Question

i got MRSA in my arm and had to be out of work for about 2 weeks, about 13 days into it they call me in for something trivial, and when i get there my supervisor says i had forgotten to chart a few meds i gave and that i need to give them a U.A. right now or i would be immediately fired and reported to the board, now i did unfortunately miss charting a few of the meds (morphine) is the only one they concerned themselves with, but it was because i had been on adderall, for almost a year and my super pressured me into stopping because of the numberous times i had to urinate while on it. after stopping the adderall my mind wasen't quite as focused as i had gotten used to, i had also become slightly lethargic. and that was THE ONLY REASON i errored occasionally on my charting. so after i was basicaly threatened to drop a U.A. or lose my job and possibly my license, i explained to my super that i would most likely come up dirty for marijuana since the pain medication i was prescribed for my staff, (which i had to go to the E.R. for an I and D) did not really relieve my pain but only made me nauchous. my U.A. did come back dirty for M.J. and unfortunately a trace amount of cocaine, which cant believe i did anyway. so they fired me and referred me to TPAPN (texas peer assistance program for nurses) a strenuous 24 month program which i would have no problem doing except for the fact that i cant find work anywhere around here once they know i'm fixing to be in TPAPN. what i want to know is can an R.N. get licensed in another (non compact state ) and move there to live and work instead of having no work here in texas?

First of all you need to quit making excuses for drug use. What do you mean you can't believe you did cocaine? Obviously you did or it would not be in your UA. And why the pot for pain? If prescription meds was not working then you should go back to the doctor not use illegal drugs for the cure. I would not feel great about you taking care of me in your current condition. And if you apply for a license in another state, they will check with Texas on the status of your current license and schooling so how will they give you a license when you are on probation in another state? Sounds like you need the program to get your life together. Good luck to you.

i understand your point of view, but understand this, i'am NOT making excuses for drug use.

if i had a problem with cocaine or marijuana, i wouldn't have openly included it the way i did in my post.

you know as well as i that most of the pain medication they prescribe you is going to be an opioid.

you have to know that marijuana is a good alternative medication for pain, used REPONSIBLY, and safer than ANY opioid. just because it happens to be deemed illegal shouldn't make someone automatically reject it's benefits.

and when i said that i couldn't believe i came up + for cocaine it's because i have TRULY used it only 3 times in my life, and the first two times was when i was a stupid kid in high school 15 years ago.

it was a stupid mistake then and it was a reminder of the mistake now.

but i do not drink, use recreational drugs (even marijuana) and i do not get prescriptions for everything under the sun, like so many these days. i was asking for advice not a judgement on who i'am as a person.

i understand your point of view, but understand this, i'am NOT making excuses for drug use.

if i had a problem with cocaine or marijuana, i wouldn't have openly included it the way i did in my post.

you know as well as i that most of the pain medication they prescribe you is going to be an opioid.

you have to know that marijuana is a good alternative medication for pain, used REPONSIBLY, and safer than ANY opioid. just because it happens to be deemed illegal shouldn't make someone automatically reject it's benefits.

and when i said that i couldn't believe i came up + for cocaine it's because i have TRULY used it only 3 times in my life, and the first two times was when i was a stupid kid in high school 15 years ago.

it was a stupid mistake then and it was a reminder of the mistake now.

but i do not drink, use recreational drugs (even marijuana) and i do not get prescriptions for everything under the sun, like so many these days. i was asking for advice not a judgement on who i'am as a person.

I am not judging you. I am saying that if I were a patient I would not want you as my nurse because you came back positive for illegal drugs. Nursing is a huge responsibility. If must have been recent to be positive on a drug screen. And I do know the effects of marijuana on pain. And I believe that if someone has a condition in which other pain meds are not working (such as a person with CA, ect) then give them what they need for relief. I will admit that I have never had MRSA but I have never had a patient with it who could not get pain meds that did not work. If one doesn't, then try another, legally. I am just saying as nurses we are responsible for the lives of others.

And I hope that you will keep your end of the deal, if not, then you will get your license taken and you will not be able to get one in another state. If you don't tell them about your license problems in Texas and they find out, you will be in more trouble than just telling them up front. Usually if you complete the requirements, you will have to be on a probationary period for a while, and maybe have work restrictions, but will keep the license.

Leslie

i got MRSA in my arm and had to be out of work for about 2 weeks, about 13 days into it they call me in for something trivial, and when i get there my supervisor says i had forgotten to chart a few meds i gave and that i need to give them a U.A. right now or i would be immediately fired and reported to the board, now i did unfortunately miss charting a few of the meds (morphine) is the only one they concerned themselves with, but it was because i had been on adderall, for almost a year and my super pressured me into stopping because of the numberous times i had to urinate while on it. after stopping the adderall my mind wasen't quite as focused as i had gotten used to, i had also become slightly lethargic. and that was THE ONLY REASON i errored occasionally on my charting. so after i was basicaly threatened to drop a U.A. or lose my job and possibly my license, i explained to my super that i would most likely come up dirty for marijuana since the pain medication i was prescribed for my staff, (which i had to go to the E.R. for an I and D) did not really relieve my pain but only made me nauchous. my U.A. did come back dirty for M.J. and unfortunately a trace amount of cocaine, which cant believe i did anyway. so they fired me and referred me to TPAPN (texas peer assistance program for nurses) a strenuous 24 month program which i would have no problem doing except for the fact that i cant find work anywhere around here once they know i'm fixing to be in TPAPN. what i want to know is can an R.N. get licensed in another (non compact state ) and move there to live and work instead of having no work here in texas?

Coyote,

You need to take this and start a new thread. It has nothing at all to do with wearing white.

:)

Sorry this is not something we can address here at Allnurses. It's a Board of Nursing issue.

Good luck.