Reported to the board, don't know what to expect, help!

Nurses Recovery

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I've been an LPN for 2 years and a CNA for 8 yrs prior to that and have never had any problems. A couple months ago at work there was some medication missing, we all got drug tested, mine was negative. Then one night I was exhausted, had a headache from hell and someone called in our DON and administrator because they thought I was high. They made me take a drug test which was also negative. Then another night there was a problem with a patients fentanyl patch, I came to work the next day and all the nurses got drug tested. I came back positive for fentanyl which honestly I hadn't done. I found out one of the other nurses that also got tested wears a fentanyl patch. When they did the urine tests they didn't fill out the form entirely and stapled the form to the bag with the urine in it instead of putting it in the sealed bag. The administrator kept these drug screens in her office for 4 days before taking them to the lab. A friend of mine at work overheard our DON and administrator saying they would do whatever they had to to get rid of me and how our DON said she was going to make my life hell. I had been getting alot of crap from her because she didnt like me. Needless to say I got fired and reported to the board for a positive drug test. I know they had to have messed with my UA and I don't know what to do. What do I expect from the KS BON? Please help I'm scared to death.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Do you have professional liability/malpractice insurance ? If so, call them now.

You need to contact an attorney to protect your interests. The American association of nurse attorneys offers a lawyer referral service. These are nurse-attorneys that have experience in license defense and going before the board of nursing. http://www.taana.org

Good luck.

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.

LAWYER UP!! As soon as possible - you need someone there looking out for your best interests and that wont be the state board. Good luck!

Anne, RNC

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.

Lawyer up. A hair test may also help too. It goes back up to 3 months. If there really was anything in your system it would show up.

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Specializes in LTC, Management, MDS Nurse, Rehab.

I agree with the posters above..get a lawyer..now..I'm sorry your going through this.

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Hair test only you and God know for sure you are clean. Get the hair sample done NOW and make sure the place does the chain of custody correctly in front of you it is a small price to pay compared to what the BON will make you do for the next 3-5 years.

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I agree with all the others! Contact an attorney immediately. That UA would never hold up in a court of law because the chain of custody was broken. There are certain steps that need to be taken when collecting/testing a UA sample because of this kind of thing, and your sample should have been sealed with your initials and a control # on the seal that matched the form. Go to a reputable lab and have a hair analysis done ASAP. And if you are truly innocent, stand your ground and do not let the BON bully you into enrolling into a diversion program. It sounds like losing that job was a blessing in disguise, you do not want to work somewhere like that anyways Good luck!

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