Need advice/ information positive drug screen

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 17, 2011

I think that you can continue to practice as a nurse until the BON notifies you that they have taken or plan to take action against your license. Talk to a lawyer for a more accurate answer as we can't give legal advice here.

As far as the timeline for taking action, that's up to the BON. It's possible that the facility didn't even report it. Or they may have and the BON is still investigating. I don't know if there's any way you can them call and ask without going down the road of self-reporting....

In the meantime, you may want to consider laying off of the MJ. Not passing judgement on what you do in your spare time, but if there's even a possibility that you may be investigated by the BON for drug use, you want to make sure your act is as clean as possible. Additional positive UDSs won't help your cause.

Good luck.

learninglessons12, BSN, RN · Nov 21, 2011

Hi there,

In your situation, no news is good news. I would work all the overtime I could, stack as much money as you can. Here in TX, I worked until TPAPN case manager told me I had to quit working. (In my case, I got fired from the job where I tested positive but was still working PRN at another hospital) I'm sure u quit smoking by now and if u haven't then stop now. I've read other posts about FL monitoring program and they seem to move pretty slow. Good luck, hope this helps.

sissiesmama, ASN, RN · Nov 22, 2011

Hi there,
In your situation, no news is good news. I would work all the overtime I could, stack as much money as you can. Here in TX, I worked until TPAPN case manager told me I had to quit working. (In my case, I got fired from the job where I tested positive but was still working PRN at another hospital) I'm sure u quit smoking by now and if u haven't then stop now. I've read other posts about FL monitoring program and they seem to move pretty slow. Good luck, hope this helps.

That's what I was thinking - I would try to work all the OT I could until u heard something from the board. I live in Louisiana and this kind of thing has happened more than just a few times in the yrs dh and I have worked. In our state, the board gets so much stuff, it has taken them more than a year to investigate, much less make a decision - so I'd jump on it until I heard otherwise. Good luck to u, and hugs.

Anne, RNC

xjailnurse · Nov 22, 2011

I agree with the other nurses who suggested that you grab that OT, you may need that cash for an attorney and in the future if your earning potential is harmed. No news isn't always good news; I was reported in January 2003, board investigators told me that my case would probably go in front of the board in about 6-9 months. A year goes by and I hear NOTHING from them. Another YEAR goes by, still hear nothing from them.....please, don't ever think that they forgot about you, trust me, they DON'T. It was another six months before they got to my case. Two and half years.

sissiesmama, ASN, RN · Nov 23, 2011

I agree with the other nurses who suggested that you grab that OT, you may need that cash for an attorney and in the future if your earning potential is harmed. No news isn't always good news; I was reported in January 2003, board investigators told me that my case would probably go in front of the board in about 6-9 months. A year goes by and I hear NOTHING from them. Another YEAR goes by, still hear nothing from them.....please, don't ever think that they forgot about you, trust me, they DON'T. It was another six months before they got to my case. Two and half years.

Right - and 2 and 1/2 yrs is either a LONG time to wait for it, but iut's a GOOD start in putting some cash away for after; or IF anything ever comes of it.

Good luck!

Anne, RNC

nurse_ness82 · Jan 20, 2012

I am an LVN in TX. I found myself in a situation close to that. i failed a ua for marijauna while in tpapn. I continued to work for 2 years before they took any action on my license, which was June of last year. It is currently suspended until i complete an outpatient treatment program and was also ordered to complete a course in jurisprudence and ethics, and a course in sharpening critical thinking skills. Trust me...they will NOT forget about u. Just keep working until you hear from them. After i complete the treatment program, my license will be stipulated. No narcs, no nights, no overtime, no prn, 2 aa or na support groups per week....for a year, and random drug testing for 3 yrs. Good luck to you!

Vanessa

backtowork · Jan 20, 2012

Agree with all the above. I was reported to the TX bON August of 2008. Did not hear a word until Feb 2011. Get another job or two..work all the hours you can get and bank your money for a good board attorney. DO NOT USE or DRINK..period. You never know when they will call on you, but as was stated above..they will call on you. It's a long ride, but a doable one. Keep us posted.

MermiesGreatGig · Jan 25, 2012

Best of luck to you in your plight. Also, way to go to all the medical professionals who replied to you so far. They were all soooo supportive. Usually, if a nurse mentions a little pot, people on here go ballistic and chastise the poor person. A little weed on occasion is harmless, IMHO. It helps me with Anxiety/Panic Disorder where anti-depressants (Lexapro, Prozac, Wellbutrin, Effexor, and Celexa), Benzos (Klonopin, Valium, and Ativan) and 2 psychotherapists couldn't. However, it's such a taboo for a medical professional to use. I don't want to turn this into a discussion about the use of MJ by nurses, though, so I'll just wrap it up...after all, this is your string. Hope it's years and years before the stuffy ole nursing board catches up to you...if ever. Keep up the top-notch nursing until then!!!

ls66 · Jan 29, 2012

If a nurse failed a drug screen for THC, what would be the usual time period for the nursing board to contact you or suspend your liscence? Serious allegations were made against me by an anonymous caller and I was forced to take a urine drug screen. The allegations proved to be false (I was accused of diverting drugs) but coincidentally I had smoked pot a coup;e of weeks prior and came up positive for THC. I was terminated and informed that they would be reporting this to the Florida nursing board. This has been over 3 months ago and I have not heard anything from the board. Did it maybe slip through the cracks? How long does it usually take for the board to take action/ investigate? I really need some advice, stuck between a rock and a hard place!!!!

In my case, I told my employer that I was wanting to go into an in-pt tx center to wean off of Methadone, I had contacted the hospital which had an addiction unit in it. The day I was to be admitted the staff in the hosp. unit explained to me they couldn't admit me due to the Methadone. I had to call another tx center and was put on a waiting list. When returning to work the next day I was forced to resign. I ended up going through tx and wasn't investigated by the bon until one year later. Then lost my license until all criteria was met. Its been an awful experience. Good luck.

jfox01, BSN · May 23, 2017

i am in this situation.... tested positive after being hit by a patient. thought my ribs were broken and had to test. I was not concerned because i am not a user at all. A few weeks ago had a few cookies at a party that was it. Now i am not sure what is going to happen. they stated i have to go to a program, and that i have to let the nursing board know. Does anyone know what the numbers mean and does that matter? I will be off of work for a least a month. The good thing is i am an excellent employee and have never had any other issues and by boss is fighting for me. I went to school late in life and got my BSN and worked very hard. Would hate for it to be thrown away now. Any advice from anyone who may have had this happen? What is the program and am i going to be in it with people who really have a problem.. This is embarrassing to say the least.

mjrn70 · Nov 12, 2017

Hi,

I also have tested positive on a drug test. Mine was for THC. Any advice on how long it takes the board to contact me and I am unable to work?

Thanks