Positive drug screen for THC. Should I self-report?

chare · Apr 18, 2019

Did you consult an attorney experienced handling this type issue with your state's board of nursing? If not, you might consider doing so. The American Association of Nurse Attorneys has a Find a Nurse Attorney search function to assist with finding an attorney in your area.

Best wishes as you work through this.

Nurs3 · Apr 18, 2019

19 minutes ago, chare said:
Did you consult an attorney experienced handling this type issue with your state's board of nursing? If not, you might consider doing so. The American Association of Nurse Attorneys has a Find a Nurse Attorney search function to assist with finding an attorney in your area.
Best wishes as you work through this.

Yes my attorney is experienced with this issue. Thank you.

N377311 · Apr 19, 2019

I’m sorry for what you are going through. I was terminated in Dec for very same thing ... you are not alone at all. It was a dark first few days but I prayed a lot and found this group and it saw me through the start of the process.

Now I’m in Tx so I’m not for sure what FL program is like but I’m guessing it is very similar. In my situation I did not self report. I did not have the funds to not work. Once you start the program you cannot use your license until you have been cleared my your case manager. I knew for sure that I would be referred because I was still in contact with my former manager and she informed me when the referral was made. So while I waited to hear from the program I worked agency (I was already working for them PRN) and saved $$. I ended up hearing from the program via mail about 2 weeks after being fired and they contacted me by mail. I was given my case number and told to contact my case manager within so many days or it could result in the case being sent to the BON.

I contacted my case manager immediately. Told him my situation. I was completely honest about everything. I didn’t see any point in lying or withholding anything in my situation. He asked me to do a random. I did one the very next day (it was negative...of course ??‍♀️) I then had to have a psych evaluation by a psychiatrist from a list of practitioners that they supplied. This was probably the worst part I’ll admit. Someone you don’t know trying to make an assessment of you as a person in only a one hour face to face meeting and a 2 hour paper test of hundreds of questions.

My case manager was not able to give me the stipulations of my contract until this had been done and the evaluation had been received by him. This whole process took about 3-4 weeks. I could have extended it out further because I had like 30 days to get the evaluation done but I wanted to get the process started and over with.

Once he received my evaluation I was given a contract with my terms. I had to do weekly therapy with addiction specialists, weekly 12 step meetings, daily check ins, randoms ... once my therapist signed off on my work release I was allowed to start looking for work by my case manager. This is where the process got hard. Applying, interviewing, and hearing NOTHING. But after some time, lots of prayer, my support group meetings, my therapist (who was a God send btw, wish I would have found him a long time ago) I finally got a call back and I have officially been working for 2 weeks in a LTACH facility and I really like it so far. It’s a change from a hospital setting but I like the pace, the people and the size of it is so much smaller, not as much turn around so you can get to know your patients.

All together I was out of work for about 3 months. Some days were very hard. I felt like I had lost my identity, I felt so guilty, I felt like I was the worst person in the world. But those are all lies from the enemy. I made a mistaKe. I’m no different than so many out there. I knew God had a plan for me and would carry me through I just had to surrender to the process.

I still have a lot to get through but imma get there. Right now my biggest struggle is suffering from severe allergies and being too scared to take anything. I need some natural miracle because I do not want to have any issues with false negatives, etc.

I’d be glad to answer any questions, one of my biggest prayers is to be able to help others and support others that are going through this just like I was helped and given support throughout all this mess.

Hang in there. Don’t beat yourself up. You made a mistake. But if you love what you do you’ll fight for it. And you’ll make it out. One day at a time. ❤️

Nurs3 · Apr 19, 2019

3 hours ago, N377311 said:
I’m sorry for what you are going through. I was terminated in Dec for very same thing ... you are not alone at all. It was a dark first few days but I prayed a lot and found this group and it saw me through the start of the process.
Now I’m in Tx so I’m not for sure what FL program is like but I’m guessing it is very similar. In my situation I did not self report. I did not have the funds to not work. Once you start the program you cannot use your license until you have been cleared my your case manager. I knew for sure that I would be referred because I was still in contact with my former manager and she informed me when the referral was made. So while I waited to hear from the program I worked agency (I was already working for them PRN) and saved $$. I ended up hearing from the program via mail about 2 weeks after being fired and they contacted me by mail. I was given my case number and told to contact my case manager within so many days or it could result in the case being sent to the BON.
I contacted my case manager immediately. Told him my situation. I was completely honest about everything. I didn’t see any point in lying or withholding anything in my situation. He asked me to do a random. I did one the very next day (it was negative...of course ??‍♀️) I then had to have a psych evaluation by a psychiatrist from a list of practitioners that they supplied. This was probably the worst part I’ll admit. Someone you don’t know trying to make an assessment of you as a person in only a one hour face to face meeting and a 2 hour paper test of hundreds of questions.
My case manager was not able to give me the stipulations of my contract until this had been done and the evaluation had been received by him. This whole process took about 3-4 weeks. I could have extended it out further because I had like 30 days to get the evaluation done but I wanted to get the process started and over with.
Once he received my evaluation I was given a contract with my terms. I had to do weekly therapy with addiction specialists, weekly 12 step meetings, daily check ins, randoms ... once my therapist signed off on my work release I was allowed to start looking for work by my case manager. This is where the process got hard. Applying, interviewing, and hearing NOTHING. But after some time, lots of prayer, my support group meetings, my therapist (who was a God send btw, wish I would have found him a long time ago) I finally got a call back and I have officially been working for 2 weeks in a LTACH facility and I really like it so far. It’s a change from a hospital setting but I like the pace, the people and the size of it is so much smaller, not as much turn around so you can get to know your patients.
All together I was out of work for about 3 months. Some days were very hard. I felt like I had lost my identity, I felt so guilty, I felt like I was the worst person in the world. But those are all lies from the enemy. I made a mistaKe. I’m no different than so many out there. I knew God had a plan for me and would carry me through I just had to surrender to the process.
I still have a lot to get through but imma get there. Right now my biggest struggle is suffering from severe allergies and being too scared to take anything. I need some natural miracle because I do not want to have any issues with false negatives, etc.
I’d be glad to answer any questions, one of my biggest prayers is to be able to help others and support others that are going through this just like I was helped and given support throughout all this mess.
Hang in there. Don’t beat yourself up. You made a mistake. But if you love what you do you’ll fight for it. And you’ll make it out. One day at a time. ❤️

