NewBie1988

Throwaway, you probably won’t get on here anytime soon, but I wanted to see how you were doing with your job? I am applying for jobs now and still have debilitating fear…I am praying to God to allow me to work while on this medication. I’m terrified of being reported to BON even though I have that valid prescription. Just wanted to check in and see how you’re doing. I hope all is well with you.

Yes I believe you and I feel exactly the same way. Luckily all my trouble was small misdemeanors and nothing drug or theft related. Just dumb decisions basically. I have a friend who started working in a nursing home and she said the same thing about them being shady and she also feared for her license so she quit 3 days later. It’s actually really sad that nursing homes are like that. Well, as soon as I take the NCLEX, I’ll be job hunting for LPN position until I’m licensed as an RN. I will keep you updated on what happens with me. How are you liking your job?

When I started nursing school, I had a serious panic attack about my meds showing up on my drug test. After I realized it wasn’t a substance they tested for, I began to realize more and more that it was OK. I had finally accepted that I take medication just like many others in my cohort. When I had that feeling of acceptance, my life actually got better and I was truly happy. Let me tell you…if not for the medication, I wouldn’t be thriving like I am right now. I have come so far because I am finally stable. Obviously I won’t ask where, but can I ask if you are now employed with a big hospital system? I want to work at a local hospital that’s just right down the road from me. Next semester is my final one and I’ll be doing my RN preceptorship. I’m hoping to be placed where I requested because it is my first choice as far as employment, so id like to see how it is there. However…if I’m being honest, I’m afraid to apply at a big hospital system because of the likelihood/possibility that they will test for or be against my prescription. I’m convincing myself to apply at a nursing home just because I feel like it won’t be an issue at a place like that. And that sucks because that’s not where I want to be. I don’t want to work somewhere where I’m not happy, you know? Let me tell you, I was on methadone wayyyy back in the day, and that stuff tore me up. I was on it for maintenance for the same reason I take bupe now. But it made me worse if that makes sense. I was like a demon or something. Bupe isn’t like that. I feel completely normal all the time. I still get stressed, I still cry, laugh, etc. this is a Godsend for people like us and I really don’t care what others think because they have NO idea unless they’ve experienced it themselves. Did you ever have any problems with the script during school? Did you ever have to list it at any point? I worry about that too. The nurse who wrote down your script, she wasn’t rude or anything? I went for my 2nd physical for school and told the nurse I took bupe and she was very ugly to me. I was scared to death she would report me, but I don’t think she could because of HIPAA and the fact that I wasn’t licensed yet. I cried my eyes out that day and that feeling of acceptance I was talking about? Yeah, it was completely gone. I was so upset and still am a little. I already had to report some minor criminal charges to the BON to apply for the PN licensure exam, which I take on the 30th btw, and they had to investigate me but they cleared me 4 days later and told me not to get into anymore trouble. So as if not admitting my addiction was bad enough…literally ANY complaint against me and I’m sure they will not go easy.

I have been so anxiously awaiting your response ? thank you so much for taking the time to come back on here and talk to me. Reading your reply is like reading my own words, I swear, we are so similar. All I can think about is how I’ll be judged and so I’ve stopped remembering all the good the medication has done in my life and instead feel like a horrible person. I am soon to be graduating with honors and I am SO dedicated to this career. The idea of being held back because of my prescription…it infuriates and terrifies me. I haven’t told anyone at my school for obvious reasons, but the girls in my study group like to openly share about their medications and they are on Xanax, klonapin, vyvanse, adderol, etc etc and I struggle to understand what makes my prescription ANY different. If a person with anxiety doesn’t take their Xanax, they will have panic attacks. I take my meds to soothe my disease in the same way. I’m not a danger. I chose nursing because of how thankful I am to have been given this second chance and I want to use it to help people. I’m sure I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know. So, the drug testing place gave you a list of what would be tested? I’m so scared. I am so, so scared. What if the person testing me calls and reports me to BON? OMG the anxiety is literally debilitating ?. I am so proud of you and happy for you. I am also so thankful you chose to respond to me. I’ve reviewed the nurse practice act in my state and it says a lot about NON prescription drugs but nothing specific about nurses and PRESCRIBED bupe. Someone said call the BON…absolutely not! I wish I could private message you on here but it won’t let me. I just can’t thank you enough for being so kind! You’ve given me so much hope!

I live in Alabama. Thank you so much for your quick response. I am SO glad it all worked out for you. I too share your same exact fears about employment. I’m losing my mind over here. I didn’t disclose to the BON either, simply because I am not trying to already have a negative mark on my license when I surely do not deserve it. I’ve even considered going to detox or something, but I’m a single mom of two little ones at home with zero family support. Hearing your story has given me so much encouragement, even though I know it’s different everywhere, but I was so so glad to see someone like me out there. I’m just over the moon excited for you! I don’t know if I wouldn’t have walked out with my tail between my legs LOL but I commend you for bravely seeing it through. One thing I know for sure is my prescribed dose is high and so for that reason, I’ve asked my doctor to start the taper. I don’t want to lie…obviously I’m going to be judged harshly now because I did NOT tell the BON of my history. Ugh I’m honestly an absolute nervous freaking WRECK right now.

Throwaway, can I asked what happened with this? I am a new grad soon to be facing the same problem. I have already started the weaning process with my Dr but won’t be completely off for awhile. I’m scared to death about finding a job and immediately being put on BON crap list. Please lmk how your situation played out if you would!