's any doubt, full disclosure is probably wise, but I might save that for after I'd been offered the job. If you cross post this in nurses in recovery, someone might have a better answer.

Congratulations for passing your NCLEX. Good luck!