Thank you so much for the information and your support ❤️ I am terrified and ashamed, but glad to know I'm not alone in this. How long is your contract? Did your agency let you go once you let them know you were under contract? Or did you quit because your program told you you couldn't work until they cleared everything? I'm so worried if I do have to go through IPN I will get stuck with a 5 year contract. I am not that hopeful that the IPN evaluators will take mercy on me from reading these threads. I do have a lawyer who specializes in licensing and has experience with the board. She's been helpful, but I'm seriously doubting not self-reporting for fear that going in front of the board to fight my case will result in disciplinary action on my license and mandatory IPN. My lawyer seems to think I have a good case and doesn't recommend I self report to IPN, but I'm not so sure. I'm a ball of stress and anxiety over this. Can't eat or sleep. It's been an awful couple days

Randomnurse3 · Apr 20, 2019

If your attorney told you not to self report then listen to him! He gets paid to help you. LISTEN TO HIM!!

catsmeow1972, BSN, RN · Apr 20, 2019

7 hours ago, Randomnurse3 said:
If your attorney told you not to self report then listen to him! He gets paid to help you. LISTEN TO HIM!!

^^^^^^THIS!!!!

The big issue with IPN is that they seem to take everyone, send them to thier own small stable of “evaluators” (who all seem to have a financial interest in treatment facilities) who will see all comers and ‘opine’ wether the issue is a one time dumb decision where the person has been terrified into never doing such a thing again or a perhaps a careless charting issue or perhaps a definitive addiction issue truly in need of monitoring or perhaps a mental health illness in need of behavioral health treatment and fit them neatly into some disagnosis that justifies some kind of addiction treatment followed by a lengthy cookie cutter contract that contains stipulations that frequently makes finding and or keeping a job difficult to impossible along with other items that may or may not be relevant to the person. Your license is held by the cojones and your are given the choice to sign it or relinquish your license.

Supposedly, self reporting says this will prevent public discipline. I believed that and self reported. Uh, wrong. I self reported, got nailed to the wall by these people and still got it out for the world to see. So, listen to your lawyer. There is a reason thier ads say to call them before you speak to anyone with the board, the DOH or IPN. They aren’t just trying to drum up business. I wish I had. Probably would not have gotten me out of what happened, but might have helped with the unethical slimy-ness of the experience.

Nurs3 · Apr 20, 2019

34 minutes ago, catsmeow1972 said:
^^^^^^THIS!!!!
The big issue with IPN is that they seem to take everyone, send them to thier own small stable of “evaluators” (who all seem to have a financial interest in treatment facilities) who will see all comers and ‘opine’ wether the issue is a one time dumb decision where the person has been terrified into never doing such a thing again or a perhaps a careless charting issue or perhaps a definitive addiction issue truly in need of monitoring or perhaps a mental health illness in need of behavioral health treatment and fit them neatly into some disagnosis that justifies some kind of addiction treatment followed by a lengthy cookie cutter contract that contains stipulations that frequently makes finding and or keeping a job difficult to impossible along with other items that may or may not be relevant to the person. Your license is held by the cojones and your are given the choice to sign it or relinquish your license.
Supposedly, self reporting says this will prevent public discipline. I believed that and self reported. Uh, wrong. I self reported, got nailed to the wall by these people and still got it out for the world to see. So, listen to your lawyer. There is a reason thier ads say to call them before you speak to anyone with the board, the DOH or IPN. They aren’t just trying to drum up business. I wish I had. Probably would not have gotten me out of what happened, but might have helped with the unethical slimy-ness of the experience.

