Published Sep 23, 2019
KatmamaRN, ADN, RN
33 Posts
Do you ever just wonder how “random” is random? I think the closest I’ve ever tested together was on a Friday then a Monday (I guess they thought I’d party up that weekend). The longest I ever went was about 6 weeks until this year, my last, when I was mercifully dropped to 4-6 times a year. T-37 days and counting.
rn1965, ADN
514 Posts
I am sure there is NOTHING random about the testing.
37 days, huh?! Great work! Congratulations!
Thanks! It has been a longgg road and I’m just thankful it’s almost over.
I think I knew it wasn’t completely random when I got busted for Benadryl years ago and got tested close together. It was a dumb thing to do but it was either that or go to the ER for a pretty severe allergic reaction. I learned the hard way.
nurse.etc
37 Posts
I wonder that myself. I like to think they dont plan it, but I got tested more times in the month I finally got my criminal charges and got fired than I did the whole year combined. It was 10 months after going into the agreement. Plus then again on the exact date of my one year sobriety. I definitely feel like they're trying to "catch me" slipping, but it doesnt truly matter because I am straight. Perhaps its just our brains making imaginary connections because the layer of paranoia the program adds to our lives. I am happy and glad to be sober though so test away program.
I, too have nothing to fear, as I have been sober 14 years. However, the cost is what hinders me a little bit! YIKES!
SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN
1,847 Posts
hmm I still get tested a couple times a month. Been at it for three years. I wish it would go down to 4-6X per year as my wallet could use a break but I really don't sweat the randoms too much. I don't drink or drug and hope for the best. I'll always worry about a false positive but not much I can do about that
tracyW
3 Posts
Not random at all. I was tested 5x in 2 weeks after I finally found a job. And I always get tested before and after I go on a vacation.
5 times in two weeks? That's idiotic!!! Actually it's harassment in my opinion. Your "advocate" must be a spastic fool. That testing is so often that I think that it would actually be overlapping. The most I ever had is three times I think which was allot but you had almost twice as many. Random testing works for me whether it's once a month or ten times a month as you don't know when it's going to be and failing is catastrophic. That much "random" testing is a perfect example of the adversarial nature of these programs. Does anybody out there feel that recovery thrives in such an environment. I've said it before and will again, I'm not in recovery I'm in a monitoring program.
catsmeow1972, BSN, RN
1,313 Posts
As soon as I got a decent job (6 months prior to the end of this ****, like the week I started, they hit me weekly for 6 weeks, then dropped back to the 2x a month plus the odd blood test for alcohol (of course for more money). Sometimes, I’d get hit before the last one even came back. What, they think because I just got tested, I was gonna go celebrate? Yeah, no.
There is nothing random about this.
StillRN
161 Posts
My record is 9 times in 2.5 weeks!!!
19 hours ago, StillRN said:My record is 9 times in 2.5 weeks!!!
WHAT?!?!?! That is ridiculous. I mean, talk about over kill. That would certainly overlap!
I bet your wallet was screaming for help those two weeks!
willow14
94 Posts
21 hours ago, StillRN said:My record is 9 times in 2.5 weeks!!!
OMG!!!! That is insane!!!!
Btw, I was thinking about you the other day, Still RN--wondering how you've been doing ?