positive drug test

kakamegamama · Apr 22, 2017

What does the RN's state's BON have to say about that? Place of employment?

Aveda · Apr 23, 2017

I don't know, I'm in Colorado, currently under suspension. Don't know if they will fire me or offer rehab, don't know.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Apr 23, 2017

I don't know, I'm in Colorado, currently under suspension. Don't know if they will fire me or offer rehab, don't know.

Under suspension from the BON or work?

Here is information on CO Program for impaired nurses that I was able to google real quick.

For Nurses

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Apr 23, 2017

1. Stop using whatever it is that caused you to pop positive. Even if it's marijuana: the fact that Colorado may allow the wacky backy doesn't mean that your employer and/or the CO BON has to give it their blessings.

2. Talk to your employer to see if they will work with you on this and if so, how. It's on you to convince them that this positive UDS was a one-time occurrence and will not happen again. And that may mean suspension, probation, required entry into a rehab program, more frequent random/not-so-random UDSes for a while...whatever, until they're satisfied. Up to you if you want to get legal counsel involved in this...if there's a P&P in place that states you can be disciplined for failing a drug test, legal action might not be of much help.

2b. Be prepared that there is a chance you will get fired as a result of this. Should that happen, consider this a lesson learned the hard way for the next job.

3. If...IF...you are reported to the BON for this (your employer may decide not to), they may offer you a diversion/impaired nurses program. It's up to you whether you want to take it. IMO, one positive UDS does not an addict make...but that's me, and not necessarily how BONs see things. And you can tell them you're not an addict until the cows come home, and BONs are still inclined to think the worst of you, especially if there's a positive UDS to justify their opinion. So this program may be put on the table for you to consider.

3b. If you end up dealing with the BON and/or be offered entry into the impaired nurses program, I definitely recommend you get an attorney involved to review the terms of the program. It's not uncommon for BONs to be unrealistic in the terms they place on nurses in such programs, and it's not uncommon for a nurse to blindly grasp at any straw offered to save their license and then find out later that they can't/won't meet those terms. The attorney can review things to ensure that you are getting a fair deal.

Best of luck.

Trauma Columnist · Apr 23, 2017

I've moved this to the Nurses/Recovery forum so as to get appropriate responses about positive drug tests

Julius Seizure · Apr 23, 2017

the wacky backy

:roflmao: :laugh: I love that name for it!

foggnm · Apr 24, 2017

Depends on your facility's policy, contact your HR department. It isn't always reported to the board depending on why the test was done, what drug, and the circumstances surrounding testing.

gnurse2089 · Apr 24, 2017

As long as it isn't anything you could've potentially diverted from work, you may just get let go. I don't think your employer would report you to the board unless you really messed up. If they do decide to report to the board, lawyer up ASAP.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Apr 24, 2017

Some states have mandatory reporting on any positive or refusal. I was trying to look it up for CO but couldn't find the website I once found that showed the stuff for all states. I was licensed in CO. I live in NC now and in NC they have mandatory reporting. From what I have heard, a lot of states that don't have mandatory reporting tend to just terminate and let it go to keep it under wraps. But again I have no idea where CO falls under that or your circumstances.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Apr 24, 2017

I love that name for it!

I forgot where I got that name from but yeah, I love that name for it too

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Apr 24, 2017

1. Stop using whatever it is that caused you to pop positive. Even if it's marijuana: the fact that Colorado may allow the wacky backy doesn't mean that your employer and/or the CO BON has to give it their blessings

Addendum...

1b. If you are on prescription or OTC meds on a regular basis, there is a small...SMALL...chance that one of them could have caused the positive. Be sure to disclose whatever prescription, OTC and/or herbal medications that you were taking for the 7 days prior to the test. If any of them are controlled substances, be prepared to provide prescriptions.

Don't hang your hat on the false positive hook though. Like I said, the chances of a true false positive (?!?) are small. And many employers and BONs are skeptical of the false positive claim. There are more specific lab tests they can run to determine exactly what substance caused your false positive...but it's up to them whether they want to run them, or take the results as they are. This is why I recommend disclosing the meds you are on before taking the UDS. IMO, it lends a little more credibility to your case.

But to be honest...from the way you framed the question, it sounds like you used something that you probably shouldn't have. In that case, skip to item 2.

Again, best of luck.