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?
Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care.
Can you get a prescription from your doc? Tell the doc how anxious you've been and that you think you need an rx for lorazapam. Then if the doc gives you a rx you have the rx to show them and you won't have to take your mom's anymore. Win win.
Ahhh? Really, it's bad enough that lay people come in requesting particular meds by name after watching TV commercials, but now pre nursing students asking for anxiety meds by name? As a prescriber, it is my decision what med to select. Plus I might also want a complete PE with labs maybe a CBC to start. Whenever people tell me what to prescribe, Red Flags/Alarms. I might just give you some hydroxyzine as I really do not like prescribing benzos due to SE's, so then what will you do? Plus I might refer you to counseling or a psychiatrist/psychyologist/psychNP.
Yeah people bring in bottles (empty of course) some with other peoples names on them, some old bottles,so that I can be sure to correctly spell the name of the med they want, ain't happening.
And yeah when I "glance" {in reference to the employee health nurses}at a pill bottle, I am looking to see:
Who was the prescriber, what city/state are they in? Local? where & when was it last filled, how many pills were prescribed, how many days ago, (yup mental math going on to see if ran out before you shoulda), if still has pills then I might "glance" at them, didn't think I would have to be a pill detective as a NP but then I worked in the ER while in NP school & learned to investigate pill bottles, we even had a Mexican PDR since we are close to the border and had to ID Mexican meds.
People SNORT Wellbutrin for fun?! Now THAT is scurry. Wellbutrin does enough weird stuff when you take it properly.
Ive never heard of people being tested for tricyclics in routine drug screens before. As far as I know it's ill advised, but not illegal, to share rx drugs that are not controlled substances. Heck, even dextromethorphan can be abused. I certainly understand how licensed professionals would be held to a higher standard though.
the med you mention is not controlled and is sold OTC.
Can you get a prescription from your doc? Tell the doc how anxious you've been and that you think you need an rx for lorazapam. Then if the doc gives you a rx you have the rx to show them and you won't have to take your mom's anymore. Win win.
Whatever you do, don't try to cover it up by falsifying records (again, even if the doc would backdate a paper script, the pharmacy bottle will say the date you actually filled it). You would lose ALL sympathy and benefit of the doubt, and possibly escalate the situation, making the consequences for you even worse. Don't compound an accidental crime with deliberately illegal behavior.
Specializes in GI/GU surg,Pacu, ct surg, home care, NH.
Its a mistake that can definitely happen to a layperson that is unaware of the ramifications of taking someone else's prescription, let alone one that is a controlled substance.
However, I would not call or email to explain. I would withdraw and defer or apply elsewhere. They may still get your results even if you defer so looking at another school may be your best option. I don't see any situation in which the school will appreciate your honestly and let you in. They probably have 100 other students who passed their drug tests and who have grades just as good as yours or better. They may see you as a liability and may view your action as poor judgement.
You definitely need to determine if your anxiety is something that will only get worse once you start nursing school. When you are ready to start you honestly may need to get a prescription to help with your anxiety.
Unfortunately this was a bad mistake and hopefully you learn from it.
That's not harsh, it's judgmental and arrogant, and it assumes the worst of someone who may be absolutely capable in nursing. I suppose you have never made a poor judgment? Ever?
*You* may be the one who is not nursing material. We encourage, educate, and have compassion without judging our clients. If you can't practice that from reading someone's post away from the bedside, how do you practice that when you have patients whose H&P show poor decisions? Do you tell them they are not suited for their jobs, too? Hopefully, you are more compassionate and positive with the human lives you are influencing.
Wow, what ON EARTH was your mom thinking? I hope you made her aware of all the trouble she has caused you. It is deeply troubling to me that she wanted to teach you to deal with stress by popping a very addictive pill. In the future, I hope you do not take her advice.
I am hoping this works out for you, though, as I think you've learned your lesson.
Absolutely if you are planning to go to nursing school and you have to take a drug test you need to provide a prescription for any controlled substance before you take the test they generally ask you do you take any prescription drugs and if you do you say yes number two it's illegal to take prescription drugs that are not prescribed to you which if you're getting your BSN maybe you already have an LPN or an RN you should know this obviously if you're going to college you should know this you're not a baby they could absolutely deny you entry for a positive drug test I doubt you would have criminal charges but they could very definitely did not you entry to the program
What are you saying? Isn't basic grammar, capital letters, periods,paragraphs taught anymore?
That's not harsh, it's judgmental and arrogant, and it assumes the worst of someone who may be absolutely capable in nursing. I suppose you have never made a poor judgment? Ever?
*You* may be the one who is not nursing material. We encourage, educate, and have compassion without judging our clients. If you can't practice that from reading someone's post away from the bedside, how do you practice that when you have patients whose H&P show poor decisions? Do you tell them they are not suited for their jobs, too? Hopefully, you are more compassionate and positive with the human lives you are influencing.
Please use the quote button when you address a specific post so that it's clear to whom you are responding.
Can you get a prescription from your doc? Tell the doc how anxious you've been and that you think you need an rx for lorazapam. Then if the doc gives you a rx you have the rx to show them and you won't have to take your mom's anymore. Win win.
u can take ANY legal narcotic tht u have a prescription for. They can and will require documentation of a prescription. It has happened to me before. And yes; I had a prescription and had to provide a copy from the pharmacy. Good luck to you. I hope things work out.
Employee health has had to look through my rx and they just glance at them. I bet someone wouldn't even notice a difference in dates from drug test to rx. Just a thought. It's a tricky sticky situation.
sailornurse
1,231 Posts
Ahhh? Really, it's bad enough that lay people come in requesting particular meds by name after watching TV commercials, but now pre nursing students asking for anxiety meds by name? As a prescriber, it is my decision what med to select. Plus I might also want a complete PE with labs maybe a CBC to start. Whenever people tell me what to prescribe, Red Flags/Alarms. I might just give you some hydroxyzine as I really do not like prescribing benzos due to SE's, so then what will you do? Plus I might refer you to counseling or a psychiatrist/psychyologist/psychNP.
Yeah people bring in bottles (empty of course) some with other peoples names on them, some old bottles,so that I can be sure to correctly spell the name of the med they want, ain't happening.
And yeah when I "glance" {in reference to the employee health nurses}at a pill bottle, I am looking to see:
Who was the prescriber, what city/state are they in? Local? where & when was it last filled, how many pills were prescribed, how many days ago, (yup mental math going on to see if ran out before you shoulda), if still has pills then I might "glance" at them, didn't think I would have to be a pill detective as a NP but then I worked in the ER while in NP school & learned to investigate pill bottles, we even had a Mexican PDR since we are close to the border and had to ID Mexican meds.