any nurses/nursing students on methadone?

Nurses Recovery

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Hi everyone,

I will be starting an ADN program next week and was SOOOO worried that my methadone maintenance status was going to be a problem. I haven't heard anything at all from the program and I think if I was going to hear any negative feedback, I would have by now (It's been 2 months since they found out). I didn't try to hide it or anything.. it says it right on the front of my physical sheet and I also put in a letter stating my recovery. I was put on methadone because in the state of massachusetts, when you are pregnant an addict, you can't detox. Unfortunately, I had relapsed a week before I found out I was pregnant.. I keep looking back and thinking "What if I didnt relapse". But my son is perfectly healthy, beautiful and so intelligent. He didn't withdraw at all (Thank God!) from the methadone. I've been voluntarily detoxing for the past 6 months and hope to be off in a year or two.

I wanted to hear feedback from any other students or nurses that are on methadone or have been on methadone. Were you perceived differently at clinicals or by your fellow employees? Was it an issue? How long have you been on it?

Thanks guys!

-christine :idea:

Is this too old to comment on? Because I was on Methadone Maintenance for 9 months to recover from an opiate addiction after nearly 10 years of prescribed narcotics. Oh-and I was an LPN for 6 years and am currently an active RN with a clean liscense. I didn't do it because I was in trouble with it, but didn't want that to ever happen. Today the number of RNs that have an addiction to either drugs or alcohol is 3 out of 10. That's HUGE. And I know all too well that nurses judge as well as eat their young. So I will tell the misinformed nurses on this site that methadone does NOT get people high like other opiates, simply takes the cravings and sickness away. I was able to get off of it after tapering in a relatively short period, 8 months, but it saves people's lives. And I know I was a much safer nurse once I came out of the dark for fear of retaliation. So many more need to do this for their own safety as well as our profession. Ignorance of the way the medication works gives no-one the right to say it's just a replacement drug.

Specializes in Pediatrics, LTC, Internal Medicine, FP.

I am currently on Methadone and I am also in a monitoring program. Methadone saved my life.

I feel as there is such a stigma attached.

In order to get a nursing license and be cleared for work I had to do many expensive evaluations (neurocognitive testing etc,) however, I was cleared to go to work and it was deemed that I am "not impaired " and safe to practice.

I don't plan on being on it forever, and I am already slowly tapering down.

I am so glad to see a thread about this here, because if anyone ever finds out about me on methadone, they act like I have two heads. I am literally saddened by those who think methadone gets the person high. Please, educate yourselves. This type of thinking is dangerous, especially in our line of work.

Congrats on your recovery Vern!

Hi do you know why the lab was able to give them the meds you didn't list? Isn't that against Hipaa to disclose prescribed medications? Im on a narcotic and worried that a lab might somehow tell them what I take. Im also a nurse. I appreciate your response!

This is an interesting thread, I know it's older but I just came across it. I do believe there's a big stigma attached to the use of Suboxone and Methadone, unfortunately. I have just completed my eval this week for FL IPN. I was placed on Hydrocodne 4 years ago after an accident in which I sustained multiple traumatic injuries. I have attempted to wean myself off of narcotics several times but the pain typically causes me to use them again. During my eval the physician asked several times if I've tried meds such as Suboxone and he mentioned I'd be a prime candidate for an opioid antagonist like Suboxone for pain management without the high of opiates. I'm wondering if this is a possible treatment he might recommend, and if so, how does the monitoring program approach that? Would it be acceptable? I can't imagine being told you must live in pain daily, after all our new priority as health care professionals has shifted to keeping patients comfortable and pain free. So how can they dictate that a medication like an opioid antagonist that could allow someone to live a more pain-free life and at the same time allow them to maintain the ability to function as a nurse without the dangers of opioid use is inappropriate? If they take it so far as to say you can't take Diphenhydramine for those in the monitoring program, then that should be across the board. No nurses should be allowed to take Diphenhydramine, period. No nurse should be allowed to get plastered after work and on their days off. It doesn't make sense. I mean, the statistics are based off of nurses IN the program, just think of all of the nurses that don't get caught or admit to having a problem. Almost every nurse on my unit smokes weed and drinks frequently. So if they want to be that technical then make it like nursing school and do random UDS's a couple of times a month for EVERY nurse. There's not much difference in someone who smokes a joint daily after work to "unwind" than in someone who takes prescription medications to manage life, is there? I don't think so. So if someone needs pain management that is monitored by an entity that gets to make the guidelines so be it, as long as you're safe to practice and monitored while taking prescribed meds then it shouldn't be a problem. I really don't understand how consuming alcohol to alter your mood is acceptable but managing pain isn't.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Women's Health, LTC.

And for the love of whatever/whomever, don't tell your new colleagues that you have had dependency issues. They will crucify you. Yes, there are many open-minded nurses who know recovery is possible but they are a minority.

