LarkBea

Absolutely. I have everything in writing, in duplicate, in my papers and in my chart at my doctor's office. I also have a small copy of my advance directive laminated and in my billfold. I also have an understanding with my physician regarding my care should I contract an illness from which recovery would be a miracle. My husband and son (if my husband predeceases me) are my medical POAs. I have heard the joke about having DNR tattooed across the chest for almost as long as I have been in nursing and while I don't think it's quite necessary to go that far, I do think the keeping a copy of your AD and POA info on you at all times is just as important as a med/allergy list.

That completely depends on the test used. Some will show differences. For instance, hydrocodone may show hydromorphone metabolites, oxycodone may show oxymorphone.

And I don't see how to delete this one.

Did you volunteer that the medication you took was different than the one currently prescribed? Depending on the test your employer used, it might have just shown opiate positive, not broken down into the various kinds unless the one you took was in a different class (for instance, oxycodone, CII, might be separate from hydrocodone/acetaminophen, CIII). That's why the difference is so important. If you test positive for a CII and only have a current Rx for a CIII, you might have some explaining to do.

Typically, if your experience was like mine, some students may approach you with questions. My advice is, be approachable. If you don't know the answer, don't be afraid to say so. If you do, don't be afraid to share your knowledge. I remember the kind and knowledgeable nurses who gave me guidance as a student (even the one who advised me to give up nursing and drive a truck...less stress and better pay...lol) and I also remember the cold and remote ones who gave me as much acknowledgement as an annoying gnat to be flicked away.

You would have to call your agent and inquire. Not all states offer this as an option on homeowners and if they do, there may be some differences in coverage/limits. I carry a separate policy as I don't believe my homeowner's offers it (will be checking it out though). Good article here on what to look for when purchasing a policy. Don't Make These Mistakes When Buying Your Malpractice Insurance!

I have tried to completely retire a couple of times only to be lured back into the fold, but fortunately on my terms. My husband was diagnosed with MS a decade ago and when his health went into rapid decline, I quit so I could be his full time caregiver. With a critical nursing shortage in our area, my employer talked me into PRN in the ER and I am fortunate to have family in my area who can stay with my husband if I get called in. But my terms were weekends only, no nights and only a certain number of hours per month (I am drawing social security now and get a benefit based on my husband's disability. I am also covered under his employer provided health plan so that's a plus). Quite honestly, I am glad to stay active in the field although I doubt I could do the 4 to 5 12 hour shifts per week I was working before my informal retirement.

Why is an attorney not an option? Have you called around to see if anyone will take your case on a fee contingency basis? After all, you could be entitled to damages. It's really a shame you have been painted into a corner but rather than giving up a career I am assuming you like, explore your options for legal assistance. Unfortunately, some narcs go missing not only because someone is personally using them, but they are sold on the street. So depending on hospital/state board policy, the disappearance of meds even because of documentation error, will be investigated. Forcing you to submit to rehab after negative drug screens seems over the top to me and I'm sure an attorney would agree.

We all know hospitals are microcosms of Peyton Place and there's a lot of gossip, some of it patently untrue, some true, some with a grain of truth, etc. etc. I have been in the field long enough to see/hear all of it. About 10 years ago, a colleague in ER was having an affair with a married doc and no one knew about it. Their demeanor at work gave nothing away. And in my opinion, that's how it should be if it has to happen at all. It's fine to talk to, joke around with doctors but whatever happened to professionalism in the workplace? Some lines should just not be crossed as to not invite gossip or invoke disgust in co-workers/patients. It's absolutely none of my business what goes on in people's homes/bedrooms but it becomes my business when it's going on under my nose whether I want it to be or not.

If anything, it's in extremely poor taste to flaunt their relationship at work. I have never really understood the mindset of someone who would willingly step across the boundaries knowing their actions would have a profound and hurtful effect on another person. Granted, I'm biased. My first husband did this to me back in the late 70s. I lived in the San Francisco Bay area and this was before a name was given to AIDS. Lots of people I knew, professionally and socially, were getting sick. The ex was a newly minted law school grad and decided to take up with a woman at work who was married to a man who later came out. Of course, it was months after the affair started before I found out. By the time our divorce was finalized and I had moved halfway across the country, I found out her ex had tested positive. That meant years of testing for me and when I remarried, using safe sex and postponing having children until my doctors felt they could give me full assurance that I wouldn't come down with the virus. My story isn't the norm in that most of these hookups don't carry with them the possibility of a dire and potentially fatal disease but the emotional baggage and pain are almost always the same. If Dr. Dick and Heidi don't care about hurting others or the potential consequences, no one can force their moral code on them, but they should at least have respect for their co-workers and patients who may witness their behaviors. Keep it out of the workplace.