Positive Drug Test

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My greatest fear associated with TPAPN has been realized. I just found out my last uds was reported as "positive" for alcohol. I don't know if its just for a miniscule amount or not. I have requested a review of this but not sure what that entails. Has anyone else received a false positive and was the issue resolved fairly?

Any update on the final outcome of your positive test?

Gabby

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I am so very sorry this has happened to you! I think it foolish and just downright weird that poppy seeds, cooking spray, hand sanitizer and the like are even part of this process. I mean SERIOUSLY....do people consume poppy seeds to get high?!?!?!?

I know I am preaching to the choir, however, it all seems so counter-productive! If one is actually consuming foods/using products that have the ability to test positive, I would think that the drug/ETOH monitoring police would have testing in place that could detect that. It surely beats re-testing, and I would think cost effectiveness. If that is what they are concerned about.

I just feel like if a nurse comes forward and self reports, they need to be assured that the monitoring that they are required to partake in is at least current and at a level where if one eats some Asian food or uses hand sanitizer it is not going to be some ding on a test. How demoralizing.

Ok, off my soapbox. OP, I wish you nothing but the best. Let us know how it goes!

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Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.
I am so very sorry this has happened to you! I think it foolish and just downright weird that poppy seeds, cooking spray, hand sanitizer and the like are even part of this process. I mean SERIOUSLY....do people consume poppy seeds to get high?!?!?!?

I know I am preaching to the choir, however, it all seems so counter-productive! If one is actually consuming foods/using products that have the ability to test positive, I would think that the drug/ETOH monitoring police would have testing in place that could detect that. It surely beats re-testing, and I would think cost effectiveness. If that is what they are concerned about.

I just feel like if a nurse comes forward and self reports, they need to be assured that the monitoring that they are required to partake in is at least current and at a level where if one eats some Asian food or uses hand sanitizer it is not going to be some ding on a test. How demoralizing.

Ok, off my soapbox. OP, I wish you nothing but the best. Let us know how it goes!

amen!

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Specializes in hospice.
I am so very sorry this has happened to you! I think it foolish and just downright weird that poppy seeds, cooking spray, hand sanitizer and the like are even part of this process. I mean SERIOUSLY....do people consume poppy seeds to get high?!?!?!?

I know I am preaching to the choir, however, it all seems so counter-productive! If one is actually consuming foods/using products that have the ability to test positive, I would think that the drug/ETOH monitoring police would have testing in place that could detect that. It surely beats re-testing, and I would think cost effectiveness. If that is what they are concerned about.

I just feel like if a nurse comes forward and self reports, they need to be assured that the monitoring that they are required to partake in is at least current and at a level where if one eats some Asian food or uses hand sanitizer it is not going to be some ding on a test. How demoralizing.

Ok, off my soapbox. OP, I wish you nothing but the best. Let us know how it goes!

I have to agree. It seems utterly stupid to me, given the level of technological sophistication we've achieved, that these nurses have to worry about eating Asian food, using hand sanitizer, and seeds on their bagels. :no:

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
I am so very sorry this has happened to you! I think it foolish and just downright weird that poppy seeds, cooking spray, hand sanitizer and the like are even part of this process. I mean SERIOUSLY....do people consume poppy seeds to get high?!?!?!?

I know I am preaching to the choir, however, it all seems so counter-productive! If one is actually consuming foods/using products that have the ability to test positive, I would think that the drug/ETOH monitoring police would have testing in place that could detect that. It surely beats re-testing, and I would think cost effectiveness. If that is what they are concerned about.

I just feel like if a nurse comes forward and self reports, they need to be assured that the monitoring that they are required to partake in is at least current and at a level where if one eats some Asian food or uses hand sanitizer it is not going to be some ding on a test. How demoralizing.

Ok, off my soapbox. OP, I wish you nothing but the best. Let us know how it goes!

The whole point of these programs is to make sure you are safe to practice again. That is the Boards mandate. They actually don't give a hoot about your recovery. One of the things they want to see is if you can take and follow direction even if it doesn't make sense, after all it was our lack of good judgement that got us into trouble in the first place. There is no way to design a test that rules out all possibility of false positives The fact that you get a list of things that might cause a false positive says they know it happens. I had three positive Etgs in five years and I followed the program to the letter. Still all three were ultimately ruled out as incidental esposures.

If you are working your program and you did not drink you should be ok, but ok may in fact mean another few months of testing/compliance.

Hppy

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Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.

If you are working your program and you did not drink you should be ok, but ok may in fact mean another few months of testing/compliance.

Ahh false reassurances.

Replace "another few months" with "having to completely restart your program" and you have what is often the best case scenario.

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Hi everyone,

TPAPN reported my positive uds to the BON, as required. The BON reportedly told TPAPN to close my file so my participation in TPAPN has ended at least for right now. I am waiting to hear from the BON, don't know if I will be reprimanded, fined, have my nursing license suspended. I do have a nursing board attorney but have not discussed this with her yet. Thanks for all the support.

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Specializes in hospice.

Oh man, so sorry to hear this. :(

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Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.

That sucks. :( Thinking of you!

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Dayum...not what I expected. Ive been thinking of you daily. You can work right now. Try to get a job. You dont have to tell them anything about this until you hear from the board. You arent under contract.

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I was wonderinG about that.Have you had any personal experiences with the Texas BON? I wonder how long it will be until I hear from them.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

I hope things work out with the BON...it's good you got an attorney to help.

I know that improper handling of the specimen (e.g., not keeping it cool or testing it within a certain period of time) sometimes can cause a false ETOH positive, especially if you were spilling any sugar in the urine. I would ask about the chain of custody to make sure it was handled properly.

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