The thing is is that my lawyer wants to fight my positive drug screen through the Probable Cause Panel thinking that why will just dismiss it or give me a non-disciplinary letter of guidance. I just cannot see the board having mercy for a first time ofender for THC from all the horror stories I’ve heard about the board. If they don’t dismiss the case or give me that letter then I’ll be forced into the IPN program either way with a disciplinary action on my license. Has anyone ever successfully fought against a positive drug screen against the board and won? I’ve been researching like crazy and it doesn’t seem hopeful. Could I just report to IPN and have my lawyer look over things to make sure it’s all done correctly? I’m just not sure what to do about this whole thing. I’m terrified of losing/disciplinary action on my license.

catsmeow1972, BSN, RN · Apr 20, 2019

Still I would follow your lawyer’s recommendation. If there is a chance for ‘mercy’ as you say, it would come that way. IPN has no mercy. I have never known anyone in those people’s clutches, self reported or otherwise, that get sent for an ‘evaluation’ that does not come out without some kind of contract.

Randomnurse3 · Apr 21, 2019

14 hours ago, mamuchi7 said:
The thing is is that my lawyer wants to fight my positive drug screen through the Probable Cause Panel thinking that why will just dismiss it or give me a non-disciplinary letter of guidance. I just cannot see the board having mercy for a first time ofender for THC from all the horror stories I’ve heard about the board. If they don’t dismiss the case or give me that letter then I’ll be forced into the IPN program either way with a disciplinary action on my license. Has anyone ever successfully fought against a positive drug screen against the board and won? I’ve been researching like crazy and it doesn’t seem hopeful. Could I just report to IPN and have my lawyer look over things to make sure it’s all done correctly? I’m just not sure what to do about this whole thing. I’m terrified of losing/disciplinary action on my license.

For The love of all things LISTEN TO YOUR LAWYER!!!! I have had to go before the board a couple of times. I went with an attorney and won. Your attorney knows what’s best for you! Don’t worry about other cases and horror stories. Worry about your case and how you will present yourself!

LPN With An Attitude · Apr 21, 2019

I worked with a gal that had a seizure at her old job. When they take you to the ER, they do not inform you that the urine sample they demand is being tested for drugs, which seems unconstitutional to me. So she tested positive for THC. She was fired and reported to the state. Two lessons learned. First is tell them you can't pee if you go to the ER, or have someone else's urine if you are taking a prescription or whatever and believe it's nobody's frickin business what you do on your free time. Try and straight cath me without my consent and they will pull back a stump where an arm once existed. We are, after all, supposed to live in a "free" country. The second lesson is never trust those maggots from the state. They will talk smoothly to you, pretend to have empathy, etc Reality is quite different. These people are your enemies and will use anything and everything you say against you and try to inflict maximum damage. That is what these lazy government parasites get paid to do and they relish in their position. This gal was/is a BSN, so she had a good cover story. She went with she ate some brownies with herbal extracts to help with her seizures and didn't know they had cannabis in them. A better cover would have been that she was weight training and used cannabis oil, as many body builders do, but I didn't know her when she worked at her old job. So I worked with her for about a year before the state came to her door. She was a very good floor nurse, almost as good as me. Amazing how when you want or need something from the government, they are bumbling idiots that are impossible to reach or you have to cut through a mountain of red tape, but when it comes to stealing your money or screwing you, they become masters of efficiency. Swift and venomous. So the investigator came to her house, sweet talked her, told her that she didn't think anything would come of it, etc. Then the fateful certified letter came. Summary suspension. They threw the book at her. A few weeks later, and she gave birth to gorgeous little boy, but doesn't have the income to take care of the child the way she wanted to. Her man is unemployed. All because they found THC in her urine about a year before because the ER doesn't inform victims of what they are doing. Whether she ate some brownies or more likely smoked a blunt with her old man when she was off work, I don't smoke but I fully support anyone's right to be free when not at work. Also, if you are being investigated never admit that you used street drugs, even it was 30 or 40 years ago. Another lady I worked with was asked by the state maggot if she had ever smoked marijuana. She gave an honest answer, that she did 35 years ago while in high school. The witch put on her permanent record "history of abusing street drugs". So if you did, act like Mother Teresa. What you may have done 30-40 years ago is none of their business!!! So if you report it, never trust the state or government scumbags that will sweet talk to your face with the dagger behind their backs, save up money while you can, and they may make you go through some recovery program, like as though casual pot smokers are heroin or crack addicts. With state after state legalizing the stuff, I can't believe people are still having to go through this nightmare and have their careers damaged or ruined because they smoke flowers, but my feelings go out to you. Good luck to you

N377311 · Apr 22, 2019

I worked until I had the contract in front of me and it stated I am not to work under my license until cleared by TPAPN. So I was able to work from Dec 5th until Jan 14th because that is how long the process took.

Again, I did not self report. I couldn’t afford to. I decided to wait until they contacted me and it was not held against me.

My term is 12 months as long as all goes well. Just staying completely compliant with everything. Praying I never get one of those false negatives people talk about and see my way through this period of my life.

I def feel very criminalized. But I have to keep reminding myself I made a mistake and I’m not the person they are trying to convince me that I am.

If you have a lawyer that has experience with this I would probably stick with it.

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