Recently accepted, worried about drug testing

[Noelle3237]

I am worried about being disqualified for the nursing program due to my drug screen. I have been taking narcotics with a valid prescription for a back injury for several years. Is the drug screen confidential or do I need to tell the school about my medications? I have worked so hard to get accepted, I would be crushed if this disqualified me. I don't know what to do.

[AlmostANurse321]

Usually you work with an outside drug screening company. You go in and they'll test you. If you test positive they contact you, tell you what kind of substance you tested positive for, and tell you what kind of documentation that they need. The plus side of the prescription drug epidemic is that most - if not all - states maintain a database of controlled substance prescriptions that the lab company can verify. If not, you can usually bring in a pill bottle and they'll contact the pharmacy. It's always been my experience that it's between you and the lab, unless you can't verify why you tested positive. I think that the school only finds out about the substance if you can't verify it, because then the school makes a judgment call. However, it varies by school.

Before anyone says HIPAA, the form that you sign at the lab company includes a HIPAA release.

[HarleyGrandma, RN, EMT-B]

It may be private right now, but going forward you may not be allowed to get the ATT after graduation. Be sure to check with your state BON, you can ask without giving your name. I'm not passing any judgement, just letting you know that more state boards are adopting a no-narcotics stance (even with a valid script!)

[mrsboots87]

It may be private right now, but going forward you may not be allowed to get the ATT after graduation. Be sure to check with your state BON, you can ask without giving your name. I'm not passing any judgement, just letting you know that more state boards are adopting a no-narcotics stance (even with a valid script!)

if this is true, there will be a lot less nurses, or a lot more nurses who work in pain. Either case is no good. I'm not discounting this info because I truly don't know, but this just seems terrible.

While no nurse should work impaired, I can see that a nurse who is in severe pain will probably also be impaired. It should be left to the nurses to manage their pain medication in a way that doesn't effect their judgement while working. If they can't and are impaired at work, then that is when it should affect their job or license.

[HarleyGrandma, RN, EMT-B]

if this is true, there will be a lot less nurses, or a lot more nurses who work in pain. Either case is no good. I'm not discounting this info because I truly don't know, but this just seems terrible.

While no nurse should work impaired, I can see that a nurse who is in severe pain will probably also be impaired. It should be left to the nurses to manage their pain medication in a way that doesn't effect their judgement while working. If they can't and are impaired at work, then that is when it should affect their job or license.

I hear ya! This is more fallout from the prescription drug wars, many BONs have decided to "just say no" to *any* opiates in new NCLEX applicants. If they do allow them to test, they are forcing them to agree to entering years of monitoring contract with HPMP. Most likely the worst possible solution ... :-(