possible + drug screen during probationary period

springchick1, ADN, RN · Jun 1, 2015

I think your BoN is the best place to get these answers. But if you aren't using then you should have nothing to worry about.

TXRNC · Jun 1, 2015

Your case manager will likely call you and you boss if working,if your state uses Recoverytrek you might see it post before the call.I also fear false positives I'm 32 days from completion and yes I've had a relapse but I knew it was going to be positive when I got picked day after relapse this has been a long road which I made longer by my own mistakes but ready to move forward.

1sttime · Jun 1, 2015

You will get a call from the drug testing company, it can be a few days or a week (depending on their workload). If you get a positive you should call your case manager- you will likely have to step away from practice, get another evaluation (Safe to practice), re-engage in treatment of some sort, and increase your testing.

If you find yourself using mood altering substances (even occasionally) while in this program you should really examine what is going on within you, ask for help, step away from practice.

jdub6 · Jul 8, 2015

That is totally dependant on your program. If they use an external company to randomize and report results (ie Firstlab, RecoveryTrek-these are the people you call or look online with to see if you have to test) then they likely have a web site where you can see your results. The 2 I mentioned do but they only say positive or negative, so if they are testing for compliance with prescribed meds or you have an exception (I had a doctor's ok for benadryl) you won't know if that is what was positive or if it was something you are not allowed.

Without that, there should be a Medical Review Officer in charge of reviewing all positive screens. Your program may have their own or outsource, I know Firstlab etc offers these too. This is a doctor who looks at each positive result and is responsible for determining why it happened. In my state, they will be the ones to contact you first because they determine whether it is a problem or not. For example they may want to look at your medical records and ask questions about medical problems to see if there are other meds or reasons that may have influenced a test. (For example if you are diabetic and possibly were spilling sugar contributing to a false positive urine alcohol). In my case this was a phone call because they need to ask you questions. If the MRO determines there is no legitimate explanation for your positive result then you will likely hear from your case manager. That process can take awhile-my MRO didn't call until several weeks (maybe about 6?) After the test result. It didn't go further but I'm sure if it had there would have been a additional lag. But, my positive was benadryl, if it had been cocaine perhaps it would have been faster.

In short, your program should be able to tell you if you can check your results online. If you can, that is definitely your best/fastest bet. I will say, though, that if you are taking meds that they test for (and some of mine showed positive for prozac among other things), it can be very anxiety provoking to just see POSITIVE and not know why. The prozac one really threw me because I didn't know they were testing for that.

Hope that helps a little! Unfortunately every program is very different.

LibertyTX · Jul 8, 2015

In Texas, your case manager will call you as soon as they get the results and then call your employer.

Omaapecm, ASN, RN · Jul 9, 2015

In nevada your case manager will contact you and them your employer. Takes about 1 week. Good luck!!!! Can I ask how much time was added to your program after your first relapse.