Callahan, RN

DUIs don't necessarily mean chemical dependency. Could mean problems with judgement, maturity, lack of foresight, etc. All of that is for a licensed psych professional to sort out. My evaluation in Dallas was $100, lasted an hour and did not include a drug test.

Hi!! Her name is Wendy (won't post last name) and she's in Dallas. Affordable and completely unbiased. She's on (or was was a year ago) the BON approved list. She found that I don't have a chemical dependency bc I don't.. If you do, that's a different story. Good luck! If you have any other questions for me, please feel free to ask!

Oh, and by the way, sometimes people are really out to get you. It can be seen as an easy excuse, but it does happen.

Hey Lashley, I will gladly give you her info. You don't have enough posts to send you a PM, so you will have to give me your email address. I won't post the counselor's info here... I'm sure you understand.

No, I did not have a prescription. Oh, and when I say "disciplinary action", I am referring to the monitoring program. It feels like punishment to me, even though it formally is not. Thanks, wish_me_luck..... the intent thing makes sense. I think I will call my BON and ask.

I realize that no one can give legal advice here, but I am just wondering what your thoughts are on this.... I am currently in a monitoring program in Texas due to a positive pre-employment drug screen (Valium). I was not a RN when I took the drug screen, but I was a RN by the time the BON was notified. I am curious.... should I have been subject to disciplinary action at all since I was NOT a RN at the time of the drug screen???

Also, at my hospital, Pharmacy is really on top of the usage and disposal of narcotics. If your wife's hospital is as watchful as mine, it is just a matter of time before she gets caught.

I have accidentally left insulin needles in my pockets, but they were still in the original packaging... there isn't any acceptable reason that a "used" needle should make it home with a nurse. Those go straight into sharps, not in your pockets under any circumstance (that I can imagine). As a student, I almost left the hospital once with a "refused" vicodin in my pocket. Thankfully I caught myself and promptly returned it to the Omnicell. A partially empty narc bottle/vial should never make it home with a nurse. As stated before, partially used narcs must be "wasted" and witnessed by another RN. I guess I could see how a completely empty bottle/vial could get left in your pocket, but as soon as the nurse discovers it it should go straight from pocket to trash... not into her/his bag or purse.... that is fishy. I am a new nurse and still working on my time management and organization skills, so I am probably a bit more sympathetic to things being left in one's pockets on accident.

Yeah, it is the same for us in TX. Well, at least for the negative results.... I haven't had a positive yet, so I'm not sure how they go about informing us of that!

Well, I know that I can test at Any Lab Test Now in addition to Quest, but I talked to my rep at RecoveryTrek and she said that none of them do after hours testing. I think I will call the individual facilities and see what they have to say about testing after hours. Thanks for the idea!

Has anyone been tested for anything other than Options 1 & 3 with Quest Diagnostics?

Wow, I wonder what the rationale is behind that?? What is the harm in seeing your test results?!?

TXRN2 - Do you know anyone in TPAPN who has had to go over their contract period in order to meet the testing requirements? I am asking b/c I have only been selected for testing 5 times in 4 months (one of those was dilute, so probably doesn't count). In EEP, we have to test at least 18 times in one year. That means I will need to test 13 or 14 more times in the next 8 months. I can't believe I am saying this, but I hope they get on the ball and start testing me more often!!

Yes! I actually started a thread about anxiety waiting for test results. I really think that if it wasn't for etg, I would not be worried at all as I wait for results. I don't see how I could be accidentally exposed to anything that would cause a positive result for prescription or illicit drugs. My very first test resulted in a negative/dilute, so I do have to be very careful about that from now on. Did you ever have to do the renal exam for a second dilute? I hope I won't get to that point, but it is always a possibility.......

For TPAPN and EEP you cannot take narcs while in the program period. If you get in a car accident and are given narcs in the ED, you cannot return to work until you screen negative.

Lol, yes, they actually did!!

Good to know! I'm feeling a bit better :)

Beware of back to back testing! I was just selected for testing two days in a row. Not that anyone is being non-compliant, but I just wanted to let y'all know that it does happen. So, when selected, don't think you are good to go for a while regarding your schedule or whatever.... you may be tested tomorrow, too!

Thanks for the info! Sounds like the risk for testing positive is mainly with ingesting alcohol. It's not really feasible for me to use soap and water, either. The soap on my unit is really sticky and takes a long time to wash off. I don't have that kind of time to spend at the sink!

The only things I have changed are my mouthwash and I don't use hand sanitizer. I have been tested 5 times and have been negative each time, but I dont know if I was tested for etg or not. I use to be paranoid about deodorant, face wash, hairspray, etc, but not anymore. I can't live like that!

Lol, no I am not willing to learn the hard way! Just curious b/c etg testing causes a lot of paranoia d/t the possibility of incidental exposure. I just started my first nursing job and I think it is pretty ridiculous that I can't use the hand sanitizer b/c of the fear of being positive for etg.

I am very thankful that TX has that option!

Are you in TPAPN? If so, I didnt know they also used First Lab.

Yes, that is correct. Texas has the Extended Evaluation Program which is only between the nurse and the BON. It is one year of random drug screens.

My employer does not know about my random screens and that is why I am a bit anxious about getting picked on a work day. I am definitely going to ask about submitting a screen through my employer, but I wouldnt want it to get back to my manager that I was taking a random drug test at Employee Health. Also, yes, I am able to make appointments for Quest testing sites and I do have COC forms. I'm trying not to freak out, but the whole BON monitoring situation freaks me out in general! Bah! :)