Postive THC random test

Nurses Recovery

Published

So recently at work I was randomly drug tested due to a discrepancy with fentanyl. I want to get ahead of it, I know that I will test positive for THC as I had smoked the weekend prior. I am not a regular drug user, I do not even like to drink the night before work because I don’t sleep well. I have been reading horrific stories about IPN. I can honestly say that nursing is my passion and I absolutely love what I do; currently I’m terrified, stressed, and anxious of what is to come. I have never and would never show up to work under the influence but now because of something I did on my time off there’s a possibility my whole career is at stake. I just bought a house and I don’t care about getting drug tested every day if it came to that but the cost of IPN and the manner in which they conduct their monitoring is scary to say the least. I have yet to receive notice from my job or anything really but I really feel like I need help and advice. Please if anyone has any recommendations or personal experience with this I’d love to hear about it.

thank you in advance

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Women's Health, LTC.

Call an attorney, YESTERDAY. DO NOT TALK TO THE BON without one. Do not admit ANYTHING to your employer.

I am sorry you are going through this, and I hope you come out unscathed. Some do! Good luck and keep coming here for support.

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Specializes in Oceanfront Living.

Deny Everything, admit nothing.

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Specializes in Clinical Leadership, Staff Development, Education.

If it is positive, you will most likely be notified first by your employer, they will report to BON and it may be some time before BON contacts you. This is only advice, so take what is helpful and leave rest. I think good idea to consult with attorney, but do not pay retainer or money until you know the test was positive and employer to act on it.

If worst case scenario you end up in monitoring.... it is do-able. But for now, just take day by day and see how it unfolds.

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Check out zinc dosing as adulterant to thc tests causes false negative.. it works you just have to time it correctly. There are studies that prove it's efficacy.

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If you do not smoke on a regular basis you may not even test positive. It depends on many factors including body fat content, how much you had, how much thc content the marijuana had, and how many days passed between when you smoked, and when they did the test. Good luck!

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Specializes in OR.

I’m going to take a leap and assume since you used the term ‘IPN’ that you are in Florida. My advice....GET A LAWYER. Now! Will this person be able to get you out of a contract? Probably not. BUT, they can protect you against the more unsavory aspects of this state’s program, like being forced to spend an unholy amount of money on some dumb ‘evaluation’ by a provider of their choosing, where they will lie to your face, manipulate you and then ‘recommandate’ overpriced BS treatment and most certainly a contract, even going so far to claim that you ”need monitoring to prove you don’t have a problem.”

Sound ludicrous? Yep....it is.

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I had a very similar thing happen to me. I got a letter from the BON exactly one month later. Had a lawyer paid and ready to go. She fought my case for 9 months and it was just closed completely in October. DEFINITELY get a lawyer ASAP. DO NOT speak with your employer any further. When it happened to me, I was suspended for about 14 days while testing was done (don't know why it took so long), then fired for the positive.

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Specializes in Tele.

@msrn2020 lawyer details pls.

got referred to IPN CM gave me "24hrs" to make a decision to comply or not. didnt know i could hire a lawyer right away. went to evaluator in gainesville, everything negative except alcohol on my hair! not urine or blood. hair! evaluator recommended inpatient treatment. WOW!. gave me choices tampa, gainesville, alabama, va, or louisiana....

i have the option for 2nd opinion IDK pls help all of them are crooks! one of the doctor evaluator even got charged for fraud! all have bad reviews!

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Specializes in Correctional nurse hospice.

If you know you are test positive refuse to take it.

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Specializes in Medsurg.

Oh dear. Deny everything, get a lawyer......and stop doing drugs.

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So I ended up testing negative(thank god) but for those of you reading this in hope of getting some guidance during this time I would just say stay strong. It was a nightmare just waiting when expecting a positive. You’ll get past it just keep on going and please don’t let fear mixed in with “bad” thoughts get the best of you.

goodluck on your journey, for those of you who smoke and want to know if it’s safe while working the profession at the time it most definitely is not, all we can do is support legislation that treats us fairly. We are people who choose to be nurses I don’t believe that should limit our freedoms after all intoxication at any workplace is never acceptable but what we do in our homes is our business!

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