So I kind of messed up

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So I am getting ready for bsn nursing school to start in the summer. One of the things that was required was a drug test. I took it without any hesitation, since I do not take any drugs. However, I did messed up before the drug test. Because of all the stress of moving, getting ready for nursing school, and personal life things my mother suggested I take one her lorazepam pill to help me calm down. I took it without hesitation because it a pretty universally used drug.

The part that I messed up at is that I took it before the drug test and it showed up. I obviously have no documentation saying that I have a prescription. So now I am kicking myself in the head and I don't know what to do.

What are the consequences for this? Will I be prevented to start? Are there any legal problems I should worry about? Can I retake it to show I am not an addict or have a problem with drugs? I am thinking of e-mailing my programs director to explain my situation and tell him "I am an idiot, I am not an addict, and I am very sorry. Please don't kick me out". Thoughts?

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Specializes in Psychiatric nursing; Medical-Surgrical.

Lorazepam (Advan) is an anti-anxiety medication and could also be used to treat seizures. Many people (mire than you know) do take that...in some cases including nurses. No one will penalize you for taking Lorazepam! It is not their business to go into your confidential medical history to see if you have a prescription or not. You are worried for nothing! Stay Calm and get ready to start tour BScN program. [emoji4]

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Specializes in Psychiatric nursing; Medical-Surgrical.

Pardon the typos***

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Welcome...

I honestly do not know what will happen. However, this can potentially hinder your position in the nursing program if the administration at your school decides to look into the matter further.

I wouldn't provide an explanation or apology unless asked. Nurses and future nurses tend to have a case of verbal diarrhea and we talk too much as it already stands. It's illegal to take a prescription drug that was prescribed to someone other than you.

Good luck to you.

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Really the drug testing company called me to say that they require documentations from me saying that I was prescribe the medicine. Otherwise they will go ahead and send it to the school. Wouldn't my school ask for a copy of my prescription as well?

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
LNo one will penalize you for taking Lorazepam!
I assume you are not located in the United States due to the phraseology and syntax utilized in your post.

Many entities here in the States would definitely penalize someone for using lorazepam if the person didn't possess a valid prescription. The black market for benzodiazepines is red hot in this neck of the woods, and many people purchase these pills illegally.

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frick. I'm not an addict or anything like that. I only took one pill before the drug test. My background check will show that I only had a speeding ticket.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

The drug tests look for classes of medications. Ativan is a benzodiazepine so it will show up on any test that screens for benzos. If you had taken Valium or Versed you would have had the same positive finding. These drug screens typically look for amphetamine, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana, methadone, mathamphetamine, morphine, oxycodone, phencyclidine, tricyclic antidepressants, and sometimes others too. One other thing the test may look for is a diluted sample. If your test comes back "dilute" that can be considered a positive drug test as well. Your program may give you a list of substances they test for but they may not have to. If you avoid all of those substances I listed above, you'll be OK. Even if you have a valid marijuana card, the stuff is still a Schedule I drug with the US DEA so if you partake in that stuff, don't.

If they ask you to take another drug test, do it without delay and do not ever take anyone else's medication for any reason as it can come back to bite you very hard.

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Specializes in Nursing Management.
Lorazepam (Advan) is an anti-anxiety medication and could also be used to treat seizures. Many people (mire than you know) do take that...in some cases including nurses. No one will penalize you for taking Lorazepam! It is not their business to go into your confidential medical history to see if you have a prescription or not. You are worried for nothing! Stay Calm and get ready to start tour BScN program. [emoji4]

This is poor advice. Ativan is a schedule IV controlled substance. There is a reason a prescription is required and it's not available OTC.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
frick. I'm not an addict or anything like that. I only took one pill before the drug test. My background check will show that I only had a speeding ticket.
I'm sure you're not an addict, and no one accused you of being one, but my opinion does not matter. It is the decision of your prospective school's administrative staff that matters. If you cannot produce a valid prescription, you may or may not be starting classes this upcoming summer.

The reality is that prescription benzos (lorazepam, clonazepam, diazepam, alprazolam) are often obtained in an illicit manner, which doesn't help matters very much. Obtaining a lorazepam from one's family member probably happens with regularity across the country, but it isn't legal.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
Lorazepam (Advan) is an anti-anxiety medication and could also be used to treat seizures. Many people (mire than you know) do take that...in some cases including nurses. No one will penalize you for taking Lorazepam! It is not their business to go into your confidential medical history to see if you have a prescription or not. You are worried for nothing! Stay Calm and get ready to start tour BScN program. [emoji4]

Oh my. Best not to offer any more advice. You are dead wrong.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Sadly the potential outcome of this is that you will lose your spot in the nursing program and may need to choose a different career. They have no way of knowing whether you are an addict or not. You took a substance that is only legal to take if you have been personally prescribed it ... and you have it in your system without a prescription. This is, from their viewpoint, at best an illegal act indicating a level of risk to their reputation and at worst an addiction or severe lack in judgement putting not only their program and reputation at risk but also the patients you would eventually care for under their banner. Either or both are enough to give you the boot. It is just too competitive for them to waste any time on the wherefores or the why. They have no need to coax out the truth. Why would they care when they have a list a mile long of potential hopefuls?

I would request a retest and hope they grant it ...and if they do, hope by the time you take it that the drug has cleared your system.

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