Positive UA for ETOH

[recoveringnurse]

Hello,

I am an RN in my 4th year of a 5 year contract. I recently had a positive UA for ETOH but hadn't been drinking and denied that (right...they all say that). Anyway I was sent home in the middle of a shift by my program caseworker and they ran an ETG which took over a week to come back and it was negative. Now I did have a bladder infection that week so we attributed my positive to fermentation from the bacteria in the urine. In the meantime EVERYONE in my department now knows about my program. I came out and told them, rather than have rumors spread and I knew I was innocent.

Fast forward to a month later. Same thing happens. Sent home from work in the middle of a shift for a positive ethanol. I thought my bladder infection had cleared up by then. Off for 2 more weeks, waiting for the ETG to come back and once again, it was negative. I went to the doctor and got tested for diabetes and I am not diabetic. I know my caseworker thinks I am drinking because now she's made all my UAs since then be observed. I guess I am still considered guilty even when proven innocent. I'm just wondering if this has happened to anyone else?

[wish_me_luck, BSN, RN]

I hope it doesn't happen to me; I get scared of this scenario. I am wondering if there is a question about it, can you request that your tests be blood tests? Would you be willing to do that? I know it costs more, but I don't know. I have thought about the whole scenario of getting a false positive and I think I would request blood tests at that point. I think it is a little more specific to ethanol versus every day exposure and fermentation of yeast and bacteria. Any thoughts?