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?
Next time or for anyone else with anxiety....Go to the doctor! Or you can always try a little benadryl for anxiety. Getting in to a nursing program is contingent on passing a drug test. Sorry this situation can't possibly warrant a good outcome.
I remember doing exactly that. I had in the past attempted taking my speech class THREE times, but each time I got up to give my first speech, I was a mess. My hands shook so bad I scrambled my note cards. I stuttered. And once, in the "middle" I even said I can't do this and walked back to my seat and sat down.
So on my 4th try, the day before my first speech, I felt the panic coming on. I went to a doctor and they prescribed me 3 xanax pills. 1 for each speech. The doctor said she doesn't usually prescribe benzos but understood my situation and took mercy on me.
Poor OP. Years ago I had a similar experience. I had just started the CNA program and applied to work as a caregiver in an ALF. I went and took the drug test, just like OP thinking nothing of it. It came back with tylenol 3 in my system. About 4 days prior I had sprained my ankle pretty bad and took one of my dad's tylenol 3. Luckily I had an old (6 month) script that when the doctor called I gave him that script number.
Unethical, I know. Poor judgment, I know. But I learned and made sure I got a script for xanax for my speech class.
Do not do anything until school notifies you to do so. State your case to them if they ask you why it was in your system. I would go to my MD and ask for a prescription for it, if your anxiety is like this. Nursing can be very stressful in itself. If the MD doesn't feel you need it don't ever take it again. EVER!
Playing devil's advocate here, but why wouldn't the BON or the nursing program say "if he/she would take a pill without a script from a friend would they take a pill from the hospital or street?"
Really?!? Her MOTHER offered her an anti-anxiety pill, and you're comparing it to stealing narcs/benzodiazepines from the hospital or buying it off the street?
I beg to differ. Before you take a drug test, they have you sign an affidavit revealing what prescription drugs you may be on. If a person doesn't fuss up, they may be penalized.
Nope. Never have I been told to disclose anything pre-test. Only after if it is positive will you get a call from the medical review officer asking you for proof of Rx
The next time you get a prescription, look on the label and see if there isn't a warning printed on it that says something like: "Caution: Federal law prohibits transfer of this drug to any person other than the patient for whom prescribed." This warning is not just printed on the labels for controlled medications, it is printed on all prescribed meds.
Nope. I get no extra labels. Just the one with my info on it.
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Nope. I get no extra labels. Just the one with my info on it.
Check. It's probably like 3 font print. It's really tiny and printed on the main label on any script. Some use colored stickers, others it's in tiny print on the label and others it's on the printed drug guide. It's not always obvious but the information is always there. Some pharmacies also indicate in the RX# (CVS used to) such as Phenergan DM would be Rx#12345 but Phenergan with codeine would be Rx#:C12376
Nope. Never have I been told to disclose anything pre-test. Only after if it is positive will you get a call from the medical review officer asking you for proof of Rx
I had to disclose my meds during my physical right before my drug test for my current job.
I hate posters like you. She has a caring heart, therefore she IS nursing material. And I'd take any bet that half the nurses out there are using themselves nowadays. Sorcery will be rampant in the end times.
Sorcery? End Times? this post makes you sound like you're on a witch hunt lol. I really don't think that half the nurses out here are using drugs illegally but what does sorcery have to do with any of this?
I think the OP made a simple mistake and I don't think she should be blackballed from a nursing career because of it but being caring isn't much of a determination as to whether someone is really nursing material. There's a lot of factors goes into making a good nurse and it's great to be caring but who knows if she's really nursing material or not. None of us could know that! Saying she isn't because of this mistake is wrong but saying she is because she has a caring heart is also wrong.
This has gotten a lot more attention than I thought it would get. I will be meeting with the directors this week to discuss what my options are. I'll make an update if anyone is still interested.
Sorcery is drugs etc. I didn't make it up, it's in the Bible but regardless, who are ANY of us fit to say whether she is nursing material or not. She will keep us all updated and the rest of us can go weed our own gardens. How's that? She didn't ask to be judged or laid into. We are all human.
Sorcery is drugs etc. I didn't make it up, it's in the Bible but regardless, who are ANY of us fit to say whether she is nursing material or not. She will keep us all updated and the rest of us can go weed our own gardens. How's that? She didn't ask to be judged or laid into. We are all human.
Sorcery is aka drugs. Never heard of that. I thought sorcery was witchcraft, which arguably isn't drugs. No idea what The End Times are doing in this conversation either, but guess it's as unimportant as the original statement that was made about it.
At any rate what you are saying in the quote above IS my point, that you can't say that someone is or is not fit to be a nurse based on only one thing or the other. You said she is fit to be a nurse because she has a caring heart and I say that this isn't what determines what makes a nurse fit, that's all.
She shouldn't be judged harshly as she has been for taking one stupid antianxiety med from her mother but she also shouldn't be judged as easily able to be a nurse either. Both types of judgment were incorrect is all I was saying.
I think people are too quick to condemn because of one misstep but I also think people are too quick to applaud because of something equally irrelevant.
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
This has gotten a lot more attention than I thought it would get. I will be meeting with the directors this week to discuss what my options are. I'll make an update if anyone is still interested.
Good luck. Listen. Take notes. Think about your options (if given any) and then decide.
SleeepyRN
1,076 Posts
I remember doing exactly that. I had in the past attempted taking my speech class THREE times, but each time I got up to give my first speech, I was a mess. My hands shook so bad I scrambled my note cards. I stuttered. And once, in the "middle" I even said I can't do this and walked back to my seat and sat down.
So on my 4th try, the day before my first speech, I felt the panic coming on. I went to a doctor and they prescribed me 3 xanax pills. 1 for each speech. The doctor said she doesn't usually prescribe benzos but understood my situation and took mercy on me.
Poor OP. Years ago I had a similar experience. I had just started the CNA program and applied to work as a caregiver in an ALF. I went and took the drug test, just like OP thinking nothing of it. It came back with tylenol 3 in my system. About 4 days prior I had sprained my ankle pretty bad and took one of my dad's tylenol 3. Luckily I had an old (6 month) script that when the doctor called I gave him that script number.
Unethical, I know. Poor judgment, I know. But I learned and made sure I got a script for xanax for my speech class.