Nursing Student Unlawfully Removed from School

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hello,

i am or i was a nursing student until i was removed pending an appeal because i have a medical condition that requires i take a medication that is screened for in a random drug screen. i previously worked in the aircraft field. i am a usaf disabled vet who wants to work in the nursing field. by the way i was in the panama conflict (just cause) and the gulf war. i recieved several medals while on active duty and i am also listed in the national deans list. they removed me from my classes the day before veterans day. i was hoping i could find information about drug screening policies related to nursing jobs. i was told by the nursing staff at my college that all hospitals and clinics require that all nurses that have to take controlled substances at any dosage have to give up their jobs as nurses until they become free of any prescription that fall in the category of controlled substances that are in the classes that are screened for in a drug screen. i have been taking for close to 10 years a low dose of a medication for pain. i have been evaluated by my physicians and cleared to do all of the essential functions of a nurse. i have invested three years only to be told i should go into some other field of study. i know there are a number of nurses that feel pain medication is not the answer for chronic pain, but i have gone from being confined to a wheel chair to being able to keep up with my fellow nursing students because of a low dose of medication. i know pain can ruin lives and some people have lost their lives resulting from the use of medications, but each person is different. one reason i wanted to become a nurse was because of the encouragement of my pain clinic nurse to follow the treatment plan and never give up. if i loose my fight to become a nurse i can say the fact that i was spurred on to make something of my shattered life by this wonderful nurse i will still be a healthier and happier person because of the struggle. i know numerous pain patients who i have become friends with that have given up the fight to go on to be productive citizens because of the obstacles put up by some well meaning employers and educators. some of these people have lost their fight with pain and have to be continually dosed higher with pain medications just to be able to live. they also have to take numerous other medications because of the depression and the anxiety their condition causes.

thank you for listening,

rob

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What pain medication and what dose?

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Specializes in MICU, neuro, orthotrauma.

call your state board of nursing and ask. or look up their bylaws at their website (most have them up on the web)

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Rob,

First of all, THANK YOU for your service. You're a hero.

Secondly...as a dyslexic, I was removed from classes too, with nursing faculty telling me that I did not 'meet the standards' of being a nurse because of my learning disability. That lasted about a day, til I broke open the Americans with Disabilities Act and got a lawyer to show them the statutes saying they better think twice before discriminating against me for my disability. That was 4 years ago, and I have been an RN since 2003, doing great.

Now, your situation may be different...depending on the meds you use, there may be a question as to how you can practice. But even 'impaired' nurses (nurses who have in the past had a drug problem) can still work (if they are on the up and up...getting treatment, etc)...they just cannot have keys to the narcotics. I have personally had a few nurses on my team who were in that situation. However, it may be different if you are experiencing an active addiction to whatever meds you are on.

As another poster said, I suggest calling the Alabama State Board of Nursing. They have a legal department. Take a look at AL's nurse practice Act before you call. If you think you are being discriminated against in school, call a civil rights attorney, and ask if they would give you a consultation. There should also be a department in your school that is exclusively for disable students. They should be helpful in determining your rights, as they should be very familiar with the ADA. Good Luck!!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.

Rob,

Thank you for your service and I am so sorry that this is happening to you.

Here is the Website for Alabama's NPA http://www.abn.state.al.us/welcome.html

I couldn't find anything regarding use of controlled meds before obtaining licensure, but they have a contact link...so I suggest you write a letter and find out if it is provided in the NPA that the school cannot let you in. If not, contact a lawyer.

I suffered from an illness and was on meds that would show up on a ten panel drug screen and I was able to enter school just fine. As long as our physician cleared us physically and we had a Rx for the drug then they let us in and gave us a chance. We have several students with disabilities and some have not made it but everyone was given an equal opportunity.

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.

Rob -- Belated thanks for the service.

You need to follow-through with this as suggested above.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I'm sure you'll make a good nurse and it sounds like the pain medicine is what allows you to function. So it's obviously the answer for you.

If you're 100% your want to go into a field that has a history of disabling people and causing chronic pain, and your MD's and yourself feel you can keep up with the physical demands, then I wish you luck.

Unfortunately, the few bad seeds, the ones who start out with chronic pain issues and wind up diverting narcs make it hard for the good people such as yourself.

Good luck to you.

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Rob,

just another though...when you get back into nursing, and you WILL, perhaps consider a nursing position outside the old med surg circles. Med Surg will likely have you running from here to Timbuktu all day, and you probably don't need that on top of the pain you already have. MAy I suggest you consider psych nursing? In my experience, the pace is a little less hectic, PLUS you have combat experience and probably know a thing or two about PTSD. We also do get chronic pain patients in psych. It might be a good fit for you.

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Specializes in home & public health, med-surg, hospice.

Is it just me or does it anyone else find it aggravating that a school of nursing can be so ignorant about control of pain? :madface:

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Hi Rob,

I find it daunting that someone like yourself who has found a way to overcome physical and Yes mental disabilities dealing with pain and everything that comes with it only to be blockaded by others who just want to stand in the way of your dream. We teach on one hand to help people with disabilities believe in themselves but when they want to contribute to society we have a problem with that??!!!!! So we are good enough to get the courage together to pursue something but the very institutions who promote health and well being such as Nursing decide we just can't handle it because they themselves have the fear. I say Don't ever give up your dream for anyone, that means writing letters to presidents, organizations, state boards, advocates, etc., etc. Remind them to take responsibility and get your own support of nurses and doctors who will recommend you. This is just another challenge for you that you will ultimately meet and pave the way for others like yourself. Keep your head up and start educating the ignorant. You experience pain and remind others that you can be a "pain" also. Keep bothering them, you can wear them down and do what you want. You create your own limits, don't allow someone else to limit you.

Good Luck and Please let us know how you do. HB

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Specializes in correctional-CCHCP/detox nurse, DOULA-Birth Assist.

Rob

Sorry this sounds like a load of BS to me. I have worked with plenty of nurses that were on a controlled drug at one time or another and some who take it daily like you. Some of these nurses have had a UA every few months and other never get tested but none have been told to go home until they were off the med. A few had to take some time off to get used to the drug or a dose change but come on.

Remember your military training when somebody would give you an answer that didn't quite sound right...

SHOW ME THE REGULATION !!!!!!!

or I'll call my lawyer and start an ADA lawsuit faster than you can spell it.:flamesonb

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I am so sorry his has happened to you. I can identily though. What is it with the South? In the 70's, I was in Ga in a private 3 yr Diploma program. I have epilepsy and was pretty well controlled then. No seizures at work in school. They badgered me a lot but I guess I though schools did that to most students. Since I didn't quit, they wouldn't allow me to take the last quarter (one course- Med-Surg 3). They failed me my next to the last quarter. so I couldn't continue. They would not listen nor change their minds. I don't know if they even had an appeals process at that time. At that time, in a private school, in the south, Georgia, I probably had no rights. Be thankful you do have the ADA now. I was in this alone too. I had already bought my Senior pin, uniform to graduate in, and had pics made etc. I had great grades and all satisfactory clinicals the entire time. I had letters of thanks from patients and still have them too. I got a great education but nothing to show for it. The South and those old archaic ideas need to be revisited. I wish you good luck and keep putting one foot in front of the other. If I had to do it over again I would choose something else. TweetyRN

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