BEST ADVICE EVER

Chessa, I would love to talk to you about what happened and what you did when you applied for clinicals. I applied and got accepted into the program here in pa but now I'm filling out paperwork and my primary wrote it in my medication part. I would love to chat and get some advice from you! [email protected]

I'm wondering about the same thing. I am in Alabama, and I'm working towards a BSN. I'll have all my prerequisites after this semester, and I'm applying to nursing school in a few days, to hopefully start in the fall. But I have been on mmt for about 3 years now, and I'm worried about the drug screen. I've been told to list methadone when I go for the test, and I've been told not to say anything. I don't know if it's a 5 panel test or not. I've worked really hard to get where I am, and I don't want to mess it up. I have a 3.88 GPA, which I've maintained for the past 2 years, while on mmt, so I am definitely not impaired. Then even if there's not a problem with finishing school, I still may have a problem getting my license. It just doesn't seem fair. Having 1st hand experience, I would much rather be treated by a nurse who is stable, on mmt, than one going through withdrawal, or in full blown addiction. Anyway, I've stayed on this long because of pain, so it's much more complicated than just tapering after a detox, but I fear explaining this would be like preaching to the choir, because when most ppl hear methadone, they automatically think ur an addict looking for an excuse to use. If anyone knows anything that might help, I would appreciate it sooo much!!!:confused:
I would love to chat and get some advice from you on this subject!! I'm in the same exact predicament and I'm soooo nervous!!! [email protected]
My license was suspeneded for diverting. I am on Methadone and the BOD is aware and I am getting my license back. I am in NJ so I know all states are different. I would never tell any of my co-workers under any circumstance. I consider myself to be clean as I have not used anything without a script in 7 years. I am weaning off right now to go on Suboxone. I'm not sure of what will happen when I start looking for work. I know I will be tested and I don't know how employers will feel. Best of luck to anyone in similar circumstances.
The nurse 27 I am in PA Not far from jersey. I would love to get some advice from you on this topic as I just got accepted to start my clinicals and I'm nervous as to what steps I should take now!! [email protected]

Hello, I currently live in Clearwater Florida and I am looking to join an LPN program. One of the main requirements is to pass a 10 panel drug screening and a background check. I have been on methadone maintenance for three years now and I have never failed a drug test. Nor anything on my background! I am only currently tapering and I’m on 26 mg and the highest was 31. I’m very anxious to take the 10 panel before I am accepted into the LPN program. Does anyone have experience with this? Will I be accepted? Are there any routes I should take before providing my school with this information or the place I am taking my drug panel? Any information would be helpful. Thank you very much! 

I would personally not attend nursing school on methadone because it opens you up to a host of issues and increases your likelihood that you will have issues with the BON later down the line. Trust me, you don’t want ANY of that! 

I’ve heard many nursing school do not accept someone on MAT, though some might. Most importantly, consider the BON. Even if a school allows you to be on MAT, the board is fairly unlikely to allow it. And even if they do, you are liable to be put on probation from the jump on a brand new license. 

3 years is a long time to taper down at that rate as well. My addiction was to alcohol so I can’t weigh in too heavily in the MAT aspect of things, but personally I wouldn’t be happy about being in recovery for 3 years and still with years left to taper. I know it’s medically unnecessary to taper down over the course of multiple years no matter who may try to say it’s not (I've certainly heard that argument). 

I start my BSN program next week, and am worried if/when they drug test of me being on methadone will be an issue. I'm in the state of California and I know they consider it a nurse under the influence, but I'm in school. I have given myself so much anxiety over this hoping they don't dismiss me for this medication.

Actually just went through something similar. The ADA passed a law and it is discrimination if someone who is in a maintenance program taking methadone/Suboxone/etc with a legal prescription to be denied employment!  Same with the nursing program however you may want to check your states laws on it but I'm sure it applies everywhere if it's the ADA. 

Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

While in school no one but your dean needs to know about your situation. I would advise that you not overshare with fellow students about your recovery status. That being said when you finish school and fill out applications for NCLEX/ Licensure there may be questions you will have to answer honestly. In my own state they ask if you have received treatment for addiction anytime during the previous 10 years. You are required to answer this honestly and it would be found out in any case during preemployment vetting and your state BON could then determine you were deceptive and their opinion not possesing the high moral character to be a nurse. Even with everything we know about adddiction being a disease many professional boards take this dim backward view. Many states nursing boards including my home state can place you in a one size fits all recovery program and require you attend AA/NA, do Random UDS, go to in-patient treatment and more so it pays to know the rules in your state.  Some states have gotten easier to deal with but these programs are onerous and costly.

I have been in active recovery for 20 years and no longer have to admit to this history but I went through a very tough time with my BON for 5 years plus about $45,000.00 in out of pocket costs.

Hppy

Loveetrip said:

I start my BSN program next week, and am worried if/when they drug test of me being on methadone will be an issue. I'm in the state of California and I know they consider it a nurse under the influence, but I'm in school. I have given myself so much anxiety over this hoping they don't dismiss me for this medication.

I am not in your state, but in my state, you take a drug test and then if it is positive, a medical review officer calls you and asks for your prescription. You provide them your prescription, and then they report your test to the school as negative. The 3rd party medical review officer is there to protect your privacy. So I wouldn't tell anyone at your school. Also, methadone doesn't show on a typical drug test, so you might not even test positive.

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