omg, help please

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I had a lump removed from my breast on Tues the 12th. I intentionally pushed the surgeon to schedule this before school started so I could be healed and ready to roll on Monday when school starts. Well, I got home on Tuesday took a prescribed pain pill and went to bed. I woke up Wednesday morning and took another one and checked my email. Lo and behold, there is an email from the director of my nursing program that Drug/Alcohol screens need to be completed by the 20th. Now I'm panicing. So I emailed him and explained to him about the surgery, prescription etc. He stated that it didn't matter why I was on a narcotic and that the hospital will view it as impaired judgement and I will be denied clinicals.

I immediately stopped taking the Lortabs and have been enduring with tylenol (which has sucked, let me tell you). From any information I can gather Loratabs have a 1/2 life of 24 hours but I can't find any more specific information. My question is, am I going to be OK if I take my drug screen on the 20th? I've taken 2 pills (maybe 3, i cant remember if I got up in the middle of the night on the 12th) but my last one was the morning of the 13th.

I am in a total panic, this is the last thing in the world that I thought would stand between me and my education. I've never used drugs in my life. How long will this stay in my system? Please any info would be appreciated.

Please do not panic. They will be out of your system well before the 20th. I am an alcohol and drug counselor currently and have given many drug screens over the last nine years. They will not show up. If it makes you feel better you can drink plenty of water between now and then. I have never seen it test positive on someone after 24 hours. Good Luck!

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I cant believe they consider it to be positive if you have a prescription and a ligit reason to be taking them. I know they always ask me what meds I am on. Am I going to get fired from a job for taking my prescriptions?? Heck no, I will raise HECK!! On the bright side, it is nice to hear that nursing programs are requiring drug screening. I grad in May 09 and havent taken a drug test yet. I know or have suspiscion that a couple classmates would not be with me if we did drug testing. I think it should be required. I hope your surgery did the trick, I know how scary it can be finding a lump; I found one my first sememster of nursing school. Luckily, mine ended up being a cist that resolved itself. Good luck and let us know how everything turns out!!

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I cant believe they consider it to be positive if you have a prescription and a ligit reason to be taking them. I know they always ask me what meds I am on. Am I going to get fired from a job for taking my prescriptions?? Heck no, I will raise HECK!! On the bright side, it is nice to hear that nursing programs are requiring drug screening. I grad in May 09 and havent taken a drug test yet. I know or have suspiscion that a couple classmates would not be with me if we did drug testing. I think it should be required. I hope your surgery did the trick, I know how scary it can be finding a lump; I found one my first sememster of nursing school. Luckily, mine ended up being a cist that resolved itself. Good luck and let us know how everything turns out!!

I agree...it should be required...we had a few that were at orientation, but never showed up the first day of class!

I found one a few years ago as well and it was a cyst as well...hope you get some good news that all is good!

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Specializes in ER.

first of all, relax, it's PRESCRIBED. You can obtain a note from a physician as well regarding the surgery and completing your clinical time. I wouldn't worry about it.

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first of all, relax, it's PRESCRIBED. You can obtain a note from a physician as well regarding the surgery and completing your clinical time. I wouldn't worry about it.

I think most of us think it should be ok too - The problem is that the OP seems to be hearing the opposite from both the school and the hospital.

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I then called my pharmacist to see if I could get a better idea as to when these daggum pills will be out of my system. I explained the situation to her and she so nicely said to me the same thing everyone else has "if you have a prescription, they cannot deny you". Told her I wish it was that simple. After pressing her for an answer about how long they will be in my system she said I "should" be ok by wednesday the 20th.

Dear lord, this is unreal.......my whole nursing education down to a freakin crap shoot because I tried so hard to be responsible and have this done BEFORE school started. sorry, now I'm just venting.

Thanks everyone for your advice and encouragement, and please say a prayer for me for wednesday.

First of all, I'm with everyone else that this INSANE! You have had surgery, you have a prescription, and they are temporary not even an all the time thing... and even if they were, it shouldn't be reason alone to deny you the ability to do your clinicals. My mom has fibromyalgia and takes a least one pain pill a day for the pain... would they really deny someone the opportunity to become a nurse because they are on medicine. I realize that drug tests are needed, but it seems logical that if someone has a valid prescription and need that they would be permitted. Sorry, just a little vent.... makes no sense to me... I see where the hospital is coming from, but geez... :down:

And secondly, I had taken a prescription pain pill and was notified that I would be drug tested the next week for my job. It was the last pill and I had thrown the bottle away... so, I was freaking out also. My mom works with a doctor and he said that I should fine, and I was. No problems at all!! I truly believe that this will be out of your system by Wednesday. I had my drug test 5 days after I had taken the pill and it was totally clear.

Good luck on Wednesday!!! :D

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Specializes in PACU.

Wow, those people at your school and the hospital are inhumane. You had surgery and deserve appropriate pain relief. I could understand them having a problem with you using anything while doing clinicals, but not letting you take your prescribed pain medication prior to classes even starting is unconscionable. That all said, being you've stopped taking and only took a few, it will most likely be out of your system by the time you take the test. Even if it's not totally out, the concentration will almost certainly be below the threshold for a "positive" reading.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Medsurg.

Just wanted to update this......I PASSED THE DRUG SCREEN!! thank goodness, one less stress. Thanks all for your advice.

I had gone into the surgeon to talk to him before I got the results and he told me that he was on the board at the hospital and if I had any problems to come see him. At first he said also that I had a prescription and should be ok but when I told him the reality he was livid and said he would fight whoever he had to fight for me. So that was a relief....but even moreso that I didnt have to take him up on his offer.

Also......the lump was just calcification WOO HOOOOOO. Another stressor relieved. Thanks all for your prayers. Now the only stress left is SCHOOL lmao.

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Pharmgirl that is wonderful news. I read the whole thread and was on pins and needles for you. I am glad it all worked out. (Literally out of your system :lol2:) And I am glad your biopsy came back benign.

Take care and hugs,

Jean

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Glad to hear things went well!

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Congratulations on passing both tests :yeah::yeah:

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Yea! I just read this and was shocked at the mess you had to go through, but so very relieved with the Doc standing up for you!

Way to go!

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